Unique Cupcakes for Halloween or Thanksgiving

If you plan to bake cupcakes for a Halloween or Thanksgiving party at school or elsewhere, here is a novel idea for some that would be impressive for either occasion. These cupcakes are decorated with corn shocks and pumpkins and are great autumn décor as well as tasty treats. Even the smallest kids like the pumpkins on them, even if they don't understand about the corn shocks. If one wanted to take the time, she could even draw a face on the pumpkins to make jack-o-lanterns.

To bake the cupcakes, you will need:

1 box of your favorite cake mix, any flavor
Eggs
Cooking oil
Water

Cupcake liners, preferably foil

Muffin pans

One batch of your favorite cake icing, or see the recipe for my icing at the end of this article.

Bugles chips

The following cake colors, preferably paste or powdered colors, or "liquid paste":
Brown(cocoa can be used if necessary)
Orange
OR
Red and yellow to mix to make orange
Green

3 decorator bags (Parchment bags will do fine.)

Decorator tips: #2, #3, #8, #11, #65, and a star tip such as #22 with the end opened up slightly (You can use a pen or pencil to open it.) If you don't have the exact tips, usually you can move up or down a number and it won't matter, such as #4 instead of #3. You just have to try one out to see how it works.

Ready to start?

Bake the cupcakes as you usually would, filling the liners (set in the muffin pans) a scant ½ full. This should make at least 24 cupcakes, and maybe more because you aren't filling the cups as full as usual. Keeping them "short" makes them more attractive and easier to decorate.

While they are baking, set aside about 1 1/2 cups of the icing to make pumpkins and leaves. Divide this amount into two portions and color one orange and one deep green.

Mix a little brown color or cocoa into the remaining icing to make a very light tan color. Set aside about 1 cup of this icing. Then add a little more brown color or cocoa to the larger amount to darken it slightly.