Easy Cupcakes

Well, technically speaking, these are Frankenstein’s monster cupcakes. They’re easy to make, with cool marshmallow bolts on his neck. I made them even more quickly thanks to canned frosting that is already tinted green. This is a variation of an idea I saw in a 2003 Halloween issue of Parents magazine.

What You Need: 1 cupcake; green frosting; black writing icing or gel; red writing gel; 2 mini marshmallows; 2 black or brown M&Ms; toothpicks (optional).

How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Use writing gels to draw nose, mouth, hair and Frankenstein stitches. Add sideways M&Ms for eyes. Use toothpicks to make marshmallow bolts stick out from neck, or just place them directly on the cupcake.

My son had a Harry Potter birthday party, and I whipped up these cupcakes. To make them easier, I went with a design similar to one I’d seen online, where only Harry’s glasses and lightning bolt scar were included. My kid wanted the scar to be red, so I used red gel writing icing.

What You Need: 1 cupcake; white frosting tinted “flesh” tone (I added a little Wilton Ivory, but a tiny bit of Copper would also work); red Decorating Gel in a tube; black writing icing or gel (I used Wilton’s Sparkle Gel).

How to Make It: After tinting icing, frost cupcake. Use writing gels to draw glasses and a red scar (which goes on the right side of the boy wizard face — your left). No black magic required.

This happy green turtle cupcake is topped with tasty Tootsie Rolls and chocolate-covered raisins. Wearing plastic gloves, you can mold Tootsie Rolls, caramels, Starbursts, Airheads and other candies into all kinds of fun shapes. This design is similar to one I saw in a Betty Crocker publication.

What You Need: 1 cupcake; frosting tinted green; chocolate-covered raisins such as Raisinets; Tootsie Rolls (any size); toothpick.

How to Make It: Frost cupcake green. Add 6 to 10 Raisinets to top for turtle shell “spots.” Wearing gloves, shape chunks of Tootsie roll into four legs, a tail and a head. Use toothpick to draw eyes and a mouth. Add to cupcake.

Mmmm… What could be more delicious than a chocolate monkey cupcake? Certainly not monkey brains; that’s gross. Seriously, though, kids can easily make these pretty primates.

What You Need: 1 cupcake; chocolate frosting; black writing icing; 2 chocolate candy “melts”; 2 brown mini M&Ms or other brown candy such as Raisinettes; chocolate sprinkles.

How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Position chocolate melts as ears on left and right side. Sprinkle chocolate jimmies near top for “hair.” Using writing icing in a tube to draw nostrils and mouth. Add chocolate eyes.

When I saw white chocolate candy “melts” in the bulk bins of my local grocery store, I knew they would make great frog eyes. Make up a batch of cupcake for your next hoppin’ party.

What You Need: 1 cupcake; green frosting; red string licorice; black string licorice (or just use writing icing); black or dark brown M&Ms; white chocolate melting disks.

How to Make It: Frost cupcake green. Position lengths of red and black licorice as shown for mouse and nostrils. Use dab of icing to stick black M&Ms to white disks. Stick into cupcake for eyes.

Here’s a cute little white mouse cupcake for any party, Christmas time, etc. Make a bunch of mice in different colors! The fuzzy look comes from “pulling” the frosting up with the edge of a butter knife or spatula. Also, get your melts from the supermarket bulk bin to save money while buying only what you need.

What You Need: 1 cupcake; white frosting; 2 white chocolate “melts”; 2 mini chocolate chips; pink jelly bean or other pink candy; black string licorice.

How to Make It: Frost cupcake with a thick layer of white icing (canned is fine). Use a butter knife or spatula edge and press lightly onto frosting and then pull up to create little peaks for a fuzzy appearance. Add wafer candies for ears as well as candy eyes and nose. Stick one end of licorice into back of mouse for tail.

For Easter or anything, these bright pink bunny cupcakes will be a hit with the kids.

What You Need: cupcake; pink frosting (strawberry in a can works well); 1 pink Mentos candy; 2 mini marshmallows; 2 pink Jordan almonds; 2 mini chocolate chips; 2 Tic Tacs.

How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Frost 3 sides of each mini marshmallow and place on cupcake for bunny cheeks. Add Mentos nose, Tic Tac teeth, mini chocolate chip eyes, and 2 Jordan almond ears.