Spooky Spider Web Cupcakes

Chef mariajane's Note:

These chocolate cupcakes sound a little spooky, but they are perfectly delicious to eat. Be sure to ask your little witches and goblins to help you make them - that's part of the fun too!! you can also purchase plastic spiders to place on top of the spooky cupcakes, for just that little added touch!!

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 18 cupcakes

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2⁄3; cup cocoa powder , sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
• ½ cup criscovegetable oil or ½ cup canola oil
• 1 ¼ cups water , at room temperature

ICING

• 1 (450 g) container prepared vanilla frosting
• decorating gels (black and orange)

Directions:

1. CUPCAKES: In a bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, sugar, oil and water and blend well. Add dry ingredients, stirring until smooth.
3. Pour into 18-paper-lined muffin cups. Bake in preheated 350F oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans and cool completely.
4. DECORATING: Frost each cupcake with frosting. Using decorating gels, pipe a spider web on each cupcake,. Place a spider ring into the center of each web (if using).
5. TIPS: undecorated cupcakes can be packaged and frozen for up to 1 month.