Scrumptious Skeletons Halloween Cupcake Recipe

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Jack Skellington Cupcakes

By Cindy Littlefield

Much as he wanted it to be, Christmas did not turn out to be Jack Skellington's forté. Still, with a bow tie that resembles a bat and a pet dog whose nose looks like a glowing Jack-o'-lantern, Jack remains king of Halloween. After all, who else do you know that can remove his own head and put it back on again none the worse for wear? Inspired by this remarkable trick, these cupcakes make a sweet, if nightmarish, Halloween treat.
You'll need:

Batch of chocolate cupcakes
White buttercream frosting
2 toothpicks
Tube of black decorator's icing

Instructions:

Frost the cupcakes.
For each cupcake, use the tip of a toothpick to lightly etch the outline of two large Jack Skellington eyes in the frosting.
Slowly pipe black decorator's icing onto the etched lines and then fill in the inner circles. Use another toothpick to spread and smooth the icing.
Pipe on two short lines for a nose. Next, pipe a long line across the bottom of the cupcake for the mouth. For the finishing spooky touch, randomly top the mouth with a bunch of short icing barbs.

Boo-Nilla Shake Recipe

These spirits may look frightening, but they're actually quite sweet. Make the Faces with melted chocolate painted inside the glass. A ghostly white vanilla milk shake is topped with piped whipped cream. And although you wouldn't want these spooks to haunt your house, they would be welcome at a Halloween get-together.

yield: Makes six 8-ounce servings

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk
2 pints vanilla ice cream
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

Cook's Note

Tip: This recipe can be doubled easily. For 12 faces, place 1/3 cup (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high until melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes; stir. Using a small brush, paint chocolate inside glasses (if it hardens too soon, microwave 20 seconds more). Let set a few minutes before adding shake. Prepare glasses up to a day ahead, but don't fill until ready to serve.

Directions

Step 1

Blend milk and 1 pint ice cream in a blender until smooth. With machine running, add remaining pint ice cream, one scoop at a time; blend until smooth. Pour milkshake into six 8-ounce glasses decorated with chocolate faces, filling them 3/4 full.
Step 2

Put cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar. Beat until stiff peaks form.Transfer whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip (such as Ateco #806). Pipe spiral mounds of whipped cream on top of milkshakes. Serve immediately.
Step 3

Makes: 8 servings Serving size: 8 ounces

Prep 20 mins Chill 2 hrs

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Candy Corn Drink

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Ingredients

1 4-serving-size packagelemon-flavor gelatin
1 cup boiling water
2 cups mango nectar
3 1/2 cups orange carbonated beverage, chilled
1 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons honey
Candy corn (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl combine gelatin and the boiling water, stirring until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in the mango nectar. Pour mixture into a tall, clear 2-quart pitcher. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until thickened but not set. Gently pour* orange carbonated beverage over gelatin layer in pitcher.

2. In a large bowl combine whipping cream and honey. Beat with an electric mixer or large whisk just until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Spoon over mixtures in pitcher. If desired, add candy. Before serving, stir to muddle.

From the Test Kitchen*Test Kitchen Tip:

To ensure that the carbonated beverage stays on top of the gelatin mixture, hold a wooden spoon above the gelatin layer and pour the carbonated beverage over the back of the spoon.

Nutrition Facts (Candy Corn Drink)