Jack-o-Lantern Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 box yellow cake mix (16.5 ounces)

• 3 large eggs

• 1 cup orange juice

• 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil

• Orange food coloring

• 1 container vanilla cream frosting (16 ounces)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 24 cups of a standard muffin tin with paper liners.

2. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer at low speed, beat cake mix, eggs, orange juice, and oil until moistened. Beat on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Stir in food coloring to desired shade and mix until fully blended, about 1 minute.

3. Fill muffin cups two-thirds full of batter and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool to touch, then unmold onto wire racks to cool completely.

4. Tint frosting with food coloring.

5. Halve cupcakes horizontally. For pumpkins, spread a thick layer of frosting on cut sides of half the tops and sandwich with the other half; for jack-o’-lanterns, repeat procedure, but using cupcake bottoms. Adhere candy (licorice twists, gumdrops, candy eyeballs, and Tic Tacs) with frosting for faces, stems, and leaves.