Graveyard Cupcakes Recipe

This week you're getting a 'BOO-nus' treat for Halloween. It's not so much a recipe as it is a cupcake decorating idea.

You will need yellow cake mix and whatever the box instructions direct for ingredients, your own icing recipe or canned icing, oreo cookies, white chocolate chips, vegetable shortening and black or brown food coloring (or both). It would be great if you could also find orange or black cupcake papers. I didn't have that kind of luck.

Prepare the cupcake batter according to the instructions on the cake mix and spoon into cupcake pans. Bake in accordance with package instructions.

While the cupcakes are baking, pour about half the package of white chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl with two tablespoons of the vegetable shortening. I tried substituting butter but it didn't work. Microwave about one minute, stirring after the first 30 seconds. Keep microwaving and stirring until the chocolate is smooth.  If you want to litter your graveyard with bones, reserve some of the white chocolate. Stir a few drops of black food coloring into the rest of the chocolate until you are satisfied with the color.  Spoon the chocolate into sandwich bags and cut a small bit off a corner or use a pastry bag if you have one.  On a wax paper-lined cookie sheet, pipe the shapes of tombstones, boney hands or other bones and allow to cool.

With a rolling pin, crush the oreo cookies or chocolate cookie wafers in between waxed paper to make the 'dirt.'

When the cupcakes are done, allow to cool completely before icing. Roll the iced cupcakes in the crushed cookies to coat.  Use the bottom of a spoon handle to make a small hole in the top of the cakes to better allow the tombstones to go in without breaking.

I got lots of compliments from my co-workers. One even said he loved me! At least that's what I think he said. He was talking with his mouth full of cupcake.