Use The Canadian Living Test Kitchen's Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes and Vanilla Butter Icing recipes to create these spooky treats.

3-D Decorating: These instructions are for decorating 2 cupcakes of each face, and each pair uses about 2/3 cup (150 mL) icing.

Trim top of cupcakes flat if necessary before decorating.

Altogether you will need 14 large white marshmallows.

Use preferred candies and icing colours but remember that Halloween is one of the best times to let imaginations run wild.

Short on piping bags? Cut tiny piece off corner of small resealable plastic bag. Fill the bag and use instead.

	Scary Cat: Tint icing black. For each Scary Cat, spread icing over top of cupcake. Press marshmallow into top; cover with icing. Using toothpick, dab at icing to make ragged fur. Shape about 1/4 tsp (1 mL) marzipan into cat eyes; press onto marshmallow head. Using black icing and small plain tip, pipe slits on eyes. For ears, whiskers and nose, decorate with halved candy corn and licorice.
	Frankie Stein: Tint 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the icing black. Tint remaining icing green. For each Frankie Stein, spread green icing over top of cupcake. Press marshmallow into top; cover with green icing. Using black icing and small plain tip, pipe eyes, mouth and neck bolts. For hair, scars, eyes and neck bolts, decorate with licorice and small hard round candies.
	Spook E. Ghost: Tint 1 tsp (5 mL) of the icing black. For each Spook E. Ghost, spread untinted icing over top of cupcake. Press marshmallow into top. Lightly dust work surface with icing sugar. Roll 2 tbsp (25 mL) fondant or marzipan into 6-inch (15 cm) circle; drape over marshmallow and cupcake, fluting edge. Using black icing and small plain tip, pipe eyes onto marzipan. (Or stick on licorice with fondant)
	Warts R. Witch: Tint 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the icing black. Tint remaining icing green. Knead 2 tbsp (25 mL) marzipan with black colouring paste. Knead 1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) marzipan with green colouring paste to match icing. For each Warts R. Witch, spread green icing over top of cupcake. Press marshmallow into top; cover with green icing. Using black marzipan, shape witch's hat; press onto top of marshmallow. Using green marzipan, shape witch's nose; press onto front of marshmallow. Using black icing and small plain tip, pipe eyes, mouth and nose wart. For hair and eyes, decorate with licorice and small hard round candies.
	Mummy Rapper: Tint 2 tsp (10 mL) of the icing black. For each Mummy Rapper, thinly spread untinted icing over top of cupcake. Place marshmallow slightly off-centre; cover with icing. Spread 1/2 inch (1 cm) black stripe across 1 side of marshmallow about two-thirds of the way from bottom. Roll out 2 tbsp (25 mL) fondant 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick; cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) wide strips and wrap around cupcake and marshmallow, leaving black icing uncovered. (Or use narrow flat tip/No. 104 or 45 to pipe untinted icing in bands across top of cupcake and marshmallow.) For eyes, cut 2 small jelly beans in half; using tweezers insert eyes, rounded side out, into black space.

Photography by Yvonne Duivenvoorden