Halloween/Frankenstein Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 dozen cupcakes, from your favorite recipe

• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
• 3 drops green food coloring
• 1 cup green candy melts (we used Wilton Candy Melts)
• 24 large marshmallows
• 48 miniature M&M's chocolate candies
• 3 cups chocolate frosting
• black decorating gel
• 48 green Tic Tac mints

Directions

1. 1

   Bake and cool 2 dozen cupcakes from your favorite recipe. Prepare a 1-3.4 oz box of vanilla-flavored instant pudding. Stir in drops of green food coloring until you have a shade you like, then place it in the refrigerator to chill.

2. 2

   Next, microwave 1 cup of green melting candy (we used Wilton Candy Melts, available at party supply stores) for 1 minute at 50 percent power, then stir. If necessary, heat in 15-second intervals until completely melted. One at a time, spear 24 large marshmallows with a skewer and roll them in the melted candy, coating the sides. Set them on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet, add M&M's Minis for eyes, and place them in the refrigerator to chill.

3. 3

   With a small serrated knife, remove a 1-inch-wide chunk from the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with a tablespoon or so of the pudding, then spread chocolate frosting around each pudding hole.

4. 4

   Cover each pool of pudding with a chilled marshmallow. Add black gel facial features and 2 green Tic Tac mints for bolts.

5. 5

   Finally, top each monster head with a bit of frosting and muss with your finger or a fork. Keep the cupcakes chilled until serving time.