Scarecrow and Spider Cupcakes

Recipe and photo courtesy of General Mills, Inc. - used with permission

Don't be afraid! This is a fun way to frost and decorate cupcakes that the whole family will enjoy.

1 1/2 cups Original Bisquick? mix
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk or water
2 tablespoons shortening
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 tub Betty Crocker? Rich & Creamy vanilla or
    butter cream ready-to-spread frosting
8 fudge-dipped flat-bottom ice cream cones
Betty Crocker? Fruit Roll-Ups? strawberry chewy
  fruit snack rolls
Shredded whole wheat cereal biscuits, crushed
Assorted candies, such as candy corn, red string
    licorice and small gumdrops
32 candy eyes
1 tub Betty Crocker? Rich & Creamy chocolate
    ready-to-spread frosting
48 large black gumdrops
Black shoestring licorice, cut into 4-inch pieces

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Place paper baking cup in each of 16 regular-size muffin cups, or grease and flour muffin cups.

Beat Bisquick mix, sugar, milk, shortening, vanilla and egg in large bowl on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 4 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Fill muffin cups about half full.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately remove from pan; cool completely. Frost and decorate cupcakes as directed below for Scarecrows and Hairy Spiders.

Scarecrows: Frost 8 cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Decorate each ice-cream cone with bow made with fruit rolls. Place ice-cream cone upside down on each cupcake for hat. Arrange crushed cereal on cupcakes for hair. Use candy corn for nose, red licorice and small gumdrops for mouth and candy eyes for eyes.

Hairy Spiders: Frost 8 cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Squeeze large black gumdrops, one at a time, through garlic press to form hair; arrange on cupcakes. Insert black licorice pieces into cupcakes for legs. Place candy eyes on large black gumdrops for eyes.

High Altitude (3500-6500 feet) Use paper baking cups. Increase milk to 2/3 cup. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.