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You don't have to be a master chef to create a fun and festive Halloween cake that your kids will love. Try this easy recipe for success!

Cake decorations:

1 box chocolate or yellow cake mix (ingredients needed will vary per brand, usually eggs, oil, and water)
cinnamon red hots
Cherry Heads (or other round red candies)
miniature marshmallows
licorice vines; cut into two inch lengths
miniature chocolate chips
gum drops
orange jellied candies
large marshmallows
raisins

Frosting:

6 tbsp butter or margarine
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 2/3 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup milk

Instructions:

Prepare cake as package directs. While cake is baking, prepare frosting and decorations (below).

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INCH WORMS
Using 5 gumdrops and two cinnamon hots per worm, line up the gumdrops, one in front of the other. Use a toothpick to create indentations in the leading gumdrop. Insert cinnamon hots for eyes.

ANGRY EYES
Place two large marshmallows next to each other, on end. Place a cinnamon hot in the center of each marshmallow for eyeball. Using two 2-inch long licorice vines, create angry eyebrows over the cinnamon hots.

SPYING EYES
Use miniature marshmallows for the eyes and miniature chocolate chips for the eyeballs. Use a toothpick to create a little hole in each marshmallow top, then insert the pointed side of the chocolate chip into the marshmallow.

CREEPY CRAWLIES
Using a toothpick, poke three holes completely through the sides of an orange jellied candy. Insert licorice vines for legs, poking through the other side and pulling them through. Use toothpick to create small holes in "head" and insert two miniature chocolate chips as eyes.

GOOFY EYES
Stand two large marshmallows on end, top with cinnamon hots or raisins for eyeballs, in cross-eyed fashion.

MARSHMALLOW SPIDER
Place large marshmallow on it's side. Use a toothpicks to poke three holes on each side of marshmallow to insert legs. Use licorice vines for legs, gently press into the holes. Use two miniature chocolate chips for eyes.

BUG EYES
Stand two large marshmallows on end, top with Cherry Heads for eyeballs.

SKULL
Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut a large marshmallow in half lengthwise. Cut triangular slits out of sides to create jawbone effect. Use toothpick to insert holes for eyes, use miniature chocolate chips. Cut a small piece off of a licorice vine for straight mouth, and a tiny piece for nose. Use a miniature marshmallow for the neck.

MUMMY IN A COFFIN
Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut a large marshmallow in half lengthwise, but not completely. Unfold the marshmallow and lay it down, open side up to create the coffin. Use a miniature marshmallow for the head, and body. Cut up a miniature marshmallow for the arms and legs. Use small pieces of licorice vine for the mouth and eyes.

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