Just about any layer cake recipe makes good cupcakes. (Yes, you can use a cake mix, but where’s the fun in that?) Avoid poundcake recipes, unless you want very dense cakes. For nicely rounded cupcakes, defy the traditional instructions to fill cupcake molds two-thirds full and instead fill the molds about three-fourths full.

The basic recipes

Next, make them spooky

Icky Eyeball Cupcakes: It's easy to see why these cupcakes have appeal: They're easy and creepy. And they stare up at you while you devour them.

The Best Rest Cupcakes : Or you might call these Gravestone Cupcakes. For the gravestones, choose cookies with a rectangular or oval shape, such as Murray Coconut Bars or Pepperidge Farm Milanos.

Ghostcake Cupcakes: You can put ghosts atop these cakes by dipping Nutter Butter cookies in white chocolate. Or you can use Peeps marshmallow ghost candies. Boo!

Elegant Infestation Cupcakes: These cupcakes were lovely until the bugs found them. But don't worry. The frosting is real. The bugs are just plastic.

The Spooky Spider Cupcakes: We know just what you're thinkig. They're crunchy, and they taste like frosting.

Financial Ruin Cupcakes : Question: What's scarier than a shrinking economy? Answer: Nothing. Boo again!

Your turn: Send us photos of your favorite Halloween treats. Homemade or store-bought, as long as it's your picture, we want to see it. See our Spooky Treat and Cupcake photo gallery .

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