Monster Mash Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line twenty-four to thirty 21/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups.

In a medium bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl beat butter with a mixer on medium 30 seconds. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, until combined. Scrape sides of bowl; beat 2 minutes more. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to butter mixture, beating on low after each just until combined.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.

Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pans; let cool on wire racks.

To decorate, tint frosting green. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip or plastic bag with one corner snipped, pipe long spikes on cupcakes as desired. Dip pretzel sticks in melted coating and attach candy eyeballs while still moist. Insert 2 pretzels into each cupcake. Let stand until set.