EASY SPIDER WEB HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES

• Batch of cupcakes- baked and cooled to room temperature; your choice of flavor
• Icing (make a batch or use store bought)
• Icing Gel- several tubes (purchase contrasting color to the icing color- ex. white icing- use black or purple gel for the spider web- Gel is sold at grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Michaels, etc.)
• 1 toothpick for each child/student (if using this as group activity)
• 1 spatula or knife -for spreading the icing (if group project, suggest 1 plastic knife for each child/student)
• 1 plastic spider/ bat ring (enough that each cupcake has it's own ring)
• Napkins
   

Apply an even layer of icing- the smoother the better.  Next, use the contrasting Gel and draw three thin concentric circles.

Use the toothpick to "drag" through the Gel rings...make sure you don't go too deep or you will pull cupcake crumbs into your icing web!

Tip:  Start in the middle and drag to the outside.  I ususally do this about 4-6 times. (picture 2)

Position your plastic spider, bat, fly, etc. anywhere on the web.  Push it slightly to embed in the cake.  Enjoy!

Tip:  Younger children should not use smaller items like a plastic fly- potential choking hazard.   Dollar stores are a great resource for locating interesting "Halloween" plastic toy items for this project.

If you enjoyed making this Spider Web, you may want to consider using the same technique but with three different colored gels for a tye-dye look.  Sorry for the poor quality of this photo- it's from a cellphone...it shows a spring time color scheme using pink and yellow gels on white icing.  Here's some other ideas I have used in the past:

• 60's Decade themed parties...suggest using pink/purple and yellow or green- for a tye dye look.   
• Patriotic cupcakes using red/ and blue gel on white icing.
• Holiday with red/green gel on white icing.

Kids and adults go crazy for this simple to do decorating technique.  Have fun!