Little cakes of horror - PAMELA CLARK, TEST KITCHEN DIRECTOR

Preheat oven to moderate. Line 12-hole (1/3-cup/80ml) muffin pan with paper patty cases. Make cake according to directions on packet, pour ¼ cup mixture into each hole; bake in moderate oven about 20 mins. Stand cakes in pan 5 mins; turn onto wire rack to cool.

Divide butter cream among six small bowls.

Decorations Each quantity is enough for one patty cake.

Snakes alive Cut 1.5cm deep hollow from centre of one patty cake. Tint one bowl of the butter cream with green colouring; spread some of the butter cream over hollowed cake. Position ends of Brite Crawlers in hollow. Using black decorating gel, dot eyes on snakes.

Ghoulish ghosts Tint one bowl of the butter cream with black colouring; spread some of the butter cream over one patty cake. Cut milk bottles into ghost shapes; position on cake. Using black decorating gel, dot eyes on ghosts.

Wacky witch Reserve 1 tablespoon of butter cream from small bowl. Tint remaining butter cream with red colouring; spread some of the butter cream over one patty cake. Slice a thin strip off allsort, trim into triangle; position for witch's hat. Using remainder of allsort, cut black pieces into two thin strips; position on cake for hat brim. Position M&M's for eyes; position Crazy Banana for nose. Tint reserved butter cream with green colouring. Spoon into piping bag; pipe hair onto witch. Using black decorating gel, dot pupils, nose bump and mouth on witch.

Gruesome eyeball Tint one bowl of the butter cream with red colouring; spread some of the butter cream over one patty cake. Trim top of marshmallow; centre on cake for white of eye. Position Smartie on marshmallow for pupil. Use white decorating gel to pipe veins around white of eye on red butter cream.

Black cat Tint one bowl of the butter cream of the butter cream with blue colouring; spread some of the butter cream over one patty cake. Position Smartie on cake for cat's body and mini M&M for head. Cut small piece of licorice strap into thin strip; position on body for tail. Cut small piece of licorice strap into two small triangles ; position on head for ears. Position crazy banana on blue butter cream for moon; position stars around moon. Using white decorating gel, pipe eyes on cat; using black decorating gel, dot pupils on eyes.

Bat attack Tint one bowl of the butter cream with red colouring; spread some of the butter cream over one patty cake. Centre jelly bean for bat's body. Cut two wings from licorice strap; position on either side of body. Using white decorating gel, pipe clouds on red butter cream for sky and eyes on bat; using black decorating gel, dot pupils on eyes. Position stars on red butter cream.