The Nightmare Before Christmas

Being the patron saint of Christmas is no small order. Just ask a certain Pumpkin King (aka Sandy Claws) who once tried the jolly old elf's hat on for size. While Jack is now apt to leave official holiday business to the real Santa, he's still game to take part in a cookie swap or two.

What you'll need

Batch of chocolate cupcakes
Cupcake frosting tinted "monster" green
Plastic decorating bag for piping frosting (check the cake decorating section of your grocery or craft store)
Kitchen scissors
Black licorice
Toothpick
How to make it
Frost the cupcakes with a thin layer of icing.

Place a half marshmallow on the center of each frosted cupcake.
Cut off the tip of the plastic decorating bag so that the opening is about 3/4-inch wide. Then fill the bag with green frosting (not too full or the frosting will come out the top when you squeeze it).

Working with one cupcake at a time, pipe frosting around the base of the marshmallow and then up and over it, moving toward the center and ending with a large peak.

Smooth the surface of the frosting with a butter knife, periodically dipping the tip of the knife in water so the icing will be easier to spread. Don't worry about making it perfectly smooth -- it will look even more like Oogie Boogie with a few lumps and "wrinkles."

Snip a pair of narrow licorice eyes and a wide licorice mouth for each cupcake. Use the tip of a toothpick to gently press the candy pieces into the frosting face, angling the eyes a bit to resemble Oogie Boogie's.