As the midterm break is almost here, there will be plenty of time to have fun with the kids, such as a bit of home baking. We have two fun and easy baking ideas for Halloween, from the Dr. Oetker brand. Enjoy the themed and tasty cupcakes and gingerbread biscuit recipe.

Halloween Cupcakes

(Makes 12 scary fairy cakes)

What you need

4oz butter or margarine

4oz caster sugar

2 medium size eggs

4oz self-raising flour, sieved

15g cocoa powder

2-3 drops Dr. Oetker Natural Vanilla Extract

Baking cases

To Decorate

Dr. Oetker Ready to Use Fairy Cake Icing (white & yellow icing)

Dr. Oetker Writing Icing

Dr. Oetker Mini Mini Marshmallows

Dr. Oetker Chocolate Stars

What you do

Start by pre-heating the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4 and placing the baking cases into a fairy cake baking tray.

Beat the butter with the sugar until it is light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and the Natural Vanilla Extract. If the mixture starts to curdle, add a little flour. Fold in the remaining flour and cocoa powder with a spoon.

Place spoonfuls of the mixture into the baking cases and bake for 10-15 minutes until the fairy cakes are well risen and firm to the touch. Remove them from the oven and leave to cool on a cooling rack.

For the icing choose a colour of Fairy Cake Icing, massage the pouch for a minute then snip the corner off and pour a small amount over each cake. Using a knife, spread the icing thickly over the fairy cakes. Decorate the cakes using the Writing Icing and sprinkles to make scary faces. Make them as scary as you dare.

Spooky Gingerbread Skeletons and Ghosts

(Makes 12)

What you need

75g dark brown sugar, sieved

3 tbsp golden syrup

1 level tbsp cinnamon or ground mixed spice

1 level tbsp ginger

95g butter or margarine

½ level tsp Dr. Oetker Bicarbonate of Soda

225g plain flour

Or

Ready made gingerbread men

To decorate

Dr. Oetker White Designer Icing

Dr. Oetker Ready to Roll White Icing

Honey

Dr. Oetker Black Designer Icing or Black Writing Icing

What you do

To make your own gingerbread, preheat oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4 and lightly grease a baking tray.

Put sugar, syrup, 1 tbsp water and spices together in a large saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring all the time. Remove the mixture from the heat and cut butter (or margarine) into pieces. Add butter along with the Bicarbonate of Soda.

Gradually mix in the flour until you have a smooth dough. Add a little more flour if needed. Set aside in a cool place for 30 minutes.

Roll out the dough to approx. 3mm thick on a lightly floured surface and, using a cutter, cut out the gingerbread men and place on the baking tray. Bake in the oven for 10–15 minutes or until biscuits are firm and golden. Transfer the biscuits to a wire rack to cool.

To pipe a skeleton shape, use White Designer Icing for each of the bones. To create ghosts, roll out some Ready to Roll White Icing thinly. Using the gingerbread man as a template, cut round the outside to make a white 'ghost' shape. Lightly brush gingerbread men with a little clear honey and secure an icing 'ghost' shape onto each biscuit. To create a ghoulish face use Black Designer Icing or Black Writing Icing, to pipe a pair of scary eyes and a spooky mouth!