Witch Cupcakes with Creme de Menthe Butter Cream Frosting

About a month ago I asked my niece what kinda cake she wanted for her birthday.

(cuz I make the cakes)

After making some suggestions, (fairy, monsters, flowers), she said,
"I want a witch cake. With green skin,

a hat,

and a cart.

(aka a cape)

I went on an exhaustive search for some ideas on Pinterest and the world wide web,

I discovered there weren't that many ideas.

I also knew I didn't wanna bother with fondant.  It looks pretty, but lacks in the flavor department.

In the end, I just winged it. 

I made chocolate cupcakes and some homemade creme de menthe 

butter cream frosting.
(Which was the best icing I've ever made, 
in my not so humble opinion).

I used fruit roll ups for the capes, 
a dark chocolate fudge stripe cookie, frosting and a Hershey's Kiss for the hats,
and candy eyes I acquired from the local baking supplies shop.

(Where, I swear, being rude and exhibiting poor customer 

service skills is a prerequisite of all

applicants. 

Their tag line should be something like:
"Don't expect service with a smile."
 

Or!

"We may sell sweets, but the employees here are anything but!")

My niece, the birthday girl, helped me assemble the cupcakes.

But not before she ate half the capes.

In the end we had an army of edible witches.... 

The birthday girl liked making them, even if she didn't eat them.

(She really doesn't eat cake.

What kinda wacky kid doesn't eat cake? 
This one!)

Even Pop-Pop enjoyed the cupcakes

(Sans the cape.
He's of the generation that 
is freaked out by fruit roll ups)

Oh!  You want the recipe for the Creme de Menthe Buttercream frosting??
 

Ingredients:

4 sticks unsalted butter

6 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup creme de menthe

1/8 cup milk

1/2 tsp peppermint extract
 
Directions:  
Add butter and milk and mix with electric mixer.   
Slowly add powdered sugar by the cupful.  
Add the creme de menthe and peppermint extract until all is well blended.

**Note: If you want thicker frosting, add more powdered sugar.
If you want a mintier frosting, add more creme de menthe and/or peppermint extract.

Enjoy!