Halloween Spider Web Cupcakes

Directions

1. 1
   Heat oven to 350F.
2. 2
   Place paper baking cups into 24 muffin pan cups; set aside.
3. 3
   Combine sugar and 1/4 cup butter in bowl.
4. 4
   Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
5. 5
   Add eggs; continue beating until creamy.
6. 6
   Add sour cream, milk and vanilla.
7. 7
   Continue beating until well mixed.
8. 8
   Add all remaining cupcake ingredients; beat at low speed until well mixed.
9. 9
   Fill prepared muffin cups with about 2 tablespoons batter.
10. 10
    Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
11. 11
    Cool completely.
12. 12
    Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in bowl.
13. 13
    Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency.
14. 14
    Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, 3-4 minutes or until smooth.
15. 15
    Place melted chocolate in small heavy-duty resealable plastic food bag; snip tip from one corner to make very small hole.
16. 16
    Frost 6 cupcakes, using about 1 tablespoon frosting for each cupcake.
17. 17
    Immediately pipe 3 concentric circles of melted chocolate onto each frosted cupcake.
18. 18
    Starting at center, draw toothpick 5 or 6 times through chocolate circles to outside edge of frosting to make spider web design.
19. 19
    Repeat with remaining cupcakes and frosting.
20. 20
    Let stand until chocolate is firm.