Cupcakes:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
3/4 cup oil
3 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Decoration:
4 squares unsweetneed chocolate
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg, beaten
2 cups sifted icing sugar
Decorations: nuts, gum drops, licorice, jelly beans, marshmallows, etc.

Preparation Instructions:

Cupcakes: Combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large mixer bowl. Add water, oil, melted chocolate, vinegar and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed 1/2 minute or with wooden spoon 1 minute, or just until smoothly blended. Spoon batter into 24 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans. Cool completely.

Decoration: Melt chocolate. Cool slightly. Beat butter and egg in small mixer bowl. (Mixture will be curdled.) Add icing sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Beat in chocolate. If necessary, chill 15 minutes for easy spreading. Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons on top of each cupcake. Use your favorite colourful candies and your creativity to make characters.