To my way of thinking, Halloween is a great excuse to crank up the oven and do a little holiday baking. I think we need to create something fun and whimsical in these challenging times, so bring on chocolate and candy corn.

The kids can join in to make Mini Triple-Treat Cupcakes. Children can gleefully unwrap a load of miniature peanut-butter cups and press them into the unbaked batter in each paper lined mini-muffin cup. Older children, after a warning about the hot pan, can press a candy corn atop each one once they are out of the oven.

Mini Triple-Treat Cupcakes

Yield: About 48

INGREDIENTS

48 mini muffin paper liners

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup natural peanut butter (no added sugar)

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, ro

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