For parties of any size, use a single 8-in. layer cake and cupcakes simply decorated in orange icing and topped with plastic novelties.

Use an open coupler and a series of 'c's and backwards 'c's to pipe pumpkin designs.

Pipe a series of ghosts to form the top border of this cake. To create a ghost, pipe a large teardrop, and add two arms.

Use open tip No. 3 and chocolate icing to pipe facial expressions on the pumpkins. Or, leave the faces off for a design that is appropriate for the entire autumn season.

Heat roll/donut icing to dip the cupcakes. Also use the icing to drip down the sides of a baseiced cake.

Halloween is full of ghosts and goblins running rampant and children of all ages dressing up in creative costumes. The following featured cakes are certain to add a tasty and festive note to many celebrations. To get the most out of the holiday, set up a display of decorated cakes in early October for your customers to view and select for the events of the season.

The jack o'lantern cake is an 8-in. round base-iced in white icing. Use an open coupler to pipe the orange pumpkin. Pipe a 'c' and a backwards 'c' to create the outer edge of the pumpkin. Repeat the 'c' and backwards 'c', working your way to the center. Pipe a straight line in the center to complete the pumpkin. Add facial features in chocolate or black icing. Use a palette knife to flatten the top of the pumpkin, and add some pieces of candy. Pipe a "trick or treat" message using open tip No. 3, and a reverse shell top border with star tip No. 22. Instead of a bottom border, use festive sugar shapes along the sides of the cake.

A cake and cupcake platter is ideal for customers who want serving hassles kept to a minimum. Base ice the single layer 8-in. cake with orange icing. Use a large star tip to ice the cupcakes, also with orange icing. With the same tip, pipe a triple 'e,' reverse triple 'e' top border on the cake. Add some colored holiday sprinkles to both the cake and cupcakes for garnish. Finish with plastic novelties or candies available from bakery suppliers.

Ghostly borders
Another cool idea is this ghost cake that uses ghosts for the top border. After icing a cake (any shape will work) in orange icing, pipe a bottom shell border using a No. 22 star tip. Pipe the ghosts with open tip No. 12 or larger. First, pipe an elongated teardrop, and then add the arms. Add features and an inscription using open tip No. 3, and garnish with colored sugars.

A tiered cake is a wonderful centerpiece for a Halloween party table. The stand I used is a sturdy disposable one, although many different types are available, both disposable and/or reusable. This particular one has ample room on top to place a double 6-in. layer cake and cupcakes on the bottom tiers. Base ice the cake in a white non-dairy icing, and heat orange roll/donut icing. Pour it over the cake and allow it drip down the sides. Also, heat chocolate, orange and white roll/donut icing, and dip the tops of the cupcakes. Pipe simple, white shell top and bottom borders on the cake. Finish the cake and cupcakes with plastic novelties.

All-season pumpkin vines
This pumpkin vine design works well for any size party because it can be adapted to fit any size or shape cake. Ice the cake in chocolate icing, and use No. 22 star tip to pipe a shell bottom border and a triple 'e,' reverse triple 'e' top border. With green icing and open tip No. 3, pipe a squiggly line on two top edges of the cake, creating the pumpkin vine. With the same tip, add some tendrils to the vine.

Next, use open tip No. 10 and orange icing to pipe pumpkins along the vine. To pipe the pumpkin, pipe a 'c' with a backwards 'c' next to it. Repeat the 'c' and backwards 'c'. Then, pipe a straight line down the center of the 'c's to join them. Using leaf tip No. 352, stripe a pastry bag with red color down one side and fill it with green icing. Then, pipe leaves along the vine. Add stems and faces to the pumpkins with a No. 3 open tip and chocolate icing. Use open tip No. 4 to pipe an appropriate inscription. You may want to leave the faces off the pumpkins to use this design for the entire autumn season.