Mini monsters

Cupcakes

• 250 g unsalted butter cut into pieces and softened
• 250 g water
• 50 g Dutch cocoa powder
• 150 g buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
• 300 g plain flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 300 g white sugar
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Buttercream icing

• 250 g icing sugar (see Tips)
• 120 g unsalted butter cut into pieces and softened
• 2 tsp boiling water
• ½ tsp natural vanilla extract
• natural food colouring of choice (e.g. green, grey)
• lollies of choice, for decorating (e.g, licorice, candy eyes, bullets, jubes, marshmallows, etc.)