• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Fill a regular sized cupcake tin with plain white cupcake liners, set aside.
• In a large bowl, add in all of the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
• Pour the vanilla into the hot water.
• Add the oil, milk, and eggs and water/vanilla mixture to the dry ingredients.
• Mix until everything is combined.
• Use a measuring cup or spoon to scoop batter into each of the lined cupcake cavities. Only fill each cavity approximately ½ - ⅔ the way full.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Check to see if they are cooked all the way through by inserting a toothpick into one of the cupcakes, if the toothpick pulls out without any raw batter (a few crumbs are OK) then the cakes are done.
• Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
• While the cupcakes are cooling, you can make the spiced vanilla frosting.

Spiced Vanilla Frosting

• Get out and measure your ingredients.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the butter and vegetable shortening until light and fluffy.
• While the butter is whipping, add the pumpkin spice, vanilla, and salt to the extremely hot water. Let this sit for 2-3 minutes.
• When the butter has been whipped, add in half of the powdered sugar and mix on medium speed.
• While it is mixing, stream in the water mixture.
• Once combined, mix in the remaining powdered sugar.
• Whip until all is combined and light and fluffy.
• Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large round piping tip. Or you can use a resealable bag and snip off one of the bottom corners.
• If the frosting is too soft to pipe, put in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to cool down.
• Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, pipe the frosting onto each cupcake as seen in pictures.
• Place one of the chocolate chips, pointy side in - flat side out, onto the frosting where you want the mouth of the ghost to be.
• Then place the eyes above the mouth. Point the eyes in various directions to get different personalities!
• Set finished cupcakes in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to let the frosting set up.
• Optional, add a fun cobweb cupcake sleeve for a cute finishing touch!
• Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days inside your fridge.