1. Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on your chocolate cake mix box. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix with the eggs, water, and vegetable oil according to the package directions. Mix until just combined and smooth, being careful not to overmix. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

2. Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is crucial; attempting to frost warm cupcakes will result in melted, messy frosting.

3. While the cupcakes are cooling, open your container of vanilla frosting. If it seems a little stiff, you can warm it slightly in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to make it more spreadable, but be careful not to overheat it.

4. Once the cupcakes are completely cool, use an offset spatula or a butter knife to spread a generous layer of white vanilla frosting evenly over the top of each cupcake. Aim for a smooth, flat surface as this will be the canvas for your spiderweb design.

5. Take your tube of black decorating gel or black icing. Starting from the center of each frosted cupcake, draw a small spiral outwards towards the edge. Don’t worry about making it perfect; a slightly imperfect spiral adds to the charm.

6. Immediately after drawing the spiral, take a clean toothpick. Starting from the center of the cupcake, drag the toothpick outwards through the black spiral lines towards the edge of the cupcake. Repeat this motion several times around the cupcake, creating spokes that transform the spiral into a classic spiderweb pattern. Clean your toothpick between each drag for sharper lines.

7. For an extra touch of spooky cuteness, place a small round candy or a candy eye near the edge of the cupcake to represent a spider’s body. Use a tiny dot of black decorating gel to draw eight small legs extending from the body onto the web.