These chick, pig and moo-cow cupcakes can’t get cuter. Pick a favorite animal and prepare to delight your little ones!
—COLLEEN PALMER EPPING, NH
PREP: 45 MIN. • BAKE: 25 MIN. + COOLING • MAKES: 2 DOZEN
1package devil’s food cake mix (regular size)
FOR PIGS
1can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
Pink paste food coloring
FOR CHICKS
1to 2 cans (16 ounces each) vanilla frosting
Yellow paste food coloring
FOR MOO-COWS
1can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
Pink paste food coloring
1can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting
FOR FACES
Miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Semisweet chocolate chips
Halved miniature marshmallows
Assorted candies (Brach’s white dessert mints, pink mint candy lozenges, Good & Plenty candies and candy corn)
1. Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Fill 24 paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 21-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
2. For pigs, tint frosting pink; frost cupcakes. Attach miniature chocolate chips and dessert mints for eyes, pink candy lozenges for snouts, miniature chocolate chips for nostrils and Good & Plenty candies for ears.
3. For chicks, tint frosting yellow. Insert #17 star tip in a pastry bag. Transfer frosting to bag; pipe stars to cover top of cupcakes. Pipe a large ball for heads. Pipe on wings using a leaf tip. Attach miniature chocolate chips and dessert mints for eyes and candy corn for beaks.
4. For moo-cows, tint 1/4 cup vanilla frosting pink, set aside. With remaining white frosting, create a white face-shaped stripe down the center of each cupcake. Fill in the unfrosted portion with the chocolate frosting. Attach the chocolate chips for eyes, the miniature chips for noses and marshmallow halves for ears. With reserved pink frosting, create mouths and fill in ears.