This googly-eyed cupcake will get tongues wagging! Pretzels, marshmallows and candy help this monster come to life.
—KAREN TACK RIVERSIDE, CT
PREP: 45 MIN. + STANDING • MAKES: 6 CUPCAKES
6 chocolate or vanilla cupcakes baked in black foil liners
1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
Neon purple food coloring
9 large marshmallows
18 thin pretzel sticks
Black licorice laces
12 mini marshmallows
6 pink fruit chews
18 brown mini M&M’s
1. Spread tops of cupcakes with a mound of vanilla frosting. Spoon 1 tablespoon vanilla frosting into a small resealable bag. Tint the remaining vanilla frosting neon purple with the food coloring and place in a microwave-safe measuring cup.
2. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Cut large marshmallows in half crosswise with scissors. Insert a pretzel stick into the side of each marshmallow to create eyes. Cut the black licorice laces into eighteen 2-in. pieces. Cut the mini marshmallows in half on the diagonal to make the teeth. Soften pink fruit chews in the microwave for no more than 3 seconds.
3. Roll out each fruit chew into a 3-in. length. Cut into a long tongue with a rounded end. Press the back of a knife down the middle of the fruit chew to make the crease in the center of the tongue.
4. Place a wire rack over a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Heat the neon purple frosting in the microwave, stirring every 10 seconds, until the frosting is the consistency of slightly whipped cream, about 25 to 30 seconds total. Holding the frosted cupcakes by the foil liners, dip the cupcakes just up to the liners. Allow the excess frosting to drip off before inverting cupcake. Transfer to the wire rack to set.
5. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes. If the frosting becomes too thick, return it to the microwave and heat it for about 5 to 10 seconds longer, stirring well before dipping.
6. Holding the marshmallow eyes by the pretzel end, dip top half of marshmallows into the frosting to make the eyelids. Transfer the marshmallows to the waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. While frosting is still wet, add the black licorice lace along the dipped edge as the eyelid. Repeat with the remaining marshmallows. Snip a small corner from the bag with vanilla frosting. Pipe a dot of frosting on the marshmallow area and add the brown M&M as a pupil. Let eyes set for about 30 minutes before assembling cupcakes.
7. Spoon some of the remaining purple frosting on top of the dipped cupcakes and allow the frosting to drip over the sides.
8. While frosting is still wet, add three to four cut mini marshmallow pieces as the teeth along one edge of cupcakes. Insert three marshmallow eyes at different heights. Transfer to a serving platter and add the fruit chew tongue under the teeth.
HOW-TO
People-Eater Cupcakes Are Eerily Easy!
Don’t let the recipe for Purple People-Eater cupcakes scare you off! They’re a cinch with a few no-fuss tips.
Making the Tongue:
Roll out each fruit chew into a 3-in. length. Cut into a long tongue with a rounded end. Press the back of a knife down the middle of the fruit chew to make the crease in the center of the monster’s tongue.
Making the Eyes:
Holding the marshmallow eyes by the pretzel end, dip the top half of the marshmallows into the frosting to make the eyelids. While the frosting is still wet, add the black licorice lace along the dipped edge as the eyelid. Pipe a dot of frosting on the marshmallow area and add the brown candy as a pupil.
Don’t be afraid to get creative. The above steps are simply ideas to get you started. Put your own spin on your kooky creations, and your adorable monster munchies will steal the spotlight at any Halloween get-together.