Monarchs

Monarchs

Makes 1 swarm: 24 cupcakes with 15 large butterflies and 12 small

This swarm of beautiful monarch butterflies is a breathtaking sight. The wings of the butterflies are made using a color-pulling technique blending two colors of candy melting wafers into sophisticated patterns. By placing the wings in different positions on the cupcakes, you create the illusion of movement and fluttering.

  1. Place the 5 templates for the wings (2 sizes) and antennae on 2 or 3 cookie sheets lined with wax paper.
    butterfly templates

    butterfly templates, approximately 7¼ by 3½ inches

    For a printable version, go to www.hmhbooks.com/cupcakes/hc/hellocupcake_templates_all.pdf.

  2. Place 1 cup each of the dark cocoa and orange candy melting wafers into separate ziplock bags. Do not seal the bags. Microwave for 10 seconds to soften. Massage the wafers in the bags, return to the microwave, and repeat the process until the candy is smooth, about 1 minute total (see Techniques). Press out the excess air and seal the bags.
  3. Snip a 1/16-inch corner from each bag. Working on one wing at a time and using the melted dark cocoa, outline the template on wax paper. Go over the outline several times to thicken. Fill In with the orange melted candy. Tap the pan slightly to flatten. Using a round toothpick, pull the dark cocoa into the orange to create the wing design. While the candy is still liquid, sprinkle the upper portion of the dark cocoa outline with the white nonpareils. (See Making Patterned Butterfly Wings, below, for step-by-step photos.) Repeat with the remaining melted candy, melting additional wafers as needed, to make 27 pairs of wings (12 small and 15 large sets). Reheat the candy In the microwave for several seconds If it becomes too thick (be careful not to overheat). Place the cookie sheets in the refrigerator until set, about 5 minutes. Follow the same procedure to make the antennae, using the melted dark cocoa.
  4. Spoon the chocolate frosting into a ziplock bag, press out the excess air, seal, and set aside. Tint the vanilla frosting pale yellow with the food coloring. Spread the yellow frosting on top of the cupcakes.
  5. Carefully peel the chilled wings and antennae from the wax paper. Place 2 brown chocolate candies, ½ inch apart, on top of the cupcakes to form supports for the wings. Press the inside edge of a pair of wings into the frosting about ¼ inch apart, allowing the wings to lean on the chocolate candies (some cupcakes can have 2 small butterflies). Gently press the antennae into the frosting at the head of the butterfly. Snip a ⅛-inch corner from the bag with the chocolate frosting. Starting at the antennae, pipe 4 or 5 beads of frosting down the length of the body, drawing the frosting into a small point on the last bead. Arrange the cupcakes close together on a serving platter.

Making Patterned Butterfly Wings

You can make the wings 1 to 2 days in advance and keep them in a cool, dry location.

making wings
  1. Work quickly because the candy melting wafers will start to set up. Work on one wing at a time. Draw a template on a sheet of paper and cover it with wax paper. Using a ziplock bag filled with melted wafers (see Techniques), make an outline of the template in one color. For large designs, pipe around the outline two or three times to get a thick line.
  2. Using a second ziplock bag filled with a different color of melted wafers, fill in the inside area.
  3. Rap the pan on the surface of the table a couple of times to flatten the melted candy and allow the two colors to smooth into each other.
  4. While the candy is still soft, pull a round toothpick through the two colors, from the outside toward the center, to create a pattern.
  5. You can add a few sprinkles before the wings set.