Green Monster Cupcakes

Don't let these goblins scare you. They are actually very tasty cupcakes decorated with different candies like licorice laces. Your little monsters will gobble them up!


Servings: 24
Prep Time: 1 hr. 15 min.
Cook Time: 22-25 min.







Ingredients:

• 1 box (18.25 oz.) favorite cake mix
• 2 cans (16 oz.) vanilla frosting
• Green and yellow paste food coloring
• 24 chocolate-covered cookies
• 48 orange candy-coated chocolates
• 24 black candy-coated chocolates or jelly beans
• 1 tube black decorating frosting
• Black licorice laces

Directions:
Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 24 cupcake cups with paper liners. Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Divide evenly between the prepared pans. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

Step 2:
Tint the frosting a light green with the food coloring. Use a tiny dab of paste to start and add more if necessary. (Kids can help.) Spoon some of the frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a small star tip.

Step 3:
Help kids place the chocolate cookies on top of the cupcakes. Starting at the base, pipe lines all around. Continue layering until completely covered. Let kids place the candies on top for the face. Pipe dots as the pupils with the black frosting. Add two 6-inch pieces of the black licorice as the legs.

Kitchen Tip:
To help the cookie stay in place, spread a thin layer of frosting on the bottom of the cookie before placing on the cupcake.