Buggin' Out Cupcakes

Any child is quick to answer this question: What makes perfect birthdays? An unforgettable birthday cake, of course! But, what law binds us to creating something large and layered? Cupcakes require no messy slicing - and are like presents for everyone at a birthday party!

The combination of multi-colored icing and clever slicing leave guests debating whether to satisfy their taste buds, or to continue enjoying these aesthetically pleasing critters! Moreover, with gumdrop heads and licorice antennae, these personal-sized birthday cakes keep on giving. All you need to make these ingenious insects is the following ingredients:

1 - Box Standard Chocolate Cake Mix
1 - Jar of Vanilla Icing
1 - Jar of Chocolate Icing
3-5 - Tints of food coloring
3-5 - Small bowls
Cupcake liners
Serrated Knife
1 - Bag of gumdrops
1 - Bag of Pull 'n Peel Twizzlers

**Prepare ahead of time 1 recipe of chocolate cake mix in cupcake liners. Also, divide the vanilla/white icing into the small bowls and tint each bowl differently with desired color of food coloring.
(Note: I discovered using the pre-tinted jars of ready-to-decorate icing that come with multiple piping tips may have cost more, but required less preparation and clean-up time.)

1. After cupcakes are cooled, use the serrated knife to evenly slice the domed tops off of each cupcake. Cut each top in half and place to the side.

2. Using a spatula, spread colored icing over each flat cupcake top. Next, position cupcake tops on top of frosted cupcakes, aligning the points to meet just inside the cupcake. After all wings are attached, refrigerate cupcakes for 30 minutes - or until frosting is firm and wings appear to be "glued" on.

3. During refrigeration time, prepare insect's head by cutting a single strand from a licorice pull 'n peel to desired antennae length. Additionally, cut one end of each antenna into a point. Next, use a toothpick to create 2 holes in each gumdrop, inserting the pointed end of the licorice in each hole. Once cupcakes are removed from refrigerator, use extra icing to "glue" on the heads to the insect's body.

4. Lastly, decorate your bug's wings with desired frosting colors. For variations, pipe out designs on unfrosted cake wings, while also piping bright dotted decorations to brightly frosted wings.

What is ideal about the preparation involved with these birthday cake delights is that children will enjoy helping out by gluing on heads and attaching antennae. This is sure to become one 'bug problem' you will not want to exterminate!

(Inspired from recipe at MarthaStewart.com)