Fourth of July Firecracker Cupcakes

Holidays are a great time to celebrate with family and friends. During many holidays we host or attend family and friend get togethers or parties. During many of these occasions we look for something special to take to the festivities.

Any holiday is a great opportunity to create special treats for your children or guests. The Fourth of July is no exception. Many families have cookouts or family gatherings to celebrate Independence Day.

In addition to the typical celebrations with water fun, homemade ice cream, and fireworks, add a super firecracker cupcake treat to your list. Show off your creative side with cupcakes that look much more difficult to make then they really are. These cakes are beautiful, fun, and tasty! They are sure to be a hit with children and adults alike!

These cute cupcakes are also excellent to send by your child to preschools or summer programs. They are especially cute if your have a birthday party near the Fourth of July. Never hesitate to bring the near holidays into your parties.

Fourth of July Firecracker Treats

Ingredients

5 Cups of Coconut such as Baker's Angle Flake

Red Food Coloring

24 baked cupcakes, cooled (any flavor you desire)

1 12 oz tub of Cool Whip topping thawed

Blue decorating gel

Red string licorice

Tint all of the coconut by using the red food coloring. Add a small amount of food coloring at a time until the coconut is a bright red.

Trim any edges that hang over off of the tops of the cupcakes.

Use a small amount of whipped topping to attach the bottoms of 2 cupcakes together. One cupcake will sit upside down and the other on top. Repeat this step with all of the other cupcakes. Stand the attached cupcakes on a serving plate or tray.

Frost the attached cupcakes with the remaining whipped topping. Press the red coconut onto the sides. BE certain to coat the cups all of the way around. Do not put red coconut on the top (white whipped topping should show on the top).

Draw a star using the blue decorating gel on top of the attached cupcakes. The star will be drawn on the white whipped topping.

Insert a piece of red string licorice into the middle of the star to create a fuse for the firecrackers.

You can use blue and red sprinkles lightly around the star and fuse.

Store your firecrackers in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

This recipe makes 12 firecrackers.