Culinary.net : Recipes - Fall Feet First Into Cupcake Fun

Fall Feet First Into Cupcake Fun

(Family Features) - Step up to the charm and whimsy of Inchworm By The Yard. Simple cupcakes baked in Silly-Feet! silicone baking cups create this colorful, walking inchworm - perfect for everything from kid-friendly get-togethers to fun-filled birthday parties.

Easy to make, these treats start with a cake mix. Then, add mix-ins of chopped candy bars or baking chips, or a combination. The chocolaty possibilities are endless.

Once cool, decorating is a snap. Ice each cupcake in colors to match the Silly-Feet baking cup, or mix and match. Use a star-shaped decorating tip to make the fuzzy spikes on each inchworm "segment." The recipe contains foolproof step-by-step instructions to show you how. Or, just use swirls of colored icing and decorate with chewy gumballs, lollipop sticks and mini candy-coated chocolate dots to form the face and antennae. Fall Feet First Into Cupcake Fun

For ease, arrange the cheerful inchworm on a decorative tray or serving platter. Then treat guests to this silly surprise. Silly-Feet also make amusing serving cups for ice cream or fruit or fun holders for candies and other tasty treats.

Visit www.wilton.com for tips and projects on baking and decorating. Also, check out www.cupcakefun.com for cupcake ideas, accessories and more.

Inchworm By the Yard
Makes: 8 cupcakes

1 18.25-ounce package yellow cake mix
1-1/3 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped chocolate candy bars or chocolate, butterscotch or peanut butter chips
2-1/2 cups buttercream icing
Black, Royal Blue, Lemon Yellow, Orange, Violet and Rose* Icing Colors
Clear Vanilla Extract
Small gum balls and mini candy-coated chocolate dots

To bake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place Silly-Feet on cookie sheet for support. Prepare cake mix following package instructions. Stir in chopped candy bars or chips. Pour batter into Silly-Feet up to fill-line on inside of cup. Bake 20 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Move Silly-Feet to cooling grid; cool completely. Pour any remaining batter into standard muffin pan lined with baking cups. Bake according to package directions.

To decorate: Add a little vanilla extract to black icing color. Paint 2 lollipop sticks for antennae; let dry. Heavily ice cupcakes smooth (2 of each color), building up in center. Decorate with tip #21 using pull-out star technique: hold decorating bag straight up with tip about 1/8 inch above surface. Squeeze bag to form star then pull straight up, gradually decreasing pressure as you pull away.

Cut a hole in 2 gumballs; insert on painted lollipop stick for antennae. For head cupcake, trim and slightly bend antennae as needed and insert in cupcake. Position gumball eyes and nose. Pipe black icing pupils on gumball eyes. Position chocolate dots for mouth. Assemble cupcakes in caterpillar formation.

*Combine Violet with Rose to create lilac color icing shown.

SOURCE: Wilton Enterprises, Inc.