Thanksgiving Dinner Cupcakes

One of my obsessions is cupcakes. Another is food that looks like it's really something else. 

I came up with this idea one day while I was making cupcakes for my daughter's birthday and I ran out of the decorations I was using. I ended up with three cupcakes frosted in plain white buttercream. I kept thinking they looked like a mound of whipped potatoes so I experimented and ended up with these. Since, she's asked me to make them for 3 occasions. They are always a hit!

Make whatever flavor cupcakes you love! Frost 2/3 of them with white buttercream or any other white frosting. You will want to tint the frosting for your peas green. I usually put 1/3 of the frosting in a separate bowl and add a few drops of green food coloring.

Shopping List:

White Frosting

Green Food Coloring
Waxed Paper

Graham Crackers or Vanilla Wafers

White Chocolate Chips or Melting Wafers

Poppy Seeds

Yellow Starburst Candies

Runts Green and Orange Candies

For the Turkey Drumsticks:

1. Crush graham crackers or vanilla wafers and roll the frosted cupcake tops in the crumbs.
2. Melt white chocolate chips or melting wafers in the microwave. Carefully {it will be hot}, pour into a plastic baggie and snip off one corner. While the chocolate is still warm and melty, "draw" the drumstick on waxed paper. {I place the waxed paper on a cookie sheet before starting for easy transport to the fridge}

3. Once the chocolate has hardened, gently peel off the waxed paper and push the bone into the top of the cupcake at an angle.

For the Whipped Potatoes:
1. Sprinkle tops of cupcakes with poppy seeds.
2. Unwrap several yellow Starburst Candies and place on a plate on top of a piece of waxed paper. Heat for just a few seconds. This is a little tricky the first couple of times. You may lose a few in the process. If heated too long, the candy bubbles and makes a mess. If you do more than one at a time, they tend to run together. You just want it warm. Once the candy starts to melt and lose it's shape {looks like melting butter}, place it in the freezer to cool. Once firm, peel off waxed paper and place on top of cupcake.

I've also used caramel or butterscotch sundae topping in place of the butter. It looks just like gravy!

For the Peas and Carrots:

1. Mix your green frosting and top the remaining 1/3 of your cupcakes. 

2. Top with green and orange Runts candies. 

I buy the Runts at the Dollar Store. Usually three boxes will be enough to cover 6 cupcakes with green and orange. I use more peas than carrots because I like the way they look. 

If you have any suggestions or pictures of your own, please share!

You Can Do It!