Elmo Cupcakes

My son's first birthday was a couple weeks ago, (yikes, I have a toddler now!) and I made these Elmo cupcakes for the kiddos. It was a small affair, so I didn't make too many, which is a good thing because the little kids weren't that into eating cupcakes. I will say though, they all knew it was Elmo, so goal achieved :)



I can't bake for anything, so they are just plain ole Betty Crocker cupcakes, but I did decorate them on my own. It took a little trial and error but here's how I did it:

1. Frost and dip in red sugar sand. Put in fridge immediately to set the sugar into the frosting.
2. Once sugar is set, (about 30 minutes) cut a circus peanut candy a little shorter and keep it curved at the bottom. I cut about a 1/2 inch off. And cut the front off about a 1/2 inch so it'll be a little flatter and it gets the peanut shell pattern off.
3. Cut a large groove in the marshmallow lengthwise. Then cut the back of that off about an 1/8 inch so it'll be flat and sticky.
4. Place the circus peanut in the groove between the marshmallow. Apply frosting to the back of both as if it is glue, and "stick" it to the top of the cupcake. Now you have Elmo's eyes and nose. Whoo hoo, he has half a face!
5. Cut an Oreo cookie in half and scrape the cream off. Eat the rest of the cookie. Yes, this is part of the instructions, so naturally, you have to do it :)
6. Apply frosting to the cookie and "stick" Elmo's mouth on.
7. Use decorator's icing in black for his pupils, and Voila!, you have an Elmo cupcake.
8. Make sure you put them in the fridge until you are ready to display them, it helps keep his face from getting droopy. :)

I also made my son a mini Elmo cake using the same technique, but if you do this, I highly recommend using red frosting for the rest of the cake. I used white and it didn't look as cute.

They probably don't taste too wonderful with Elmo's face on, but they are sooooo stinkin' cute!

***Edited to add: I have been hovering at Kimba's A Soft Spot to Land all summer, and I am finally linking up to her DIY Day on Thursday. Thanks Kimba, I love DIY DAY and I love your site! Check out all the DIY Fun for yourself:
http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/