Box Tops for Education

Cupcake Pet Parade

Party for a pet lover? Celebrate with cupcakes decorated to look like cats, dogs and bunnies.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1 cup milk
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 container (1 lb) Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting
• 1 tablespoon chocolate-flavored syrup
• About 2 rolls Betty Crocker® Fruit Roll-Ups® chewy fruit snack rolls in favorite flavor (from 5-oz box)
• 24 semisweet chocolate chips
• 16 large gumdrops
• 1 tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® pink decorating gel
• 24 miniature candy-coated chocolate baking bits
• 8 miniature creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies
• 1 tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® black decorating gel
• About 32 small gumdrops

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 24 regular-size muffin cups with shortening; lightly flour (or line muffin cups with paper baking cups). In medium bowl, beat flour, sugar, shortening, milk, baking powder, salt, vanilla and egg with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 3 minutes longer, scraping bowl frequently. Fill muffin cups half full.
2. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 2 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. For cats, stir together 1/2 cup of the frosting and the chocolate syrup. Spread chocolate frosting over tops of 8 cupcakes. Cut small pieces of fruit snack for ears. Cut additional fruit snack into 1x1/4-inch strips for whiskers. Use chocolate chips for nose and eyes. Arrange on frosting to make cat faces.
4. For rabbits, spread half of the remaining vanilla frosting over tops of 8 cupcakes. Flatten large gumdrops with rolling pin; slightly fold and shape to form ears. Use pink gel to make inner ears. Cut fruit snack or flatten gumdrops and cut into 2x1/4-inch strips for whiskers. Use baking bits for eyes and nose. Arrange on frosting to make rabbit faces.
5. For dogs, spread remaining vanilla frosting over tops of remaining 8 cupcakes. Break or cut cookies in half; press 2 halves in each frosted cupcake for ears. Use black gel for spots or streaks on face. Use small gumdrops for eyes and nose. Flatten additional gumdrops for tongue. Arrange on frosting to make dog faces.

Nutritional Information