18-36 Months: Eating with the Family – Your Sociable Child (part 3) – Cupcake Caterpillar

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 12 small muffin or cupcake pans with paper cases.

To make the
cupcakes, mix together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add
the rest of the ingredients and beat until just combined. Divide among
the paper cases. Bake until risen and golden and the center springs back
when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pans briefly.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the
buttercream, beat the butter until pale, then beat in the sugar a little
at a time, followed by the vanilla. The frosting should be spreadable;
add 1–2 tbsp milk if needed. Scoop a rounded tablespoon of the frosting
into a small bowl and color it red. Color half of the remaining frosting
dark green and the rest light green.

To make the head,
frost one of the cupcakes with the red buttercream. Cut two antennae
from the licorice lace and a nose from the licorice ball. For the eyes,
cut a mini-marshmallow in half and color the cut side with a toothpick
dipped in yellow food coloring. Add a silver ball to the center.
Position the antennae, nose, and eyes on the head and add a mouth in
licorice lace. Leave to set.

Frost half of
the remaining cupcakes with dark green buttercream and half with light
green buttercream. Put a line of chocolate cake rolls along the bottom
of a large board (such as a cutting board covered in foil) to make a
tree branch. Position the cupcakes to resemble a caterpillar walking
along the branch. Make markings on the caterpillar’s back with colored
candies, jelly beans, or thin strips of licorice, sticking them into the
buttercream at angles. If you like, add red jelly beans for the
caterpillar’s feet.