Wicked Cupcakes Food

WICKED WITCH CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the legs: Roll the white fondant into two 15-inch-long logs for the legs of the witches, using your hands or a bowl scraper to smooth the logs out. Use a ruler to measure out twelve 2 1/2-inch-long lengths and use a paring knife or pizza wheel to cut the lengths. Round one of the ends of each of the legs to attach the shoes to.
• Make the stripes on the tights: Roll out the black fondant about 1/8-inch-thick with a small rolling pin. Cut even 1-inch strips, and then cut across to make 1/4-inch-wide strips. These will be the stripes on the witches' legs. Use a small amount of shortening to attach 3 strips to each of the legs. Flip the legs over and trim off the excess black fondant using a paring knife or pizza wheel, so the stripes wrap around perfectly.
• For the shoes: Divide your red fondant into 12 even pieces, each about .1 ounce (about the size of a raspberry). Roll a piece of fondant into a ball to start, then form it into a teardrop shape. Make the tip come to a point with your fingertips and curl it back slightly. Place the curled tip of the shoe face up on your surface and use your fondant tool to press in and down slightly, making the heel of the shoe; hold the shoe on either side to help it keep its. Use a ball tool opposite the heel to make a little hole where the leg will attach. Repeat with remaining pieces of red fondant, making a total of 12 shoes. Coat the shoes in a light coating of shortening using a paintbrush. Dip the shoes into the red edible luster dust. Attach the legs with a bit water, pressing the rounded end of the leg into the top of the shoe.
• Allow the legs and shoes to dry for at least 30 minutes. Place the legs in pairs on a platter, leaving a good amount of space between pairs. Press a cupcake upside down on top of each pair of legs and serve.

WICKED WITCH CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Chocolate Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. Line cupcake tins with 12 paper liners; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine cocoa, sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add butter, milk, egg, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for two minutes. (Alternatively, combine ingredients in a large bowl, then beat with a hand-held electric mixer.) Add boiling water and beat to combine (batter will be thin). Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners.
• Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Buttercream Frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Begin beating on low speed, increasing to high for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Using food coloring, tint the icing dirty green.
• Using a melon baller, scoop out the center of each cupcake, and fill with candy-coated chocolates, if desired.
• Cover the tops of each cupcake with a generous mound (about 1/3 cup) of buttercream. Insert one candy corn into each cupcake to form a nose. Insert two candy-coated chocolates into each cupcake to form eyes. Place two 1/2-inch lengths of licorice above the eyes to form eyebrows for the witch. Place the 1/4-inch licorice lengths above the eyebrows to form bangs. Place an inverted cone on top of bangs, pressing gently into buttercream to adhere. Place the 2-inch licorice lengths under the cone hat to form the hair. Decorated cupcakes can be stored up to 1 day at room temperature.