This recipe calls for chocolate candy melts, paste food coloring, a tube of black decorator frosting, and a pastry bag with a small star tip. These can be found at baking-supply and party-supply stores.
1 box (18.25 oz.) cake mix
1 can (16 oz.) plus 1 cup vanilla frosting
Yellow and brown paste food coloring
48 orange mini candies (M&M's)
1 tube black decorating frosting
12 red gum drops (Dots)
24 pink gum drops (Dots)
1 roll strawberry fruit leather (Fruit by the Foot)
Black licorice laces
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place 24 paper liners in the cupcake pans. Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Divide evenly between the prepared pans. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean; 18 to 21 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool 5 minutes. Invert and cool completely.
Step 2
Spoon 1 cup of the vanilla frosting into a resealable bag; set it aside. Tint the remaining frosting a golden brown using the paste food coloring (start with a speck of each paste and add more if necessary). Spoon 1/2 cup of the tinted frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a small star tip. Cover the tops of the cupcakes with the remaining tinted frosting. Snip a small corner from the bag of vanilla frosting. Pipe the mouth area, eyes, and eyebrows. Place the orange candies in the center for Baby Jaguar's eyes. Pipe the pupils, spots, and mouth with the black frosting.
Step 3
Cut the red gum drops in half and use one piece as the nose. Cut the pink gum drops in half and attach at the top of the cupcakes as ears. Cut out the mouth shape from the fruit leather and place on the cupcakes. Pipe the remaining golden brown frosting around the ears and face. Cut the black licorice into 1-inch pieces and press into the cupcakes.
