Austin Cupcakes

Fruit chews for Austin's ears, vanilla wafers covered in purple icing for his face, and a little creative piping bring this Backyardigan to culinary life.

Catch them every day on Nick Jr.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (16 oz. each) vanilla frosting
• Green, pink, and purple paste food coloring (such as Wilton)
• 24 vanilla wafers
• 24 unfrosted cupcakes
• 48 mini chocolate chips
• 12 purple fruit chews (Now and Laters®), quartered lengthwise

Directions

1. Step 1

   Tint one can of the vanilla frosting green. Spoon 1 cup of the green frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a small star tip; set it aside. Spoon 1/4 cup of the vanilla frosting into a resealable bag; set it aside. Tint 1/4 cup of the vanilla frosting a dark pinkish-purple with the food coloring and spoon into a resealable bag. Tint the remaining 1 1/2 cups of the vanilla frosting a lighter pinkish-purple.

2. Step 2

   Trim 1/4 inch on opposite sides of the vanilla wafers using a serrated knife. Place the cookies on a wire rack placed over a wax-paper-lined sheet pan. Heat the lighter pink/purple frosting in a microwave-proof measuring cup for five seconds, or until it's the texture of slightly whipped cream. (Do not overheat!) Pour the frosting over the cookies to cover completely. Reheat the excess if necessary. Let the cookies dry for about 30 minutes.

3. Step 3

   Meanwhile frost the tops of the cupcakes with the green frosting. Transfer the cookies to the center of each cupcake. Pipe several patches of "grass" with the frosting in the pastry bag with the star tip.

4. Step 4

   Pipe dots of vanilla frosting for the eyes and attach the mini chocolate chips, flat-side up. Add a small dot of vanilla frosting onto the chocolate chip. Mold a fruit chew into a pointed ear shape. Attach as Austin's ears at the top of his head. Snip a small corner from the bag with the darker purple frosting and pipe his nose, mouth, and ears. Continue with the remaining cupcakes and ingredients.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 309
• Total Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 19mg
• Sodium: 137mg
• Total Carbs: 48g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 39g
• Protein: 2g