Tasha Cupcakes

Cheerios® can be more than snacks--and floor confetti. Use them to make Tasha's ears. Wondering how to make her head? Beneath the icing is an oblong cookie.

Your backyard friends are on Nick Jr. every day

Ingredients

• 2 cans (16 oz. each) vanilla frosting
• Green, yellow, and brown paste food coloring (such as Wilton)
• 24 chocolate filled cookies (Milanos®)
• 24 unfrosted cupcakes
• 48 mini chocolate chips
• 48 yellow cereal rings (Fruit Loops® or Cheerios®)

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 brown/yellow with the food colors and spoon into a resealable bag. Tint the remaining vanilla frosting a pale yellow.

2. Step 2

   Trim 1/4-inch on one short side of the cookie using a serrated knife. Place the cookies on a wire rack placed over a wax-paper-lined sheet pan. Heat the pale-yellow 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 the 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. Attach the cereal rings as the ears. Snip a small corner from the bag with the brown/yellow frosting and pipe Tasha's nose, mouth, and eyebrows and lashes. Continue with the remaining cupcakes and ingredients.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 349
• Total Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 22mg
• Sodium: 149mg
• Total Carbs: 51g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 41g
• Protein: 2g