Uniqua Cupcakes

Cupcake is another word for happiness. These cupcakes look like Uniqua and require only basic cake decorating supplies and some candies for her antennae.

Watch The Backyardigans every day on Nick Jr.

Ingredients

• 2 cans (16 oz. each) vanilla frosting
• Green and pink paste food coloring
• 24 vanilla wafers
• Pink food color spray (such as Color Mist™ from Wilton)
• 24 unfrosted cupcakes
• 48 mini chocolate chips
• 12 pink fruit chews (Starburst®), 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 pink with the food colors and spoon into a resealable bag. Tint the remaining vanilla frosting a lighter pink.

2. Step 2

   Trim 1/4 inch on opposite sides of the vanilla wafers to make an oval shape using a serrated knife. Place the cookies on a wire rack placed over a wax-paper-lined sheet pan. Heat the lighter pink frosting in a microwave-proof measuring cup for 5 seconds, or until it's the texture of slightly whipped cream. (Do not overheat!) Pour the frosting over the cookies to cover them completely. Reheat the excess if necessary. Let the cookies dry for about 30 minutes.

3. Step 3

   Cut the wax paper into a 3 inch square. Cut out a 3/4-inch-circle in the center. Place the opening over a dried cookie and spray lightly with the food spray. Continue over the cookie to create Uniqua's pattern. Continue with the remaining cookies.

4. Step 4

   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.

5. Step 5

   Pipe dots of vanilla frosting for the eyes and attach the mini chocolate chips, flat-side up. Add a small dot of frosting onto the chocolate chips. Mold the fruit chew into a 1 1/2 inch rope. Curl one end and place at the top of the cupcake as Uniqua's antenna. Snip a small corner from the bag with the darker pink frosting and pipe the mouth and eyebrows. Continue with the remaining cupcakes and ingredients.

Nurtition Facts

• Calories: 312
• Total Fat: 13g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Cholesterol: 19mg
• Sodium: 136mg
• Total Carbs: 48g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 40g
• Protein: 2g