Using candy to decorate seasonal goodies is a fun family activity and great way to add flare to your celebration. Turn your average cupcake into a Jack-O-Lantern. Start by baking and frosting a batch of 2” cupcakes. While you wait for the cupcakes to cool completely, wrangle up your favorite gum and candies. Gum is easy for kids to work because they can cut, twist and shape it to create patterns and details on your treats making them ready for display in the bakery window!
You will need…
(12) 2 inch cupcakes
<
Orange frosting
<
Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape Tangy Tropical
<
Hubba Bubba Max Island Punch
<
(5) pieces Eclipse gum for teeth (per cupcake)
<
(2) pieces Life Savers Gummies for eyes (per cupcake)
<
(2) chocolate chips (per cupcake)
Instructions
Bake the cupcakes according to the instructions on the box; let them cool completely. Generously cover each cupcake with bright orange frosting.
Using the gum…
Cut the Bubble Tape gum into three 1/3” strips. Drape each strip along the cupcake, starting at bottom, running the tape across the top to create pumpkin “ridges”. Once the strips are positioned where you want them, secure each piece by pressing lightly into the frosting. Use pieces of Hubba Bubba Max gum (it molds like clay but is a little stickier!) to form a pumpkin stem and mouth. Gently place these molded gum features on the cupcake to start the pumpkin “face”.
Making the teeth…
With the craft knife, carefully cut the gum into pieces and place the cut gum “teeth” on the molded gum mouth.
Time for the eyes…
To finish, insert a chocolate chip upside down into the middle of the Life Savers candy and place them on the cake to complete the eyes.
Enjoy…
Everything on your Jack-O-Lantern cupcake is edible**, so sit down with friends and enjoy a monster mash.
Warning…
Gum pieces should be removed before consumption
About the Author
Beth Kimmerle, candy historian and expert, lives in New York City where she’s a partner in a creative merchandise group called Porcupine Product, makers of the Big Tips Candy Collection. She wrote two books – Candy: The Sweet History and Chocolate: The Sweet History.
