Perfect Cupcakes for a Cookout!

 

Ingredients and Supplies:

Standard size cupcakes in foil liners (any flavor)
Vanilla buttercream frosting (2-3 cups)
Black icing gel color
Orange sanding sugar
Pastry bag fitted with small round tip (Wilton #2)
Unwrapped Tootsie Rolls
Black edible marker
Gummy bears
Toothpicks
Hot Tamale candies
Soft caramel candies, unwrapped
White jimmies

Directions:

Make cupcakes according to the recipe of your choosing.  Be sure to cool completely.

If necessary, level the tops of the cupcakes with a knife to create a flat decorating surface.  Divide frosting into two bowls, with three quarters in one bowl and the remainder in the other.  Tint the large portion dark black using the gel icing color.  Using just a few drops of black at a time, tint the smaller portion a light gray color.

Spread a flat layer of the black frosting on top of each cupcake.  Sprinkle a pinch of orange sanding sugar in the center of each cupcake to look like coals.  Transfer the gray frosting to the pastry bag and pipe parallel lines over the top of each cupcake to mimic the gates of a grill.

Prepare the "food" for the grill.  Slice rounds of the Tootsie Rolls and shape into burger patties.  Use the edible marker (you can use a Sharpie as they are non-toxic) to create grill marks on the patties.  Use kitchen shears to snip off small pieces of gummy bears.  Skewer the gummy pieces in alternative color patterns onto the toothpicks to look like kabobs.  Draw grill marks onto the Hot Tamales to mimic hot dogs.  Slice of pieces of the caramel candies and shape into drumstick shapes.  (If necessary, soften briefly in the microwave for 5-10 seconds).  Stick a jimmy into the end of each drumstick and draw on grill marks.  Place all pieces of food on top of the grill. 

Enjoy!