A double-decker "love bug" cupcake makes a whimsical treat for two for Valentine's Day, anniversaries and engagement parties. Look for red and green paper cupcake cups around Christmastime, or use any solid-colored cups; paper cupcake cups printed with patterns can distract from the design. The materials needed to make the love bug can be found at craft stores in the cake decorating section and online. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Mix 1/2 of the white frosting with green gel food coloring until the desired color is achieved. Start with a toothpick dipped into a small amount of gel, and add more color gradually.
Fill a zip-top bag or icing bag with green frosting. Cut a tiny hole in the end of the zip-top bag, or attach a small round tip to the end of the icing bag. Press the tip gently on the surface of a cupcake and squeeze out a small amount of frosting. Release pressure on the bag and pull it upward, creating a "blade of grass." Repeat over the entire surface of the cupcake until it's fully covered.
Set 2 tbsp. of white frosting aside in a zip-top bag. Tint the remaining frosting red using red gel food coloring in the same way you tinted the green frosting. Use a rubber spatula to frost the remaining cupcake(s) with an even layer of red frosting. Allow the frosting to set in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Melt the melting chocolate in a zip-top bag or squeeze bottle in the microwave. Heat at 50 percent for 30 seconds at a time until the pieces melt to a frosting consistency. Put the melted chocolate into a zip-top or icing bag, and make or attach a small round tip as you did with the green frosting.
Pipe the melted chocolate on the red cupcakes to make a ladybug: Make a straight line 2/3 from one edge and fill the small section to make a head, then make a line from the middle of the first line, crosswise to the other edge. Create heart-shaped chocolate dots on each side of the line.
Cut the tip of the zip-top bag containing the white frosting. Pipe two white dots on the head section of the ladybug cupcake to make eyes. Cut shoestring licorice into 2-inch pieces and stick two into the ladybug cupcake behind the eyes to make antennae, if desired.
Place the ladybug cupcake on top of the grass cupcake to make a double-decker cupcake.
Tips
- Use green paper cupcake cups for the grass cupcakes and red cupcake cups for the ladybug cupcakes.
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