The thing is, they’re mostly cookies and gingerbread houses, and not a lot of cupcakes. Now it’s true that I’m not into cupcakes (nor waffles, which makes me the laughingstock of my family), but I do make exceptions with the right cupcakes (and waffles). These Candy Cane Cupcakes are an exception. For one, my kids are true bakers – they want to learn technique – and for another, shaping little candy canes out of fondant is a good first lesson in fondant-ing. Yes, I made up that verb.

Candy Cane Cupcakes:

What You Need:

Cake box mix + ingredients to make one dozen cupcakes
4 oz. white fondant, divided
Red gel food coloring
½ stick butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2-3 tbsp milk
½ cup white sparkly sprinkles, poured into a bowl

Yields: One dozen cupcakes

What You do:

1 – Bake cupcakes according to box’s directions and allow to cool completely

2 – As the cupcakes are cooling, prepare your fondant candy canes

3 – Divide fondant in 2 2 oz. spheres – color one red with your food coloring

4 – Then, knead until completely tinted

5 – With each fondant color, shape out ½-inch spheres and then roll them out into long strips

6 – Next, twist one white fondant strip with one red fondant strip

7 – Roll it out until smooth and then shape it to look like a candy cane – trim if necessary

8 – Using an electric or stand mixer, beat together butter, sugar and milk on medium speed, and gradually increase speed to high

9 – Using a frosting bag, frost each cooled cupcake and dip into bowl of sprinkles

10 – Place one fondant candy cane on each cupcake and enjoy!