Super Mario Bros. Cupcakes

Turns out, you may just want to start them on the original 8-bit games. I know, I know, that most people are way more advanced than I am. I was ok with Nintendo 64, for the most part, but I get a little motion sick from the game systems beyond that one. They’re way too advanced for me. And since we’re so behind on video gaming, we figured we could start our kids from scratch. I guess not total scratch, since I think Cassidy played Atari back in the day. I’m an 80s kid, though, so it’s 8-bit Super Mario for us right now. And then we’ll graduate to my sweet spot – SUPER Nintendo. Wow, I am decades behind in this world. And super proud of it. What else can I say?

Super Mario Bro. Cupcakes:

What You Need:

1 box of vanilla cake mix and all ingredients required to make it
2 sticks butter, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
1.5 Tbsp cocoa powder
4 Tbsp milk
Red gel food coloring (about 2-3 tsp)
1 cup white candy melts
Store-bought yellow cake fondant (about 8 to 10 oz.)
Ready-made black icing

Yields: About 24 cupcakes

What You Do:

1 – First, prepare cupcakes according cake mix directions and cool on a rack.

2 – Then, using an electric mixer, start mixing your butter and sugar.

3 – Add milk and continue mixing on medium-high speed, and then add cocoa powder and mix until you achieve semi-stiff peaks (you may need to add milk and/or powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time to achieve your desired consistency).

4 – Then add red gel food coloring to your buttercream and mix some more.

5 – Using an offset spatula, frost each one of your cupcakes with red buttercream.

6 – And then, add white candy melts – they will act as the mushroom’s “spots.” (Hint: Cut some of the white candies in half so that you can put them on the edge of the cupcake)

7 – Shape your yellow fondant into 3D stars and with the help of a toothpick, draw two eyes with black icing. Make enough so that you could place one on each cupcake.

Then let the games begin!