Frosty the Snowman Cupcakes, Sliding into 2012

I got these cute little sleds for Christmas, and I couldn't wait any longer to make Frosty the Snowman cupcakes.  We have only had about 1 " of snow in the Chicgao Area, so I thought that this would be the next best bet for Frosty, my Snow Village collection.  At least they have snow. I saw these cute little snowmen on Frosty the Snowman- Family Fun website, when I was searching for something to put on the sleds. There is even an instructional video on the making of Frosty, very helpful. These would be fun to make with your kids, with supervision.

Here are the items that you will need to make a Frosty the Snowman cupcake along with your unfrosted cupcakes, marshmallows for the head, body, and part of the hat, pretzels stick for arms, lollipop sticks, which I shortened a bit, black decorating gel or food marker, for eyes and buttons, vanilla frosting to "glue the base of Frosty's hat to the top of the marshmallow, orange frosting for noses, sprinkles for Frosty's hat, fruit leather for the scarf, and half of a chocolate sandwich cookie, frosting intact for the base of the hat.

The video said to use pretzel sticks to push through the marshmallows to form the head and torso, and then push into the cupcake, however I took the advice of one of the comments and used the lollipop sticks, which were more secure. I also changed the hat from a thin mint and Jr Mint to the chocolate cookie.  My marshmallows were smaller, (generic marshmallows), so the thin mint was too big. To make the chocolate cookie hat, I cut a marshmallow in half vertically, then dipped in melted chocolate, I used a melted Hershey bar that I had from my S'mores stash, and then sprinkles Freeze the chocolate coated marshmallows, until firm.. Secure the chocolate marshmallow to the icing side of the cookie and "glue" with frosting.

Here is my snowman factory! Just like people, every snowman is unique:)

For the cupcakes I used a vanilla cupcake recipe and added peppermint extract. and frosted them with Vanilla  Butter Cream frosting, adding the peppermint extract,  and sprinkled the tops of the cupcakes with flaked coconut for the snow. You see, I got those peppermint cupcake liners for Christmas, too, and I wanted to carry out the peppermint theme. I also put the peppermint sprinkles on the hats, which are hard to see in the pictures. Aren't these cutest snowmen you have ever seen, well almost?  Here comes Frosty the snowman...

Vanilla Cupcakes Adapted from Crazy About Cupcakes by Krystina Castella 12 cupcakes

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with liners.

2. With an electric mixer on medium speed beat the butter until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add the peppermint extract and beat until combined.

3. In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk until combined.

5. In a small bowl with a clean mixer on high speed beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula stir a little of the whites into the batter to lighten it, then fold in the remaining whites until combined. Do not over mix.

6. Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full. Bake for about 15–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in the pan

Peppermint Butter Cream Frosting for 12 cupcakes

1/ 2 c butter, softened

2 c. powdered sugar

1/4 c milk

1/2 c peppermint extract

1 1/2 c flaked coconut to sprinkle on the frosted cupcakes.

Cream butter in large bowl of mixer.  Gradually beat in powdered sugar and milk, until desired consistency. Mix in peppermint extract.  Frost cooled cupcakes with frosting and sprinkle frosting with flaked coconut for the snow.

I am linking up my post to Foodie Friday!  check it out!