KITTY CAT CUPCAKES

Kitty Cat Cupcakes image

On a bake sale table or alone at home, these feline treats won't last nine lives! The cute candy faces will catch attention fast...and the tasty orange-coconut cake from Doris Barb if El Dorado, Kansas will have folks snatching seconds.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield about 1-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

2/3 cup shortening
1-3/4 cups sugar, divided
4 eggs, separated
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup orange juice
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
FROSTING:
1-1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1/2 cup miniature marshmallows (about 50)
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Assorted M&M's
1 piece red shoestring licorice, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
Chocolate sprinkles
About 9 vanilla wafers
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, toasted

Steps:

Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, cream shortening and 1-1/2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with orange juice, beating well after each addition. , In a small bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining sugar 1 tablespoon at a time on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold into batter with coconut. , Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, in a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup, egg white and salt. With a portable mixer, beat on low speed for 1 minute. Continue beating on low over low heat until frosting reaches 160°, about 12-18 minutes. Pour into the bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer; add marshmallow and vanilla. Beat on high until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Frost cupcakes. , Arrange M&M's for eyes and nose, licorice for mouth and sprinkles for whiskers. For ears, cut wafers into quarters with a serrated knife; place two on each cupcake, rounded side down. Sprinkle with coconut. Refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 387 calories, Fat 14g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 47mg cholesterol, Sodium 209mg sodium, Carbohydrate 62g carbohydrate (43g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 4g protein.