Awesome Alien Cupcakes

 

1

box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® devil's food or yellow cake mix

Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box

6

cups Kix® cereal

3

tablespoons butter or margarine

4

cups miniature marshmallows

1/4

teaspoon orange neon gel or paste food color (from 2.7-oz tube)

48

gummy peach ring candies (from three 4.25-oz bags)

48

candy-coated chocolate candies

1

tube (0.68 oz) Betty Crocker® black decorating gel

48

thin pretzel sticks

20

drops green food color

1

container Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting

• 1 Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• 2 Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• 3 Meanwhile, line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper. In large bowl, place cereal.
• 4 In 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows; stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Stir in orange food color. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal in bowl, stirring until well coated.
• 5 For feet, place 2 gummy candies on cookie sheet. Spray inside of 1/4-cup measuring cup with cooking spray. For body, fill measuring cup with warm cereal mixture; place over feet, releasing cereal mixture and covering back half of feet. Repeat with remaining gummy candies and cereal mixture to make 24 aliens. Use 2 candy-coated chocolate candies for eyes and black decorating gel to make centers of eyes. Insert 2 pretzels for antennae.
• 6 Stir green food color into frosting container; frost cupcakes with frosting. Place 1 alien on top of each cupcake; press gently to secure. Store uncovered.