An octopus shape is an exciting way to present foods such as cupcakes and hot dogs.
The octopus is a majestic animal, and a common favorite with children the world over. These elegant creatures can be recreated for lunch or dessert with a couple of inventive tricks and decorations. Cupcakes and hot dogs are two foods that can be quickly transformed into octopi for a quick party or after-school snack.
Instructions
Make an Octopus Cupcake
1. Bake a batch of standard-sized cupcakes in cupcake baking cups. Yellow cake or chocolate cake recipes are ideal. Mix about five drops of orange food coloring into homemade buttercream frosting or store-bought frosting.
2. Set one cupcake, still in its baking cup, on a flat surface. Spread a small amount of orange buttercream frosting on top of the cupcake.
3. Unwrap a second cupcake and place it upside down on top of the cupcake from Step 1. Push firmly into place to secure it.
4. Frost the top cupcake thoroughly with the orange buttercream to create a round, dome shape.
5. Press two M&M'S into the front of the top cupcake to make the octopus's eyes. Push a handful of gummy worms into the top of the bottom cupcake to represent the octopus's legs.
Make a Hot Dog Octopus
6. Lay an uncooked hot dog on a flat cutting surface and hold one end firmly between your fingers.
7. Cut the hot dog in half lengthwise, going only two-thirds of the length of the hot dog.
8. Rotate the hot dog about 90 degrees and cut lengthwise, again only cutting about two-thirds of the way down.
9. Repeat Step 3, rotating the hot dog and cutting once more. This will create eight "legs" at one end of the hot dog and leave a single "head" on top.
10. Boil the hot dog until it is cooked through and hot on the inside. Put on a plate with a garnish of fruit and veggies.
Tags: buttercream frosting, frosting cupcake, Make Octopus, orange buttercream
