“Hot off the grill” cupcakes

Memorial Day is just a few weeks away, and you can’t have a party without a grill, right? Well, if you’re like me and are grill-less this summer, why not get a little creative with your grilling favorites? Instead of hefty burgers or hot dogs, why not enjoy these dishes in candy and cupcake form instead?

I don’t think I’ve ever loved a cupcake as much as I love these. Each adorable little cuppie looks exactly like a grill, except it’s just a tad bit sweeter (and totally edible). Plus, now you can eat a cupcake for dinner, and it’s completely acceptable. You know, since it’s “grilled?” Totally low fat.

These are actually really easy to make, especially if you go the Sandra Lee route and use cake mix and frosting from a can. Which sometimes is completely OK. To assemble these cuties, bake your cupcakes, let them cool, and then frost. Just try to do this without eating 2 pounds of frosting (it’s so much harder than you think).

Once your cuppies are frosted, you want to sprinkle on the fun chopped leaf sprinkles. You could easily use only orange or only red sprinkles, but I love the look of the red, orange, yellow and brown together. It looks more like a real “flame on coals” to me.

Once your fire is started, it’s time to paint on the grill. Black icing gel works best here, but you could also use black licorice if you can’t find icing gel. Try to keep your hand as steady as possible so your grill lines come out straight.

Mini hot tamale hot dogs

Now the really fun part, making your tiny, really cute and very sweet little add-ons. I started with hot dogs. These are the easiest, because all you need are hot tamales and black icing gel.

After you make the hot dogs, carefully place 3 of them right on top of the grill marks on 1/3 of the cupcakes.

Gummy kebabs

Now the gummy kebabs! I used a small wooden skewer that I cut in half. I cut the gummy worms on the lines so I had a bunch of different colored small pieces, and then I skewered them like I would a real savory skewer. Next, I tossed a few on the grill of another 1/3 of the cupcakes.

Grilled hamburgers

You certainly can’t have a grilling party without burgers, right? These sweet little patties are super easy and fun to make, especially if you love fondant the way I do. Just form little patties with some reddish pink fondant, and add some of those fabulous grill marks with the rest of your black icing gel.

Then toss ’em on your grill, and get ready to eat! I added some mint leaves for lettuce.

After this, serve up your adorable grill cupcakes, perfect for any party.

Kids and adults alike will love ’em!

“Hot off the grill” summer party cupcakes recipe

Yields 24

Ingredients:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1-1/4 cups water
• 1 can chocolate frosting
• 1/3 cup red, orange, yellow and brown sprinkles (I used these and chopped them up a bit)
• 3 small tubes black icing gel
• 1 box red hot tamales
• 1 bag gummy worms
• Red fondant
• Skewers

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners, and set them aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the chocolate cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and water. Fill each liner about 3/4 the way full with batter, and bake for about 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean.
3. Remove the cupcakes from the pan, and place them on a wire cooling rack. Let them cool completely.
4. Once cooled, frost each cupcake with chocolate frosting. Sprinkle the chopped-up multicolored sprinkles on top of the chocolate frosting of each cupcake.
5. Using the black icing gel, make vertical lines on top of the sprinkles (for the grill).
6. To make the hot dogs, use the black icing gel to make “grill mark” stripes on the hot tamales. Carefully place them on top of the “grill” lines on the cupcakes.
7. For the hamburgers, form small patties out of the red fondant, and make the small “grill” lines using the black icing gel. Add a few mint leaves to the top for lettuce if you want.
8. To make the skewers, chop the gummy worms into small pieces. Carefully skewer them in alternating colors. I fit about 5 pieces on each skewer. Place on top of the grill, and enjoy!

More summer cupcake recipes

Mini strawberry lemonade cupcakes
Ice cream cone cupcakes
Blueberry lemon beer cupcakes