How To Make A Lady Bug Cake

Ingredients 2 boxes Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix boxes Tray or cardboard (18x15 inch), covered with foil or wrapping paper and plastic wrap 1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy or Whipped chocolate frosting

1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy or Whipped vanilla frosting Red food color 6 chocolate-covered peppermint patties, unwrapped 1 large marshmallow 2 blue candy-coated chocolate candies 2 pieces (6 inch) black licorice twist 8 brown candy-coated chocolate candies 2 large black gumdrops

blue miniature candy-coated chocolate candies 4 pieces (2 inch) black string licorice

Directions 1Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms and sides of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. 2Make cake mixes as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs.

Divide half of the batter between cake pans. Divide remaining batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full. Bake as directed on box for 8-inch rounds and cupcakes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. 3Reserve 5 cupcakes; save

remaining cupcakes for later use. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze cake 30 minutes to 1 hour or until firm. 4On serving plate or foil-covered tray, place 1 cake layer, rounded side down. Remove paper liners from 3 of the reserved cupcakes; position cupcakes against front of cake, slightly

angled, for ladybug’s head. Spread thin layer of chocolate frosting over bottom cake layer and cupcakes to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour. 5In another medium bowl, mix vanilla frosting and red food color. Spread second cake layer with red frosting. Cut second layer in

half crosswise; frost rounded top and cut sides. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour. Frost bottom cake layer and 3 cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Position red cake halves, rounded side up and slightly angled, on bottom layer to look like ladybug’s wings. Place peppermint patties on red

cake for spots. 6Cut marshmallow crosswise in half; push 1 blue candy into each. Attach marshmallows to ladybug’s head for eyes. Insert licorice twist pieces for antennae. 7For baby ladybugs, cut off and reserve rounded tops of remaining 2 cupcakes. Spread flat cupcake tops with chocolate frosting.

Spread cutoff tops with red frosting; cut each crosswise in half. Position red halves, rounded side up and slightly angled, on cupcakes to look like wings. Add brown candies to wings for spots. Flatten gumdrops; attach 1 gumdrop to front of each cupcake for head. Use frosting to attach

blue miniature candies for eyes. Insert string licorice for antennae.

I thought this was so cute for spring, summer or Easter! Thanks for looking!