cookie monster pull apart cake

i think this is the perfect cake for a two year old!

you will need:
24 muffin papers
2 muffin pans(regular size)
your favorite cake recipe...or box mix
butter cream or canned vanilla frosting(if using canned, you'll probably want at least 2 cans, maybe 3--depends on how much you like!!)
royal blue gel coloring(i used wilton)
one recipe marshmallow fondant(to follow)
black gel coloring
rolling pin
extra powdered sugar for dusting
pastry bag with large star tip OR fork
cardboard or tray big enough to put your cupcakes on
tin foil(if using cardboard)

*bake off your cupcakes as the directions state...allow to cool completely.
*if using cardboard, measure how much you will need.  i taped two layers together for stability.  cover in tin foil.  also...be sure you have a place to store the finished product if you are making it ahead of time!
*arrange cupcakes on cardboard.  this may take some playing around...having a "cookie monster" refrence is helpful!

*prepare butter cream, or add food coloring to canned frosting(mix in one big bowl, not directly in the cans, or you'll end up with two different color blues!). i ended up using about half of the blue coloring to get the right "cookie monster" color!
*BE SURE TO LEAVE ENOUGH FROSTING WHITE FOR HIS EYES! 
*frost two cupcakes for the eyes
*start piping your stars.  this does not have to be neat!!  its good if its a little messy...it makes it look more like fur.  when you get to a gap, squeeze a little extra frosting in there, then pipe a few stars on top.
* if you do not want to use a pastry bag: smear frosting all over cupcakes, then rough it up with a fork!
*prepare marshmallow fondant:
Marshmallow fondant
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 tbsp water
1 1/2- 1 3/4 cup powder sugar

Place marshmallows in a standard 1 cup measuring cup and push down and pack them in. Place in a microwave safe bowl and add the water. Put in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Just long enough for them to soften and puff up. Take out and stir with a spoon until it is combined well. At this point it looks kind of soupy.(*at this point, if you can add your gel coloring, it will be easier to stir in) Then add the sugar and mix and fold until all is incorporated and it is no longer sticky. I take it out of the bowl when it gets to the point where most of the sugar is incorporated and I knead it in my hands. (*dust your hands and counter top with powdered sugar)This takes roughly about 5-7 minutes. Take a fondant roller or a regular rolling pin and roll out just as you would Wilton's fondant. You can get this fondant almost paper thin and it also repairs well. It's cheap, easy to work with, and tastes great too. *mine seemed a little soft, so i threw it in the freezer until it was firm enough to roll out)
*cut out two circles for the eyes(i used a large pastry tip)
*cut out a mouth--free hand are draw a template first--i recommend the template!! 
*place onto cupcakes; if desired-pipe a little more frosting around the mouth.

*note:  i only ended up using 23 cupcakes!  david really wanted one...how could i deny the birthday boy?!  i was only going to use it for the candles, so it was no big deal!
as an added bonus, i made chocolate chip cookies to place around him!

(p.s. you could easily make elmo with these cupcakes as well!)


and...its always good to have a helper:

WARNING:  your lips will be BLUE after you eat these!!  it doesn't last long though...so enjoy!!