Mini “Christmas Tree” Cupcakes

Ingredients

For the mini cupcakes
• 1½ cups baking mix
• 1 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding
• ¾ cup sugar
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup milk
• 15 drops green food coloring
For the Confectioner’s Frosting
• 3½ to 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 3 to 4 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 15-20 drops green food coloring
• 1 tbsp cocoa
• 2-3 tsp milk
For the red coconut
• 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
• 5-10 drops red food coloring

Instructions

For the mini cupcakes
1. Combine baking mix, instant vanilla pudding and sugar in a mixing bowl.
2. Add beaten eggs, vanilla extract, milk and green food coloring.
3. Beat on low for 30 seconds.
4. Turn mixer to high and beat for an additional 2 minutes.
5. Prepare 36 mini muffin cups with cupcakes liners and fill ¾ full with batter.
6. Bake in a 350° oven for 10-12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
7. Cool in pan on a wire wrack for 5 minutes.
8. Remove cupcakes from muffin pan to wire wrack and cool completely.
   For the Confectioner’s Frosting
9. In a mixing bowl combine 3½ cups confectioner’s sugar, butter, 3 tbsp milk and vanilla.
10. Stir until combined. (If too runny add additional sugar, if too stiff start by adding 1 tsp of milk until desired consistency).
11. Remove ¼ cup frosting and place in a glass bowl.
12. To the remaining frosting add up to 20 drops of green food coloring. Stir until combined.
13. To the ¼ cup frosting add 1 tbsp cocoa and 2 tsp milk. Stir until well combined. (If frosting is still too stiff stir in an additional tsp of milk).
    For the red coconut
14. Place coconut in a glass bowl.
15. Stir in enough food coloring to get it to the desired level of red.
    To assemble:
16. Frost 28 mini cupcakes with green frosting
17. Frost 4 mini cupcakes with chocolate frosting
18. Place the 28 mini cupcakes with the green frosting in the shape of a tree.
19. Place the 4 mini cupcakes with the chocolate frosting under the bottom of the tree.
20. Sprinkle the red coconut over the green cupcakes in the form of a garland.
21. Sprinkle the rest of the tree with Sixlets Chocolate Candy or any other candy you wish to decorate your Christmas Tree with.