Finding the perfect activity to keep guests happy at your child’s first birthday party can be challenging. After all, a child that age is likely to have few BFFs. What’s more, the guest list for most 1-year-old’s birthday parties tends to include a huge age range, from elderly grandparents to infant cousins.
Given the wide range of guests’ ages, it is nearly impossible to come up with a game or activity that the entire group can enjoy. At least that’s what I thought as I made my way to my friend’s house last weekend. Her baby boy was turning one, and she had invited more than 40 people to help celebrate the occasion.
However, instead of messing around with games for certain age groups, my pal came up with an activity that everyone could participate in: making Ducky cupcakes. She had the older partygoers help the younger ones at tables lined cupcakes and other ingredients.
Each guest received one pre-baked vanilla cupcake and was given directions to create the most adorable Ducky treats. To make at home, simply follow these directions:
DUCKY CUPCAKES
Ingredients:
24 vanilla cupcakes baked in yellow paper liners
2 containers (16 ounces each) vanilla frosting, plus 1 cup vanilla frosting
Yellow food coloring
12 large marshmallows
24 plain doughnut holes
12 orange fruit chews (Tootsie Fruit rolls, Starburst, etc.)
48 brown M&M minis
Directions:
Tint 1 can plus 3/4 cup of the vanilla frosting bright yellow with the yellow food coloring.
Spoon the yellow frosting into a microwavable measuring cup; cover with plastic wrap.
Spoon 1/4 cup of the vanilla frosting into a Ziploc bag, press out the excess air, seal and set aside. Tint the remaining can of frosting yellow as well.
Cut the marshmallows in half on the diagonal with scissors.
Spread some of the yellow vanilla frosting from the second can on top of the cupcake.
For the head, place a doughnut hole on one side.
For the tail, arrange the cut marshmallow pointed end up, on the edge of the opposite side. Repeat until you use up all your pieces.
Spread yellow vanilla frosting on the sides of the doughnut holes and marshmallows on the cupcakes to fill gaps and smooth.
Place the cupcakes in the freezer for 15 minutes, or until slightly frozen.
Microwave the yellow frosting for about 45 seconds. Stir frequently, until it has the texture of lightly whipped cream.
If you are working alone, remove one cupcake at a time from the freezer.
Holding the cupcake by its paper bottom, dip it into the yellow frosting, just up to the liner. Allow excess frosting to drip off the back into the cup. Turn right side up and let stand. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
For the duck’s beak, cut the orange fruit chews in half. Shape each piece into an oval. Fold the fruit chew almost in half, then pinch at the fold and shape to look like an open beak. Place the folded edge of the fruit chew on the front of the doughnut hole head, pressing gently to secure.
Snip a small corner from the bag with the white vanilla frosting. Pipe a white dot on either side of the head for eyes and add the mini M&Ms for eyes.
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