Getting all My Ducks in a Row

Ever since Netflix made Made Men available on instant watch I've been sucked into the wonderful world of a 1960s housewife.  I've always loved to iron and wear cardigan sweaters, but now I feel like my day's only complete if I have a homemade dessert accompanying my meals.  Today I went a little overboard with my baking though.  I started off with my typical Paula Deen Vanilla Ice Cream.  Then, I decided that wouldn't be enough of a sugar rush, so I thumbed through my favorite new book, What's New Cupcake?, and found a perfect sweet treat...Rubber Ducky Cupcakes.  They're perfect for a baby shower, a birthday party or even a crazy Easter bash.  And, making that ducky shape is as easy as attaching a doughnut hole and a marshmallow to a cupcake.

What You'll Need:

• 18 Vanilla cupcakes baked in paper liners
• 2 cans (16 ounces each) vanilla frosting
• Yellow Food Coloring 
• 9 Jumbo Marshmallows
• 12 Plain Doughnut Holes
• 24 Swedish Fish 
• 36 M&M's Minis

1) Tint 1 1/2 cans of the vanilla frosting bright yellow with the food coloring.  Spoon the yellow frosting into a microwavable bowl.  Spoon 1/4 cup of frosting into a zipclock bag, press out the excess air, seal and set aside.  

2) Cut the marshmallows diagonally in half with a sharp knife of kitchen scissors  Spread some of the remaining icing on top of the cupcakes.  For the duck's head, place a doughnut hole on one side.  For the tail, arrange the cut marshmallow, pointed end up, on the edge on the opposite side.  Repeat to make 12 heads-up ducks.  To make the bottoms-up ducks, place a cut marshmallow in the center of each of the remaining 6 cupcakes, pointed end up.  Spread vanilla frosting up the side of the doughnut holes and marshmallows on the cupcake to fill in the gaps and smooth.  Place the cupcakes in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Duckies in the Freezer

3) Microwave the yellow frosting for 10 second intervals until it has the texture of lightly whipped cream.  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 the excess frosting to drip off back into the bowl.  Turn right side up and let stand.  Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.  If the frosting becomes too thick, reheat for several seconds, stirring well.  

Dissected Swedish Fish

4) For the beaks, cut off the heads from the Swedish fish.  Place two of the fruit chews on the front of the doughnut hole head, securing with frosting and pressing firmly.  For the feet, cut off the tails from the Swedish fish.  Inset the fishtails at the base of the duck on the bottoms-up cupcakes; place them design-side up to create a webbed effect.  Snip a small corner of the bag with the vanilla frosting.  Pipe a white dot on either side of the head for the eyes and add the mini brown candies.  

Quack Quack 

Closeup of the Bottoms-up Bobbers