Barnyard Cupcakes

Directions

1. Prepare golden cake batter according to package directions. Pour into a greased and waxed paper-lined 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 33-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.
2. Prepare devil's food cake batter according to package directions. Fill 24 paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 21-26 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
3. Tint 1 cup frosting red. Frost two-thirds of the cake, forming a barn shape; spread frosting on sides of barn. For sky, tint 2/3 cup frosting blue; frost remaining top and sides of cake.
4. Outline barn roof with chocolate chips. Insert #6 round tip into a pastry bag; fill bag with 1/4 cup white frosting. Outline barn doors and a window. With black decorating gel and an M&M baking bit, add a spiderweb and spider.
5. For pigs, tint 1 cup frosting pink; frost 12 cupcakes. Attach baking bits for eyes, pink candy lozenges for snouts, chocolate chips for nostrils and Good & Plenty candies for ears.
6. For chicks, tint 2 cups frosting yellow; transfer to a pastry bag. Insert #17 star tip; pipe frosting onto 11 cupcakes. Pipe heads and wings. Decorate with dessert mints, baking bits and candy corn.
7. For sun, frost remaining cupcake with yellow frosting. Position candy corn around edges. Form a face with chocolate chips and red decorating gel.