How to Make Peter Pan Cupcakes

Peter Pan meets Captain Hook with these Neverland inspired cupcakes that are sure to keep every Lost Boy and mermaid smiling at your party!

If your little Lost Boy or Wendy wannabe is wishing for a trip to Neverland this year, these fun Peter Pan party treats are better than a ride on Captain Hook's pirate ship! With this easy, step-by-step guide, some packaged cake mix and a little bit of pixie dust, you'll whip up these cupcakes in no time, and your party guests will agree that Neverland never tasted so good!

Ingredients

• Boxed cake mix (any flavor)
• Prepared frosting (canned or homemade, any flavor)
• Gold cupcake papers
• Prepared white fondant
• Green, red and black food coloring (gel is best)
• Gold dragees
• Powdered sugar
• Gold sugar sprinkles

Tools & Equipment

• Rolling pin
• Paring knife
• Wax paper

Directions:

1. Prepare cupcakes according to package instructions. When cupcakes are finished, remove them from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
2. Divide the fondant into two large pieces and two smaller pieces. Add a few drops of green food color to a large piece of fondant and knead well, until color is distributed evenly throughout the fondant. Add more food color as needed to achieve desired shade of green.
3. Repeat the process with the red food coloring to make a large piece of red fondant.
4. Add one or two drops of black food coloring to a small piece of white fondant to make a grey color. Knead to distribute food color evenly, until a light grey color is achieved.
5. Lay out a large piece of wax paper on a flat surface. Place the remaining piece of white fondant on the wax paper and roll it out to about 1/4" thick.
6. Use the paring knife to cut small pieces of fondant for Captain Hook's shirtsleeves. You can flute the top edge for a ruffled effect, or just make a short, straight strip.
7. Place the piece of red fondant on the wax paper and roll it out to about 1/4" thick.
8. Use the paring knife to cut small strips of fondant for Captain Hook's jacket sleeves, and cut tiny triangles of red for Peter Pan's hat feather.
9. Pinch off a small piece of green fondant and roll it between your hands to make a dome shape for Peter Pan's hat.
10. Place the rest of the green fondant on the wax paper and roll it out to about 1/4" thick.
11. Use the paring knife to cut small strips of fondant for Peter Pan's hat brim.
12. Pinch of a small amount of the grey fondant and roll it into a "snake" shape. Curve the top edge over and pinch the end to create Captain Hook's hook.
13. Assemble Captain Hook's hook by wrapping the hook shape with one white fondant strip, then again with one red fondant strip. Make sure the white strip peeks out from under the red strip. Add two gold dragees for the buttons and set aside.
14. Assemble Peter Pan's hat by wrapping the green fondant trips around the green domes and placing a red "feather" on one side. You can use a small amount of water as glue, if necessary.
15. Make as many hats and hooks as needed for your party.
16. When cupcakes are cooled completely, frost the cupcakes with your favorite icing. Sprinkle gold sugar on top of each cupcake. Place one Captain Hook piece or one Peter Pan hat on top of each cupcake and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find white and pre-colored fondant, gel food coloring, gold sugar sprinkles and gold dragees at local craft or cake decorating supply stores.
• Gold cupcake papers are available at most grocery stores.
• Make sure cupcakes are completely cooled before attempting to frost them.