Alligator Cake and Froggie Cupcakes

Last year I had A Reptile Show for my sons birthday. It was complete with reptilian decorations, a show that consisted of 20 live reptiles from itty bitty turtle to a 6 foot gator. The cake was made from cupcakes and in the shape of a gator. He loved it. Surrounding the gator were cupcake frogs! Not a one was left at the end of the party and I even decorated a sheet cake I made to match. It was a great theme and a great time for all!

about 36 vanilla cupcakes (the batter should be tinted green with green food gel prior to baking) removed from cupcake liners if used
2 large marshmellows (you can use remainder of bag for froggie cupcakes to surround the gator)
1 bag of candy corn
1 bag chocolate morsels
black gel decorating icing
vanilla frosting (your fav. tinted green) i actually used the store bought cans in green since i was on limited time, i used about four cans)

1
Using a large tray arrange cupcakes to form the gator. I used 2 lined up for the nose, then 2 side by side for the eye area, then four behind that for the front leg area, three rows of three for the body and then another row of four for the back leg area, finishing off with several lined up for the tail.
2
you can of course change the amounts in order to achieve the size alligator you need for your party.
3
Once the body is assembled, ice each cake using a swirling motion to give the gator texture. I connected the cupcakes together with the frosting and filled in holes between cupcakes with a marshmellow tucked in it and frosting on top of that.
4
Use twomarshmellows for the eyes and then frost over them to blend them in with the cupcakes. Use Black gel decorating icing to make the pupils.
5
Slide candy corns into the feet for claws and the mouth for teeth.
6
Place chocolate morsels onto the gator with the pointy part up to achieve a scaley look.

For froggies: Pipe on green icing, use marshmellows for the eyes and black icing for pupils and mouth. Use a small piece of fruit roll up to achieve the tongue and top it off with a black icing dot for a fly. (pic taken before tongues added)

I also decorated his sheet cake to match : )