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1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12 cup) muffin tins with white paper liners.
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2
Make the cake mix according to package instructions, substituting the milk for water.
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3
Pour the batter into the lined muffin tins and bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 12 to15 minutes.
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4
Remove the tins from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
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5
In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the frosting with enough confectioners' sugar to create a stiff consistency.
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6
Remove about 1/2 cup of the frosting and color it with either red or yellow food coloring.
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7
Put the frosting into a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag fitted with a small star tip.
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8
When the cupcakes are cool, frost the top of 12 cupcakes with an offset spatula.
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9
(Reserve the remaining cupcakes for a centerpiece or frost if you have more guests).
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10
Put each cupcake into a red or yellow liner.
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11
The liners will not fit snugly but will resemble a frilly clown's collar.
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12
To decorate: Write the name for each guest on colored flags.
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13
Using a small amount of rubber cement fold 1 edge over the top of the toothpick to attach.
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14
Using a serrated knife cut about 1 1/2-inches off the bottom of the sugar cones.
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15
Using pastry brush, coat each lightly with piping gel.
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16
Roll 6 cupcakes in yellow sanding sugar and the other 6 in the red.
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17
Firmly but gently insert the flag into the top of each cone.
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18
Put the cones slightly towards the back of each cupcake.
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19
Snip the licorice into 12 (2-inch) pieces for mouths, and approximately 120 (1- pieces) for hair.
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20
A clean pair of tweezers is helpful for attaching the hair along the base of the sugar cone.
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21
Add a gumball to each for a nose and either 2 brown or blue candy coated chocolates for eyes.
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22
Pipe small stars with colored frosting along the base of the cones and hair and along the base near the top of the liner.
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23
For extra cupcakes: Divide some white frosting into 2 small bowls and color 1 with red coloring and 1 with yellow.
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24
Fit 2 pastry bags with a star tip and fill each with 1 color of the frosting.
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25
Pipe a swirl of red frosting onto 6 cupcakes and a swirl of yellow on the remaining cupcakes.
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26
Sprinkle each cupcake with nonpareil sprinkles.
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27
Arrange all of the cupcakes on a cupcake stand and serve.
