To hatch one of these, you don't have to be an expert baker. Making a batch of chick cupcakes is a perfect task for novices, and kids will love to help. The result will be a whimsical hit at the table.

Makes 20 cupcakes.

Tools and Materials

• 20 Vanilla Cupcakes
• Buttercream Frosting
• 4 cups sweetened shredded coconut, toasted 
• 1 piece (10 inches) black licorice lace, cut into 40 (1/3-inch) pieces 
• 20 whole almonds 
• 140 red candy-coated licorice pastels (about 1/3 cup), or pieces of snipped red licorice laces

Spring Chick Cupcakes How-To

1. Bake cupcakes and cool completely. When turned upside-down, each cupcake becomes the body of a chick. Spread buttercream frosting on a cupcake to anchor it to the serving plate while you are working. Use a small offset spatula to coat the sides thickly with frosting, and then mound more on top to create a dome shape.

2. Press toasted shredded coconut into the frosting -- it stands in for fuzzy feathers. Hold the plate at an angle while applying the coconut so the excess falls back into the bowl.

3. Place eyes (made from snipped black licorice laces) on chicks using tweezers. Use a whole almond for the beak and red licorice for the feet and comb; both can be pushed into the frosting by hand.