Gnome Cupcakes from the Creator of PieCaken | Recipe

For the cupcakes, preheat the oven to the temperature on the cake mix box. Line two 12-cavity muffin tins with white or blue cupcake liners. (You can also bake the cupcakes in 2 batches.)
Empty the cake mix into a large bowl. Add the cocoa powder and prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Add a scant ¼ cup of batter to each liner and sprinkle a teaspoon of crushed candy cane on top of each cupcake. Bake as directed and let cool.
For the frosting, in a large bowl, combine the cream cheese and frosting using a hand mixer or whisk. Add the powdered sugar and whisk until thick and smooth.
To make the hats, pour the sanding sugar on a small plate. Using a small knife or offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting on an ice cream cone and then roll it in the sanding sugar. Repeat with the remaining cones.
To assemble the gnomes, fill a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip (see Note) with the remaining frosting. Pipe a small zigzag around the top of each cooled cupcake to make the hair.
To make the beard, pipe a large zigzag tapering off each cupcake and down the side. Place the hats on top of the cupcakes.
To make the nose, shape half a chewy fruit candy into a ball and place it at the top of the beard on a cupcake. Repeat with the remaining fruit candies.
To make the feet, place two round chocolate candies at the bottom of a cupcake on each side of the beard. Repeat with the remaining chocolate candies.
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