Uncle Sam & Lady Liberty Cupcakes

Step 1

In advance: Prepare fondant pieces. Mix 2 teaspoons Gum-Tex into 24 oz. of fondant. Tint 1 1/4 in. ball skin tone, 1 in. ball red, 3/4 in. ball blue, 1 1/2 in. ball green; reserve remaining white. Roll out 1/8 in. thick. Use pattern to cut crown. For hat use pattern to cut white base. Cut red and blue strips about 1/8 in. wide for stripes; attach with damp brush. Let all pieces dry on cornstarch-dusted surface. Attach lollipop stick to back of hats with thinned fondant adhesive.

Step 2

Bake and cool cupcakes in silicone cups supported by cookie sheet. Pipe tip 2A head, building up for dimension; round with spatula. For arms, cut lollipop sticks to 3 in. long. Insert 1 1/2 in. deep through tip 21 into bag of icing; squeeze as you pull out stick. For hands, divide skin tone fondant into 4ths. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten slightly. Shape hand and cut slits for fingers. Clean icing off 1/2 in. of iced arm; attach hand. Insert arms in cupcake. Use tip 3 to pipe dot or outline eyes; outline and pipe in mouths. Use tip 7 to pipe dot noses and tip 4 to pipe outline or pull-out hair. Insert flag picks; curl fingers around. Attach crown; insert hat.

Combine Red-Red with Christmas Red for red shown. Combine Lemon Yellow with Golden Yellow for yellow shown. Combine Brown with Red-Red for brown shown.