Wizard Hat Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 (18.25 oz) box cake mix or 1 recipe for 2 (8-inch) round layer cakes

1 (16-oz) can frosting or 2 cups of your favorite frosting

1 (2-lb) box ready-to-roll white fondant icing

2 (12-count) boxes sugar cones

1/4 cup jam or jelly

Powdered sugar

1 (4 gram) container navy petal dust

1 (2 gram) container Aztec-gold luster dust


Clear-colored flavored extract (like lemon)
Line muffin tins with muffin cups. Prepare batter according to directions on box. Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full. Bake according to package directions. Cool cupcakes for 5 minutes before removing from muffin tins to cool completely on a wire rack.

While cupcakes cool, prepare hats. Using a sharp, serrated knife, trim about 1" from the wide-end of the sugar cones; set aside. Sprinkle a work surface with powdered sugar. Pull off about a ping-pong ball-sized piece of fondant and knead until pliable. Cover remaining fondant with plastic wrap. Sprinkle work surface with powdered sugar and roll fondant into a 5-inch round, ј" thick (do not flip fondant over). Using a sharp paring knife, trim off edges to make into a triangle. Lightly brush one of the prepared cones with jam. Place fondant, powdered sugar-side up, onto a piece of wax or parchment paper. Position a trimmed cone at the edge of triangle, about Ѕ-inch from tip and carefully roll fondant around cone. Trim off excess. Shape tip as desired. Repeat with remaining cones and fondant.

Mix navy petal dust with a few drops of extract. Stir until evenly combined. Add extract a drop at a time until desired consistency is reached (should be thin enough to paint smoothly, but thick enough to cover cones evenly). Paint cones with a small, flat brush. Dry completely (about 3 to 4 hours). Apply second coat, if needed.

To make the brim, tear off a small piece of fondant. Roll into an even shaped log, about Ѕ-inch in diameter. Spread bottom of cones with more jam and attach brim to cone. Remember to match seams of brim with seams of hat. Hold a toothpick at an angle and gently press into brim to create fabric-like texture.

Mix gold luster dust with extract until desired consistency is reached. Paint the brim and accent hat with stars and lightning bolts. Dry completely.

To assemble cupcakes, place a layer of frosting on cupcakes and top with wizard hats.