How to Make an Octopus Out of Food
The octopus is a majestic animal, and a common favorite with children the world over. These elegant creatures can be recreated for lunch or dessert with a couple of inventive tricks and decorations. Cupcakes and hot dogs are two foods that can be quickly transformed into octopi for a quick party or after-school snack. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cupcake recipe and ingredients
- Cupcake baking cups
- Buttercream frosting
- Orange food coloring
- Gummy worms
- M&M'S
- Hot dogs
- Paring knife
Instructions
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Make an Octopus Cupcake
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1
Bake a batch of standard-sized cupcakes in cupcake baking cups. Yellow cake or chocolate cake recipes are ideal. Mix about five drops of orange food coloring into homemade buttercream frosting or store-bought frosting.
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2
Set one cupcake, still in its baking cup, on a flat surface. Spread a small amount of orange buttercream frosting on top of the cupcake.
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3
Unwrap a second cupcake and place it upside down on top of the cupcake from Step 1. Push firmly into place to secure it.
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4
Frost the top cupcake thoroughly with the orange buttercream to create a round, dome shape.
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5
Press two M&M'S into the front of the top cupcake to make the octopus's eyes. Push a handful of gummy worms into the top of the bottom cupcake to represent the octopus's legs.
Make a Hot Dog Octopus
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6
Lay an uncooked hot dog on a flat cutting surface and hold one end firmly between your fingers.
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7
Cut the hot dog in half lengthwise, going only two-thirds of the length of the hot dog.
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8
Rotate the hot dog about 90 degrees and cut lengthwise, again only cutting about two-thirds of the way down.
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9
Repeat Step 3, rotating the hot dog and cutting once more. This will create eight "legs" at one end of the hot dog and leave a single "head" on top.
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10
Boil the hot dog until it is cooked through and hot on the inside. Put on a plate with a garnish of fruit and veggies.
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1
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
