You know you have spring fever when you start playing with food. If I can't have sunshine, I'll take edible metaphors. 
Butterfly cupcakes make me think of sharp green grass and daffodils. Bandwidth found the recipe in a foodie magazine called Taste of Home. You can find the recipe on page 93.
Naturally I took a short cut.
I bought poppy seed mini-muffins and cupcakes at Publix, then cut "cone-shaped" holes in the center of each one. Next, I cut each cone in half; these pieces form the wings. Vanilla pudding went into each hole (I piped it in, using a plastic baggie with the end snipped off). I dusted each cupcake with powdered sugar. Twizzlers formed the antennae. (I tried slicing them.)
These are adorable snacks for children and picky eaters. Dr. Gollum was a tad worried that I'd confuse all of blogdom with these mysterious cupcakes. He thought they resembled snails. My mother thought they looked like birds.
If I'd rounded the edges and added a nose and whiskers, I could have made cat cupcakes--or teddy bears.
Mr. Linky awaits your blog post's permalink along with your name (or blog's name) and the name of your recipe. If you are new to Foodie Friday, you can find detailed instructions HERE. If you have difficulty, leave a comment and I'll do my best to help. 
As always your photos are gorgeous Michael! The cupcakes are beautiful and look scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting...
xoxo
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
My grand- daughter will LOVE this idea. And they do NOT look like snails! LOL
ReplyDeletexoxo Pattie and Allie
Oh, that is really funny, snails!! Considering the slugs I get on my hostas every summer that is not very appetizing, but funny though! Love your cupcakes. Playing with food is for adults too!
ReplyDeleteSherry
Thank you for hosting Michael, Oliver and I love the cupcakes!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
PRECIOUS!!! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThe cupcakes are just wonderful. What a great idea. They are so pretty. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteGreat cupcakes! I love anything having to do with cupcakes, you know.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
~Liz
My mom made butterfly cupcakes when I was a little girl......I used to love them. Memories:)
ReplyDeleteI see butterflies and they are cute, my children would love them!
ReplyDeleteYour phot's are spectacular as usual......love those cupcakes. Thank you for sharing and hosting this Foodie Friday!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable! They look yummy, too.
ReplyDeleteJane
It is amazing to me what people come up with for food!!!! Your Publix must LOVE to see you coming! You are the only person I know who can make MAGIC from store bought food! There are not enough superlatives for you!!!! I just NEVER, ever bake cause my hubby is NOT a sweets eater so they would all be left for me and I can not afford to eat this tuff......as much as I would LOVE to! XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteI'm adoring your cupcake ideas!
ReplyDeleteThese are darling and I'm sure delicious as well.
...and your commentary always leaves me smiling * Maria
What a great way to dress up cupcakes or muffins from the store!
ReplyDeleteSue
I so remember my mom doing this with cupcakes and lemon curd and powdered sugar sprinkle on top. One of my sisters always makes them at Christmas time.
ReplyDeleteI am just never organized enough to photograph the whole food thing. My 22 year old son was chopping up onions, fennel,carrots and red peppers to go with our pasta with hot Italian sausage and I didn't even think to take a photo. I think about it after when it is too late.
Next time...maybe.
Your critter cakes are so cute! I get a daily email from TOH with the cupcake of the day!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I love what you do with Publix bakery! Have you ever asked to be a spokesperson? You should!
ReplyDeleteyou, make food....art.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea. We will be welcoming spring with butterfly cupcakes at our house!
ReplyDeleteYour cupcakes are so cute, Michael. Shortcuts always work better for me...Christine.
ReplyDeleteI like your shortcut ideas. I will have one please - minus the Twizzler.:)
ReplyDeleteI like this idea and I will definitely try it. They look good enough to eat for me and that's all that counts!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Natasha.
Yum! That looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteLove the cupcakes. I am going to play with food this weekend to "make" dessert for company!
By the way, my studio/office is almost in order and I hope to have pictures on Monday!
Carol
I love butterfly cakes - they remind me of my mother. Yours look especially cute!
ReplyDeleteLove the cupcakes, best of all you didn't have to bake them..great, I can do this. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Beautiful cupcakes... I hope I got it right this time... nice to join Foodie Friday!!!
ReplyDeleteThose cupcakes are a work of art!
ReplyDeleteOOOOOOO good grief those are just the cutest cupcakes. EVER.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE, LOVE , LOVE your inspiring blog. I sooooo look forward to our Foodie Fridays :)
Hugs from the beach......xo
I am so excited about this idea! We (kids & I) are snowed in again today! We have all the ingredients!! The kids are going to love this one :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting a great party!! We are always excited to join in...
Wendy & Tony
They are so cute, and I'm LOL about your mom and Dr. G!
ReplyDeleteI do believe these adorable cupcakes will look wonderful on my new dessert plates, the poppy seeds look like little polka dots.
ReplyDeleteThanks again Michael, for those sweet, sweet plates!
They look fabulous :) I might be able to pull those off myself!
ReplyDeletelove the pokey dots, makes them extra cute~
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea! My daughter really like the cat cupcake idea. Great pictures too. Have a happy Friday. Denise@cottagesisters
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, these look delish and so spring.....the butterfly's will be returning soon, can't wait,Spring is my favorite season,I love butterflies and I love taking pictures of them also, these butterfly cupcakes are amazing, wish I was eating them right now with a hot cup of coffee.
ReplyDeleteHello Michael Lee~ ~I love how you take a store bought item and make it look like you visited a French pastery shop. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, remembering to mention the giveaway for the copper saute pan That I just love.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
These are adorable little birds spreading their wings laying on their back with their little feet high in the air. This is so cute.
ReplyDeleteSo creative. They are adorable. You never cease to amaze me. and oh yah:
ReplyDeletecopper saute pan!!!
my first submission to foodie friday...hope i did it right!
ReplyDeleteSo cute - your photos are amazing!!
ReplyDeleteThese look adorable ( and like butterflies) and sound scrumptious! As usual, your photos make me want to reach right in and take a bite!
ReplyDelete~Nancy
You've gotta have spring fever to put that much work into a damn muffin! LOL
ReplyDeleteJustine :o )
Btw... you got my email, right?
My mother used to make these when I was young, but always with instant pistachio pudding for that pretty green color (and great flavor) and placing one small piece of a maraschino cherry for the butterfly head. Yummy. And I agree, your photos are gorgeous! Thanks for hosting "Foodie Friday"!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun cupcakes. I'm sure they taste really yummy. My daughter would love these cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI hope it's okay that I linked a non-recipe but still a food-related post this week. I thought some of your readers might find it to be a good resource as that is some of the feedback I have been getting so far. Thanks. Love these photos as per usual.
ReplyDeleteSo cute, glad you said what they were, though at first they were snow angels!
ReplyDeleteCarole
Snails? No way! Your sweet family needs glasses! I could tell they were butterflies right away! Just adorable!
ReplyDeleteHappy PS!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Those are darling cupcakes. I'm sure children and adults alike would love them.
ReplyDeleteI've been out of town and just found this!! You "dress up" food better than anybody I know :)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! You are so creative ~ I think these are adorable and young & old alike would enjoy them.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Pat
Stoppig by again to see if there is any new post. I jsut adore your blog. This Foodie Friday's post last week-so cute! Hope you have a great week. Stop by my place if you get a chance. Would love to have you visit.
ReplyDeleteHUGS!
Leigh
Tales from Bloggeritaville
www.lbratina.blogspot.com
Lovely images! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThese are the sweetest looking little creatures ... one can let imagination run wild when deciding what they are ....
ReplyDeleteI think I forgot to say COPPER and TREBLE CLEF!!!
ReplyDeleteJustine :o )
What adorable cupcakes, Gollum! And I can't wait to see some kitty ones, too! LOL! What a cute post!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Sheila :-)
Wow, how cute are those cupcakes!! I dont know if I can get up the nerve to try that or not. Like the copper pan, and would love to win it...I have never cooked with copper, so I don't know what its like, but I need to find out!
ReplyDeleteSG
Yet another terrific creative idea. I love my visits to Designs by Gollum. I always leave with a new idea. Thank you, Michael. Do I need to say, "Copper and Treble Clef"?
ReplyDelete