Ladybug Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• A spiral of black licorice, such as Haribo (for the antennae)
• About 60 grams of yellow mastic (for the tips of the antennae and legs)
• About 100 grams of red mastic (for the body)
• About 60 grams of black mastic (for the head and spots)
• 24 yellow flat round sprinkles (for eyes)
• 1 tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips (for the pupils)
• 12 vanilla cupcakes
• 1.5 cups vanilla American buttercream, tinted with green food coloring
• Special equipment: a small paint brush

Preparation:

1. antennae:
   
   Unroll the licorice and cut it into twelve 3cm long pieces. Separate two strands from each piece of licorice, leaving them attached at one end. Roll two small balls (0.5cm) from the green fondant for each pair of antennae and attach one ball to one end of the licorice. Wrap the remaining fondant in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. Repeat with the remaining pairs of antennae. Set aside to harden.
2. Legs:
   
   Cut the licorice rope into 6 cm pieces. Separate the strands to make 72 legs. Roll 72 small (0.5 cm) balls of yellow fondant to form the tips of the legs. Attach them to the licorice pieces. Set all the legs aside to harden.
3. Taurus:
   
   Using about 2 teaspoons of red fondant, shape the ladybug's body into a walnut-sized ball. Use a small knife to score the back. Roll the black fondant into a ball about 2 cm in diameter for the head. Attach a pair of antennae by pushing licorice into the head. Using a paintbrush, dampen the front of the head with water and apply 2 yellow circles of sprinkles for eyes.
4. Roll several 0.5 cm balls of black fondant (these will be the spots) and flatten them slightly. Wet the backs of the ladybugs with water and attach the black spots. Attach three legs to each side of the body, pressing them inward. Poke holes with a skewer if necessary.
5. Assembly:
   
   Attach each head to the body by moistening the surface with a little water and pressing the head gently. Dip the tip of a skewer in melted chocolate and draw pupils on yellow sprinkles.
6. Cover each cupcake with about 2 tablespoons of buttercream. Place the ladybug in the center of the cupcake and gently press it into the frosting. Assemble the remaining cupcakes in the same manner.