Present Dad with a bunch of golf-themed cupcakes, complete with putting greens and sand traps, on his special day. The mini greens are adorned with colored sanding sugar, a candy golf ball, and a ribbon flag; graham-cracker crumbs stand in for sand. You could create an entire course by decorating eighteen cupcakes with different numbered flags, and the remaining six with sand traps.

　　

Ingredients

makes 24

　　24 Yellow Buttermilk Cupcakes (page 26) or One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes (page 152)

　　Swiss Meringue Buttercream (page 304)

　　1 to 2 cups green sanding sugar

　　18 round white candies, such as candy-coated mint balls (see Sources, page 342)

　　1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs (3 to 4 sheets finely ground in a food processor)

　　

Step 1

Using an offset spatula, spread each cupcake with a smooth layer of buttercream. Pour green sanding sugar into a small bowl. Dip tops of frosted cupcakes in the sugar, then sprinkle more on top to coat completely.

　　

Step 2

To create putting greens, make flags (you will need 18): Cut out lengths (3 to 4 inches) from white grosgrain ribbon. Fold each length around one end of a wooden skewer, and adhere folded sides together with hot glue or double-sided tape. Cut ribbon into a triangle shape, and plant the skewer into a cupcake. Place a small white candy “ball” near the flag.

　　

Step 3

To create sand traps, spoon about 1 teaspoon graham-cracker crumbs in the center of each of 6 cupcakes. With your thumb, make an indentation in the middle of each pile of crumbs, shifting it to one side to form a steeper side or an irregularly shaped trap. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow frosting to set.

　　Martha Stewart's Cupcakes