Saturday, May 17, is Armed Forces Day. What better way to celebrate than with Army Men cupcakes?

There’s a story behind why I made these cupcakes (there always is, right?).

Savannah was recently invited to a birthday party for her twin friends from school. While we love celebrating, birthday parties can be a bit stressful for kids with food allergies (and their parents!). I’ve had several parents give me permission to leave the party and come back at the end to pick her up, but I’m definitely not comfortable doing that, at least not yet. While we are always careful about what Savannah eats, there is always a chance of cross contamination and allergic reactions, and I want to be the one who is there to take care of her and comfort her.

For every party we go to, I need to make sure that Savannah can eat something. This could mean one or all of the following:

• I talk to a food and beverage manager in advance of the party about the venue’s menu items
• I discuss what is being served with the party hosts
• I bring a separate meal for Savannah to eat at the party
• I bring a separate cupcake for Savannah to eat at the party, or
• I offer to the party host to make safe cupcakes myself

For this party, I offered to make the cupcakes. When our host graciously accepted, it was an opportunity to do something fun! I searched Pinterest for boy-appropriate cupcake ideas. Here’s the inspiration board I made: http://www.pinterest.com/cmyk95/birthday-boy-cupcakes/

After seeing the inspiration board, the birthday boys picked the Army Men theme. So I went to Walgreens and bought a bag of Army Men for $3.99. I’ve also heard you can get them at the dollar store. The sand is crushed graham crackers (make sure they are allergen-free).

Savannah and I baked our favorite dark chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Easy, creative, tasty, and the boys LOVED their Army Men Cupcakes! Make them for your kids who love to play with Army Men, or to celebrate your favorite Army soldier on Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or any other patriotic holiday.

Army men in a bag from Walgreens: $3.99. It came with tanks, flags and fences, too! (Look Michael, I gave your company a plug!)

If you make these Army Cupcakes are for a birthday party, don’t forget make a few cupcakes without the figurines, so you have somewhere to put candles!

Adapted from chefchloe.com

ARMY MEN CUPCAKES
Makes 24 Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

2 cups sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder (I use Hershey’s Dark)
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups cold coffee, coconut milk or other non-dairy milk
1 cup canola oil
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder, optional (do not use if you use coffee as liquid ingredient)

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup cupcake pans with paper liners. Spray with allergen-free baking spray.
2. Whisk together the sugar, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and flour into a bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the coffee or non-dairy milk, oil, vinegar, vanilla, and espresso powder until smooth.
4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix with a whisk.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners until each cup is 2/3 full. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool in pans on wire racks ten minutes. Remove from pans and transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Vanilla Frosting
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup allergen-free margarine (recommended: Earth Balance Soy-Free Non-Hydrogenated Buttery Spread)
1 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup water

Procedure

1. Combine the confectioners’ sugar, margarine, and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until combined.
2. With the mixer running, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, until the desired butter cream consistency. Makes about 2 cups.

Assembly
Besides the cupcakes and icing, you will need:

• Crushed graham cracker crumbs in a bowl. (You can use a food processor to crush, or put graham crackers in a zip freezer bag and crush with a rolling pin. I’d use 2 -3 cups.)
• Plastic Army Men (Walgreens or a dollar store may have them)
• A small, clean paintbrush
• A Popsicle stick

1. Generously frost one cupcake.
2. Turn the cupcake upside down and dip into graham cracker crumbs to evenly coat the top of the cupcake.
3. Insert Army figurine into the icing. You will have to press it into the icing. Use the paintbrush and Popsicle stick to help mold the icing around the base of the figurine to help secure it in place.
4. Add more graham cracker crumbs if necessary to cover bare icing spots.
5. Repeat with remaining cupcakes and display on a large tray. Use remaining crumbs as garnish to create landscape scenery.

Dairy-free, egg-free graham cracker crumbs are used to portray sand. Scatter the excess on the bottom of your serving tray.

Baker’s Notes: I assembled the cupcakes with Army Men at home and transported using a tall cupcake carrier (mine is very similar to this one: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/progressive-reg-collapsible-cupcake-and-cake-carrier/1016668044?Keyword=cupcake+carrier). When I got to the party, I put the crumbs on the tray and put the cupcakes on top. This seemed to be the easiest method to transport them.

About Sheila Ray

I've been a full-time creative communications professional since college, and my work includes art direction, graphic design, writing and photography. I run a freelance creative marketing strategy business from my home office. I'm also a mom of two children, one of which has life-threatening food allergies. I experience, learn, and discover more about myself and God's plan for me everyday. As I share my stories, I share my faith. I hope you find my blog informational and inspirational.

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