Zoo Anmals

Fishie

I am a sucker for cute baking pans! And the cuter, the better... So I picked up the NordicWare Pro Cast Zoo Animal Muffin Pan. It is ADORBS. Especially for the little ones. I made these Turtle Pull-Apart Cupcakes for Gabriel's last school day & also these Vanilla Zoo Animals for the kids who do not like frosting (yes, children like that exist ;) ) . These are DeLish! Even our cat Pesto helped himself to one (unfortunately, Gabriel's Monkey! LOL...

<3 Lishie

Monkey

Vanilla Zoo Animals

from the Nordicware Package:

• 2 & 1/4 c flour
• 1 & 2/3 c sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/ tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 c butter, softened
• 1 c vanilla yogurt
• 4 eggs



What other animals do you spot?

• 2 tsp vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
Prep & grease the cakelet pan; set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda & salt; set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add butter, yogurt, eggs & vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Beat until incorporated. Spoon batter into prepped pan, filling cups 2/3 full (batter WILL rise!). Make sure batter is evenly spread into all of the design crevices!!!

Bake 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from heat & allow to cool, in pan 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling rack & cool completely. Takes this cooling time to quickly wipe out the pan, then refill & repeat...  When the second batch is done & cooling, AGAIN, take this cooling time to quickly wipe & wash out the pan (you'll thank me for this tip!!!) 

Candy Decorator- 

Decorate as desired. I used a few dollops of chocolate icing! It was the perfect amount. But I'd also sprinkle with confectioner's sugar or decorate completely with icing too!

Hershey's "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.

Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.