1 cup vanilla buttercream frosting (115 g), divided
1 drop pink food coloring
12 chocolate chips, or cookies and cream cupcakes
water, as needed
24 candy eyes
How to Make It
1. Step
On a powdered sugar-dusted surface, roll 12 ounces of white fondant into a 4 x 6-inch (10 x 15 cm) rectangle. Using about 4 ounces (100 G) of black fondant, break off small pieces and scatter over the top of the white fondant rectangle. Keeping the width as close to 4 inches (10 cm) as possible, roll the rectangle lengthwise and add a few more pieces of black fondant to the white spaces. Continue rolling and adding more black fondant until the rectangle is ⅛ inch thick and speckled in a dalmatian pattern. Sprinkle the fondant and rolling pin with more powdered sugar as needed to prevent sticking.
2. Step
Using a 3-inch (7 cm) round cookie cutter, cut out 12 circles of dalmatian fondant. Discard the scraps.
3. Step
Roll about 3 ounces of black fondant out to ⅛-inch thick and cut out 24 2-inch (5 cm) long leaf shapes. Discard the scraps. Wet the top of each leaf with water, then sprinkle the sparkling sugar sprinkles on top to cover completely. Set aside to dry for 5 minutes, or until the sprinkles are firmly adhered.
4. Step
Meanwhile, roll the remaining ounce of black fondant into 12 pea-sized ovals.
5. Step
Roll out the remaining 2 ounces (50 cm) of white fondant to ⅛ inch (3 mm) thick. Using a 1-inch (2.54 cm) round cookie cutter, cut out 24 circles, discarding the scraps. Slightly overlap 2 circles and press together, gently pulling the circles away from the overlapped area into more oval shapes. Use a toothpick to poke a speckled pattern onto the circles. Place a black fondant oval at the top center as a nose.
6. Step
In a small bowl, mix together ¼ cup (25 grams) buttercream frosting and the pink food coloring until you get the desired color for the dogs’ tongues. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip.
7. Step
Spread 1 tablespoon of white buttercream evenly over each cupcake. Top each cupcake with a dalmatian fondant circle. Lightly wet the fondant, then place the white overlapping circles at the bottom of each cupcake. Use a bit of frosting to stick 2 candy eyeballs onto each cupcake. Pipe a bit of frosting at the top edges of each cupcake, then place 2 ears on each cupcake. Pipe a small oval of pink frosting at the bottom of the white circles as a tongue. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
