Make and bake cupcakes according the package directions.
Allow the cupcakes to completely cool on a baking rack. Meanwhile, you can make the candy rockets.
Make rockets by placing 5 Lifesaver candies (I prefer white, but any flavor will work) on a paper straw.
Cut a small sliver of the red taffy, (any color will work) and wrap it around the straw where the bottom of your "rocket" - the bottom end of your hard candies, keeping a little of the straw poking out the top. This will help keep them in place.
Set aside.
Make the tip of your rocket by cutting one of the Airheads in half; I used blue and green for the tip of the rockets.
Then cut one of the halves at an angle - look at the image for an idea of how to do this. Then, roll the taffy so that it makes a cone.
-
Cone shape assembly.
Make the flames for the rocket by cutting a red piece of Airhead in half, and then cutting a V shape into the bottom of one of the halves. See images below.
-
Then, using an orange Airhead, cut two little slivers and place them down the each side of the V cut into the red Airhead like pictured below.
Shape the flames to how you want them to look.
Next, cut the wings out of any color of taffy; I used white. Cut a left and a right triangle, like the image below and stick them on the side of the rocket. Then, assemble your rocket by adding the flames and rocket top. It is easy to push the taffy together, forming each piece as you desire.
This is how it should look when it all comes together.
Once cupcakes have completely cooled, frost them using the Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bag. We chose vanilla frosting.
You can do this however you would like. Jojo liked using more of star technique whereas Jersey wanted more of a swirl look.
After you have added the frosting, stick the bottom end of the straw all the way into the cupcake with the rocket coming out of the cupcake.
It’s fun that each kid can make their own rocket, frost their own cupcake and of course, devour it when it is time. Blast off and enjoy!