A 'Grate' Father's Day Gift Idea

Creative Father's Day Gifts have never been my real fortay, but that doesn't seem to be a problem with my daughter. With Father's Day quickly approaching, I thought I'd share this 'Grate' Father's Day gift she prepared for her own Dad this weekend (as he will unfortunately be out of town on business on Father's Day).

The ingredients for her grill inspired cupcakes are simple (so much so, that I didn't even remember need to take a photo):

• Cake mix (we picked her Daddy's favorite...red velvet cake)
• Can of icing (plus a small tube of black icing to 'draw' on the grill grates)
• Orange sugar sprinkles (to simulate the fire from the grill)
• Candies to use as the 'meat' on the grill (she picked Hot Tamales, Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids and caramels with a white center)
• Toothpicks (for the kabobs)

Step 1:

Carefully mix the cake batter with the ingredients listed on the box (with Momma watching close by, of course)

Step 2:

This step is very important...don't forget to lick the beaters...because that's what every childhood memory of cooking should entail.

Step 3:

Bake the cupcakes and let them cool. Don't get freaked out by any cupcake imperfections...after all they will be covered up shortly.

Step 4:

After the cupcakes are completely cool, ice the cupcakes, sprinkle with orange sugar sprinkles and draw lines across the cupcakes with black or grey icing (to simulate grill grates). Then the fun begins...DECORATING the grill! Go ahead parents, be daring...give your kids free range to decorate on their own. They'll love it and so will Dad.

Step 5:

Present it to your Dad and reap the rewards (both with yummy grill inspired cupcakes and the love and admiration of a very happy Dad)

Full disclosure, Miss Monkey was inspired by a Family Fun article, but the finished product certainly boasts her own creative flair.