Lion Cupcakes - Roarrrr! - cooking recipe

Ingredients

24 cupcakes, premade
1 (14 ounce) bag flaked coconut
1 (16 ounce) container chocolate frosting (or caramel frosting)
96 pieces thin black licorice (approx 3/4-inch)
48 small white gumdrops
48 brown miniature M&M's chocolate candies (or brown reeses pieces)
pink icing

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325.
Toast coconut on a cookie sheet in a single layer for 6-10 minutes until lightly brown (stir coconut every 2-3 minutes while toasting).
Frost cupcakes with frosting.
Roll edges of cupcake in toasted coconut to make the lion's \"mane\".
Place 2 gum drops side by side in the lower/middle of the cupcake.
Place 2 licorice \"whiskers\" on each side tucked partially under the gum drops to adhere.
Place 2 m&m \"eyes\" above the gumdrops.
Place a dab of pink icing below eyes and above the gumdrops to make the \"nose\".