Hoppy Frog Cake

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/4 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 individual cream-filled sponge cakes
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 milk chocolate M&M's
• Green paste or gel food coloring
• Shoestring red licorice

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Fill 12 greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Pour the remaining batter into a greased 9-in. round baking pan.
2. Bake cupcakes at 350u0b0 for 20-25 minutes and cake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes for 5 minutes and cake for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire rack to cool completely.
3. To assemble, place the 9-in. cake in the center of a 15x13-in. covered board. Place two cupcakes above the cake for eyes. Arrange sponge cakes below the cake for legs. For feet, cut one cupcake in half using a zigzag cut. Place each half with a rounded edge touching a sponge cake. (Save remaining cupcakes for another use.)
4. For frosting, in a small saucepan, whisk flour and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool. In a small bowl, cream the butter, shortening, sugar and vanilla. Beat in milk mixture until smooth, about 4 minutes.
5. Use 1/3 cup white frosting to frost the bottom two-thirds of eyes; add M&M's for pupils. Tint remaining frosting light green; spread over eyelids and over the top and sides of the rest of frog. Arrange one long licorice piece for the mouth. Place two 1-in. licorice pieces at the ends of the mouth.

butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder, salt, milk, cakes, flour, milk, butter, shortening, sugar, vanilla, milk, green paste, shoestring red licorice

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/hoppy-frog-cake/ (may not work)