Lady Bug Chocolate Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
• Chocolate wafer cookies
• 1 can (16 ounces) dark chocolate fudge frosting
• Red jimmies
• Black jelly beans, shoestring licorice and nonpareils; white hard candies

1. In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and coffee, beating well after each addition.
2. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350u0b0 for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. For lady bug wings, microwave chocolate wafers for a few seconds to slightly soften. Use a serrated knife to cut each in half. Cut off the tips to allow room for the lady bug face; save remaining wafer pieces to prop up wings. Frost both wings, and dip in red jimmies. Cut black jelly beans in half; add as spots to the wings. Set aside.
4. For antennae, cut licorice into 1-in. pieces. Dip one end into frosting and roll in black nonpareils; set aside to dry.
5. To assemble cupcake, frost with chocolate icing. Position decorated wings on cupcakes; if desired, add reserved wafer piece under wing tip to prop up. Add antennae and white hard candy eyes. Pipe a small frosting dot for eyeballs. Add a large curved red jimmie and two small ones for the mouth.

butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, flour, baking cocoa, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, coffee, chocolate wafer cookies, frosting, red jimmies, black jelly beans

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lady-bug-chocolate-cupcakes/ (may not work)