4 brown miniature candy-coated chocolate candies, if desired
1 piece red string licorice
1 green licorice twist, cut in half
Green food coloring
2 large serving trays
Prepare Frosting
In small bowl, mix vanilla frosting and green food color until desired shade.
Place 1/4 cup green frosting and 1/4 cup chocolate frosting in separate small resealable plastic freezer bags; seal bags.
Cut small tip from corner of each bag; set aside.
Assemble and Decorate Turtle Cakes
On each of 2 large serving trays, arrange 12 cupcakes as shown in diagram. Frost shell of one turtle with chocolate frosting. Frost head and feet with green frosting. (Push cupcakes together slightly to frost entire turtle, not just individual cupcakes.)
Pipe green frosting on chocolate shell to create turtle design. Add 2 candies for eyes; add pupils with chocolate frosting. Add nostrils with chocolate frosting or miniature chocolate candies. Add red string licorice for mouth (trimming to fit) and green licorice for tail.
Frost remaining cupcakes with green frosting for shell and chocolate frosting for head and feet. Pipe chocolate frosting on green shell to create turtle design. Add 2 candies for eyes; add pupils with chocolate frosting. Add nostrils with green frosting or miniature chocolate candies. Add red string licorice for mouth (trimming to fit) and green licorice for tail. Store loosely covered.
This pull-apart turtle cupcake recipe makes 2 turtle cakes with 24 total servings.