Edible Cupcake Torches

My first grade Sunday school class is working their way through the book of Judges learning about Israel's cycle of disobedience and their turn back obedience. Each week the kids learn about how God would save the Israelites through the use of one of our Bible heros. This past week the kids discovered how God used Gideon, who we learned had a hard time walking in full faith of what God already said and did. 

My favorite part of Gideon's journey is when the action starts! Gideon gathered 23,000 men to help fight against the Midianites but as they camp near the enemies camp God says there are too many men. Too many?! This is war! Isn't it more advantageous to have more men? God does have a reason of course. He doesn't want any man to be able to claim the victory was won by their own might, but he instead wants the Israelites to credit the victory only to Him (see Judges 7:2). Gideon announces that anyone who is afraid can go back home. One thousand men left right then leaving 22,000. Okay, that's not to bad a loss! They could surely win with an army of that size! God doesn't waste any time though in informing Gideon that he still had too many men. God tells Gideon to watch how the men drink their water from a nearby body of water. Anyone who drinks like a dog is to go home. This time 300 men are left. God is content with this number and instructs them to go on.

Our dear friend Gideon is not holding onto his faith so securely as he asks God for yet another sign (at this point he's had an angel of the Lord visit him and gave a sign and asked for two other signs shortly after that). Our hero seems short of faith in God's word. God humors him, gives yet another, very direct sign (as if speaking directly to Gideon wasn't enough!) and Gideon is ready to fight. The really amazing things is that there really isn't a fight! Gideon and his 300 men divide into three groups, surround the enemy camp and at the right time they blow trumpets, break clay jars they were carrying that contain a torch and shout, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!" (there wasn't even a sword though!) God causes a great confusion to rush through the enemy camp and they all start killing themselves and flee! It's a great story about how God himself is the one to save his people and all it took was a little (very little as Gideon demonstrated) faith in Him.

The kids love to play a part in this amazing scene. These edible torches are not only a great teaching tool, but a delicious snack for after the lesson!

Edible Cupcake Torches

What you need:

Ice cream cones

cake batter of your choice

buttercream frosting

orange, yellow and red food coloring

piping bag with your choice of tip

Using a mini cup-cake pan, place one ice cream cone in each cup.

Mix the cake batter of your choice. I used white cake and added sprinkles to make a confetti cake. This is for kids, so make it fun!

Fill the ice cream cones 3/4 full with batter. Bake according to the directions for your cake batter.

Once done, allow your cupcakes to cool leaving the cones in the pan. Make buttercream if you haven't already. I kept my buttercream white and added stripes of color into the piping bag for a more realistic fire look.

Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, load your piping bag with icing colors (orange, yellow and red) and then with buttercream. Pipe small mounds of buttercream all over the cupcake. Could also do one swirl using a large star tip if you desire. These are your cupcakes, get creative!

 The finished product!

 Had to share this! Emma caught a drop of stray food coloring while hunting for potential food. This was followed by 20 minutes of carefully wiping the color off her fur. Of course she had to have been looking up at the exact moment the coloring fell! 

Enjoy this yummy treat for the Lord and for Gideon!

Shannon