Snowman Cupcakes

Make 1 batch basic gingerbread cupcakes as directed, lining 8 holes of the muffin pan with red paper liners and lightly coating the remaining holes with cooking spray. Make 1 batch vanilla buttercream as directed. When the baked cupcakes have cooled completely, in a food processor, pulse the 4 unwrapped cupcakes into fine crumbs. In a bowl, mix together the crumbs and 6 tablespoons buttercream, then roll into 8 balls (1 1/2 inch each; about 1 1/2 tablespoons). Frost the remaining cupcakes with buttercream (about 2 tablespoons each) and coat with finely shredded coconut (about 1 teaspoon each). Use toothpicks to secure the cake balls to the cupcakes, then frost each ball with 1/2 tablespoon buttercream and coat with finely shredded coconut (about 1 teaspoon each). Decorate using mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, orange Tic Tacs for noses, sour candy strips for scarves and melted chocolate for mouth. Make hats using chocolate jelly rings, buttercream and mini chocolate chips.