The Dracula heads can be made a couple of ways. If you want to use cake pops, make those ahead of time. You might want to use giant gumballs. Maybe you have something else in mind to use. I used Ferraro Rocher hazelnut truffles. Those things are good! If you do use the truffles, put them in the freezer ahead of time so they won't melt in the next step.
Cover the frozen truffle in the melted white candy coating. (It was easier for me to handle them by sticking a toothpick in the top and spooning the melted candy over them.) Let the excess candy drip off before placing them on a piece of waxed paper. Let it set.
Then cover them again with the candy coating (you might need to reheat it), let it drip, and place it on top of a chocolate sandwich cookie. Next, use a green fruit strip to make Dracula's collar. I used a candy called Rips which provides pre-cut strips, but you could you a Fruit Roll-Up or other flat licorice. I stretched it out slightly before placing it behind Drac's head. The wet candy will help secure it in place. Let it dry. Remove the toothpick if you used them.
Now it's time to add the hair. I used a large tube of black frosting with a round tip attached and just piped the hair in place. It was easier than I expected. Then add the eyebrows in the shape you like. At this point you can either add a dot of frosting for the eyes, or like me, because I had leftover eyeballs from another project, use the frosting to glue the eyeballs in place. I think the big eyeballs make them start to look like Muppets. Or the Count, to be precise. Then add a mouth, again in whatever shape you'd like and glue on two fangs. For the teeth I used pine nuts, but you could use slivered almonds or rice. I'm sure there are other things that would resemble teeth too.
One thing that I think would be a great addition would be to dip the points of the teeth in red frosting. I didn't have any on hand, but if you do I would highly recommend the bloody teeth.
That's it! It's interesting how they all end up with different personalities.
I personally will not be testing one of these cuties. They are going to a good home. This batch of vampires is going to Wright Memorial Public Library in Oakwood, Ohio where I worked for nearly 12 years as Coordinator of Youth Services. Here, Reference Librarian Sarah Uchic poses with a couple of vampires before sinking her teeth into one. How apropos. |