Ice Blue Igloo and Penguins Recipe

Ice Blue Igloo and Penguins Recipe photo by Taste of Home Directions: Place unflavored gelatin and cold water into a bowl, letting mixture stand 1 minute to soften. In a large bowl, dissolve blue gelatin in boiling water. Stir in unflavored gelatin mixture until dissolved. Pour into a 2-qt. bowl and a 6-oz. custard cup coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

In a bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar. Transfer to a pastry or plastic bag. Cut a small hole in corner of bag and insert pastry tip.

Penguins: Slice black gumdrops in half lengthwise. Referring to photos for position, pipe two dots of cream cheese mixture on the sugared side of each black gumdrop for eyes. Pipe a line from the center of each black gumdrop to the bottom for the chest.

Cut two 1/4-in. thick circles from each orange gumdrop. Referring to photos, cut a small triangle from the edge of each orange circle and set aside. Place a black gumdrop on each orange circle so white chest is lined up with cutout notch. For beaks, cut a 1/4-in. piece from the tip of each triangle and place above each penguin's chest. Add sprinkles for eyes and buttons. Set penguins aside Igloo: Unmold gelatin in bowl onto a 12-in. round serving plate for igloo. Unmold gelatin in custard cup onto a cutting board for igloo's entrance. Cut a 1/4-in. slice from two opposite sides of entrance dome. Position one cut side against igloo, leaving the other cut side to serve as the "door."

Just before serving and referring to photo for position, pipe cream cheese mixture on igloo to create an ice block pattern. Beginning at the base of igloo and leaving entrance plain for now, pipe a straight line around bottom of large dome, spacing them 1 in. apart. Form ice blocks by piping vertical lines 1-1/2 in. apart, staggering their position from one row to the next.

On igloo's entrance, outline the door by piping around cut-off area. Form ice blocks on small dome the same as for large dome.

Spread remaining cream cheese mixture over serving plate around igloo and sprinkle with coconut. Place penguins randomly around igloo. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Crafter thoughts: —Feel free to make the gelatin mold a day ahead if you like. However, since the surface of the gelatin is slippery, it's best to the frosting on the igloo the same day you serve it. —The candy penguins can go over big as goodies for a kids' party or school class all by themselves. Finished size: Igloo is about 4 inches high x 10-1/4 inches long x 7 inches wide. Each penguin is 1-1/4-inches high x 1 inch wide.