Father’s Day is just over a week away, so we’re launching our Dad-inspired countdown of crafts, recipes and cool ways to celebrate the big guy. And as usual, our buddies at Family Fun Magazine have a million great ideas. Erin, in their press office, told us to get a load of the “sweet lawn mower cupcakes” in the June issue, calling them “a cut above” other daddy-themed desserts. We grabbed the recipe before she could make any more terrible puns. Basically, you start with a basic chocolate-frosted cupcake and…

1. Mix a few drops of green food coloring into a handful of flaked coconut, then sprinkle the “grass” over the still moist frosting.

2. The mower is actually a dark chocolate Hershey’s Nuggets body, with brown M&M’s as wheels, and a red M&M for the engine. Use your leftover frosting to “glue” the embellishments in place. Then stick the mower body to the top of the cupcake.

3. Finally, use a black licorice lace to form the mower’s handle, sticking the ends into the cupcake to secure it. Voila!

Too cute. Looking for more cupcake ideas?

• Baseball Cupcakes and other Father’s Day desserts, also from Family Fun
• Another take on the baseball cupcake, BrightIdeas.com
• Father’s Day Tee-Time Cupcakes, Martha Stewart
• And a Hot Dog on the Grill Cupcake, Celebrations.com