Directions

1. Divide the vanilla frosting into two equal parts. Leave one portion white, and combine the other portion with cocoa powder and yellow food coloring until it reaches a shade of tan. Start with a teaspoon of cocoa powder and a drop or two of food coloring; then add more of each until the frosting reaches the shade of tan you desire.
2. Place the tan frosting in a piping bag and the white frosting in a second piping bag; fit the piping bags with small circle tips.
3. Using the tan frosting, start in the middle of a cupcake and pipe downward-curved lines out to each side, like a mask. Then use the white icing to fill in the forehead and chin areas. With the tan icing again, pipe long ears. (See photo for reference.)
4. For the eyes, take two mini chocolate chips and press them into the tan "mask" with points down. Use a large chocolate chip for the nose.
5. Cut a small tongue shape (round on one end, flat on the other) out of the red fruit leather, and pinch the flat end to create a teardrop. Press into the frosting right beneath the nose.
6. (For fun, you can also shape dog bones out of Tootsie Roll candies!)