Groundhog Day is here! Will Phil see his shadow or not? Why not try this slightly different variation on our coconut and chocolate cupcakes and let your loved ones vote whether they think an early spring is coming with these adorable cupcakes, made with our easy to use cake mix and a few fun add-ins?? This recipe makes 24 cupcakes.

1 box Better Batter Chocolate Cake Mix, batter made as per directions (you will need oil, water and 3 eggs)

24 soft caramels,or caramel filled chocolates, unwrapped

8 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate or chocolate chips

4 ounces butter or margarine.

Add Ins (Instructions follow below recipe)

Mix cupcake batter as directed on box and line cupcake tins with paper liners. Place half the batter in the cupcake liners, then place a caramel in the center of each cupcake, pressing down lightly. Spoon remaining batter on top of caramels to cover the caramel with batter. Bake cupcakes as directed and allow to cool completely.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter together, stirring every 15 seconds, until smooth and melted. Spread on each cooled cupcake, evenly, to form a base for decorations. Decorate as below immediately.

Follow instructions for decorating below, using Add Ins:

Scared Phil (white cupcakes)

1/2 package (10oz) flaked coconut

black gel food color icing

24 candy googly eyes (available anywhere Wilton Cake deorations are sold)

Place coconut evenly on top of cupcakes. Take black gel food color icing and make a little oval for the ‘groundhog hole’ about 1/2 inch to 1 inch big on one side of the cupcake. Place 2 google eyes in the ‘hole’ for Phil’s eyes.

Spring Phil (green cupcakes)

1/2 package (10oz) flaked coconut

green food coloring

12 Chocolate coconut candy (such as Mounds) or other rounded, snack sized candy bars

Small amount of melted chocolate for ‘glue’, leftover from icing cupcakes

24 candy googly eyes (available anywhere Wilton Cake deorations are sold)

Dye coconut green with food color to make ‘grass’. Place coconut evenly on top of cupcakes. Take melted chocolate and use it to glue googly eyes onto the snack sized candy bars. With a very sharp knife, cut a 1 inch slit in the back 1/3 of each cupcake. Place a candy bar little oval for the ‘groundhog’ in the prepared slit and press down until only top 1/2 to 1/3 of the candy bar is sticking out of the cupcake.