Ice cream cones (multi-color cake cones and sugar cones)
Cake mix
Tinted granulated sugars
M&Ms
Ice cream
Food coloring

DECORATOR ICING:

1/2 c. Crisco shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tbsp. milk (or more if needed for correct consistency)
3 c. powdered sugar

SPECIAL ITEMS:

8 inch square pan
Decorator bags (to apply icing features)
Decorating tubes #2A, #2, #14 and #17
Cornstarch or corn syrup

1. Make cake batter as directed on package. Fill four multi-colored cake cones with 2 tablespoons of cake batter. Place upright in an 8 inch square pan and bake in 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until done. Cool for at least one hour.

2. Prepare icing: Beat together 1/2 cup Crisco shortening, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 cup milk and 3 cups powdered sugar until well blended. Divide icing in half and put into 2 separate bowls; tint bowls of icing with different colors of food coloring.

3. After cakes are cooled, ice them generously with one of the tinted icings and sprinkle tinted granulated sugars on iced portion of cake. Fill decorator bags with remaining icing, each color in it's own separate bag.

4. Place one scoop of ice cream on each cake top. Make tube #2 eyes, cheeks and mouth (flatten the rounded eyes and cheeks with finger dipped in cornstarch or corn syrup) on scoop of ice cream. Put sugar cone on top as hat and trim around rim with tube #17 zigzag border. Add a couple of pom-poms on the hat.

5. Add tube #2A arms and put an M&M on the end of each arm for hands. Add M&Ms on chest for buttons. Freeze until serving time. Makes 4 clowns.

Pre-made icing in tubes and the decorating tips sold in stores may be substituted if you do not have decorator's bags and tubes. Icing will still need to be made (or you can buy canned icing) for frosting the top of the cakes.