Sweet and sassy snowmen

Too cold to go outside and build a snowman? Then build one inside with these two recipes courtesy of Disney Family Fun.com

Gather the family together in your kitchen to make some holiday magic as you build a Smiling Snowman Cake or Defrosty the Snowman.

The kids can help out with the Smiling Snowman Cake by measuring ingredients and adding them to the bowls.

Young children could also help dress Defrosty, by adding his hat, nose and eyes.

And remember, the best part of these snowmen is that you can eat them when you're done!

Smiling Snowman Cake

1 cups cake flour

1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups vanilla frosting

Shredded coconut (optional)

2 black licorice drops

1 large orange gumdrop

Red shoestring licorice

Red fruit leather

3 starlight mints

3 small gumdrops

2 sticks chocolate licorice

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two ovenproof glass bowls, one slightly larger than the other. (Note: This cake used one bowl with a 1-liter capacity and 6-inch diameter and the other with a 1 1/2-liter capacity and 7-inch diameter.)

To make the cake, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Sift the ingredients onto waxed paper and return to the bowl. In a separate bowl, blend butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.

Alternately, add flour mixture and milk to batter in thirds, combining well after each addition. Fill bowls about two thirds full. Bake smaller cake for about 50 minutes and larger cake for about 65 minutes. When done, the surface will spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center will come out clean. Cool in bowls for 10 minutes. Then invert onto a large, rectangular platter (about 17 by 12 inches) so the cakes resemble a snowman. Cool completely.

Ice the cakes with the vanilla frosting, then sprinkle with shredded coconut, if desired. Add licorice drop eyes, insert an orange gumdrop nose and fashion a broad smile with shoestring licorice.

For the scarf, cut two 2-inch-wide strips of fruit leather, notch ends and wrap around the neck of the snowman. For buttons, use starlight mints topped with gumdrops. Finish off the snowman with two chocolate licorice arms. Serves 10 to 12.

Defrosty the Snowman

White candy melts (one 14-ounce package makes 16 snowmen)

Mini chocolate chips

Light cocoa candy melts

Rolos

Candy corn

For each snowman, you'll need 6 mini chocolate chips, a light cocoa candy melt, and a Rolo. To make the nose, cut the orange section from a candy corn, then slice it in half lengthwise. Roll the piece between your fingers to form a carrot shape.

To assemble snowman, melt white candy in a bowl according to the package instructions, then scoop a rounded tablespoon onto a sheet of wax paper. With the back of a spoon, smear candy into a puddle. Working quickly, stick on the light cocoa candy melt, add a dot of white melted candy, then place the Rolo on top. Finally, add candy corn nose and mini chocolate chip eyes and mouth.