Printable | Taste of Home

Brown Bear Cake

2 packages (18-1/4 ounces each) chocolate cake mix
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1/4 cup milk
3 cups flaked coconut, divided
Brown gel food coloring
5 chocolate-covered peppermint patties
16 brown milk chocolate M&M's
2 dark chocolate kisses
5 pieces red shoestring licorice

Prepare cake mixes according to package directions. Pour 3 cups batter into a
greased and floured 2-qt. round baking dish. Pour 1-1/2 cups batter into a
greased and floured 1-qt. ovenproof bowl. Using remaining batter, fill six
greased jumbo muffin cups and four greased regular muffin cups two-thirds full.
Bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes and cakes for 40-45 minutes at 350° or until
a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cupcakes for 5 minutes
and cakes for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool

Printed from tasteofhome.com Oct 13, 2008

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Brown Bear Cake cont.

completely. Level the top of the cakes, four jumbo cupcakes and two regular
cupcakes. (Save the remaining cupcakes for another use.) Place large cake top
side down on an 18-in. x 12-in. covered board. For teddy bear's head, place the
small cake top side down above large cake. Position jumbo cupcake cut side up for
arms and legs. Place regular cupcakes on top of head for ears. In a large
mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the
confectioners' sugar, cocoa and milk; beat until smooth. Frost tops and sides of
cakes and cupcakes. Tint 2-1/4 cups coconut dark brown; tint remaining coconut
light brown. Sprinkle dark brown coconut over arms and legs. Leaving a 4-in.
circle in center of bear's body, sprinkle dark brown coconut in a 1-in. circle
around edge of cake. Sprinkle dark brown coconut in a 1/2-in. circle around edges
of the head and ears. Press dark brown coconut into the sides of the body, head
and ears. Sprinkle light brown coconut over the middle of the body, head and
ears. Position one peppermint patty on face for nose. Place one peppermint
patty and four M&M's on each paw. Insert chocolate kisses point side down for
eyes. Cut one licorice piece into two 2-in. strips; shape to form a mouth. Cut
two licorice pieces into a 7-in. strip; place around the neck. Shape the
remaining licorice into a bow; place below neck. Store in the refrigerator.

Yield: 18-20 servings.