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Puppy Birthday Cake

Puppy Birthday Cake
I made this cute pooch from crispy rice cereal, and his doghouse from graham crackers. Our son's face lit up when I presented the finished cake at his second birthday party.—Elizabeth Isch, Gridley, Kansas
24 ServingsPrep: 5 hours Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Ingredients

  • Patterns Below
  • Heavy-duty cardboard
  • Tacky (craft) glue
  • 2 packages white cake mix (regular size)
  • DOG:
  • 1 package (10-1/2 ounces) miniature marshmallows
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cups crisp rice cereal
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1-1/2 cups flaked coconut
  • ROYAL ICING:
  • 6 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 cup meringue powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • DOGHOUSE:
  • 9 whole graham crackers
  • 12 whole chocolate graham crackers
  • FINISHING TOUCHES:
  • 1 can (16 ounces) cream cheese frosting
  • 2 cups flaked coconut
  • Green food coloring
  • Assorted candies such as licorice, M&M's, Starburst and Tootsie Rolls
© Taste of Home 2013

2 of 2

Puppy Birthday Cake (continued)

Ingredients (continued)

  • Assorted cookies, crackers and/or pretzels

Directions

  • Trace patterns onto cardboard; cut out. Apply glue along base and one
  • side of front of house and the adjoining side wall. Place walls at
  • right angles to each other; prop with small cans. Repeat with second
  • side wall and back of house. Apply glue along top edges of house
  • walls; position roof pieces. Apply glue to joining edges. Let dry
  • completely.
  • Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Pour 6 cups
  • batter into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at
  • 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the
  • center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Bake
  • remaining batter according to package directions; save for another
  • use.
  • For dog, in a large saucepan, combine the marshmallows, butter and
  • salt. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until melted. Remove from
  • the heat. Stir in cereal. With buttered hands, shape mixture into a
  • dog shape, about 8 in. long by 6 in. wide. Brush dog with corn
  • syrup; press coconut over dog to cover completely.
  • For icing, in a large bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, water,
  • meringue powder and cream of tartar; beat on low speed just until
  • combined. Beat on high for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form.
  • For doghouse, attach graham crackers to cardboard with icing, using a
  • serrated knife to trim crackers as necessary. (Keep unused icing
  • covered at all times with a damp cloth. If necessary, beat again on
  • high speed to restore texture.)
  • Tint cream cheese frosting and the coconut green; frost cake and top
  • with coconut. Transfer doghouse and dog to cake. Add a candy leash,
  • face and ears to dog as desired. (Heat Starburst and Tootsie Rolls
  • in the microwave for a few seconds, then roll and shape into
  • features as desired.) Attach facial features and ears with royal
  • icing.
  • Attach a cookie name plate over the door with icing; add a name with
  • cookies, crackers, candies or icing as desired. Add a fence and
  • other decorations such as bone-shaped crackers if desired. Yield: 24
  • servings.
© Taste of Home 2013