Cake Snowman

Total Time

Prep: 40 min. Bake: 1 hour + cooling

Makes

24 servings

Updated: Jun. 27, 2023
This frosty figure will melt ... in your mouth! The cute-as-can-be character is completely edible, from its chocolate candy buttons and coconut snowflakes to the licorice scarf and gumdrop nose. What's more, you'll be able to build it without using a specially shaped pan. So go ahead—just gather the ingredients and roll out a snowman today! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

  • 2 packages (16 ounces each) pound cake mix
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 8 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 to 6 tablespoons 2% milk
  • 3-1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut (about 10 ounces)
  • 2 brown M&M's
  • 3 green M&M's
  • 1 large orange gumdrops
  • 4-1/2 teaspoons miniature chocolate chips
  • 1 chocolate wafer
  • 4 sour candy strips
  • 1 large green gumdrop
  • 2 red M&M's
  • Two 10-ounce custard cups

Directions

  1. Prepare cake mixes according to package directions. Pour batter into 2 greased 1-quart ovenproof bowls, 2 greased 10-ounce custard cups and 1 greased muffin cup.
  2. In a 350° oven, bake muffin cup for 18-20 minutes, custard cups for 45-50 minutes and bowls for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing cakes from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  3. For frosting, cream the shortening and butter in a bowl. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to reach spreading consistency.
  4. Body & head: Use serrated knife to level the cakes.
  5. For the body, place 1 large round cake flat side up on the 8-in. serving plate. Frost the top of the cake. Place the remaining large cake on top with the flat side down and edges even. Frost the top and side.
  6. For the head, place 1 custard cup cake with flat side up on top of body. Frost the top of the cake. Place the remaining custard cup cake on top with the flat side down and edges even. Frost the top and side. Set aside 1/4 cup of frosting for hat.
  7. Press coconut over the top and sides of snowman, reserving some to sprinkle on plate later. Press 2 brown M&M's onto face for the eyes and 3 green M&M's onto body for the buttons.
  8. Use your fingers to shape the orange gumdrop into a carrot shape. Press wide end onto face for the nose.
  9. Hat: Place reserved frosting in a bowl. Melt chocolate chips. Stir melted chips into frosting until blended. Frost top of wafer. With top of cupcake down, place cupcake on top of frosted wafer. Frost cupcake with remaining frosting. Place hat on snowman's head.
  10. Wrap 1 sour candy strip around hat just above brim and trim as needed; secure with toothpick if desired.
  11. Flatten green gumdrop between pieces of waxed paper. Using sharp knife, cut a holly leaf shape from gumdrop and place on hat brim. Place 2 red M&M's on brim next to holly leaf for the berries.
  12. Finishing: Wrap 2 sour candy strips around neck for scarf, trimming as needed; if desired, secure with toothpicks. Loop remaining sour candy strip around loop at neck to form hanging portion of scarf. Sprinkle plate with reserved coconut.
Finished size: Cake is 10 inches high x 6-1/2 inches wide at the base.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 526 calories, 23g fat (12g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 239mg sodium, 79g carbohydrate (64g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.