My son's beloved elephant blankie was the inspiration for the theme of his fourth birthday party. His cake, shaped like a friendly pachyderm, was a huge hit! I'm no cake decorator, but I found it fun to make. No special pans are needed, and the frosting is easily applied with a pastry bag and star tip. —Kristen Proulx, Canton, New York
Ingredients
- 1 package yellow cake mix (regular size)
- 1 package devil's food cake mix (regular size)
- 1-1/2 cups shortening
- 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
- 12 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 to 7 tablespoons milk
- Black and blue paste food coloring
Directions
- Line two 9-in. round baking pans and one 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan with waxed paper; grease the paper. Prepare both cake batters and bake according to package directions, using the 9-in. pans for the yellow cake and the 13-in. x 9-in. pan for the chocolate cake. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Level cake tops if necessary.
- Referring to <a href="http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/pdfs/21271_ElephantCake.pdf" target="_blank">Fig. 1</a> and using a serrated knife, cut out a trunk and two feet from one yellow cake. Referring to <a href="http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/pdfs/21271_ElephantCake.pdf" target="_blank">Fig. 3</a>, cut out an ear and tail from second yellow cake. (Discard leftover cake pieces or save for another use.)
- Center chocolate cake on a 28-in. x 16-in. covered board. Referring to <a href="http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/pdfs/21271_ElephantCake.pdf" target="_blank">Fig. 2</a>, position trunk along left bottom edge of cake and tail on right side. Place feet at bottom corners of cake. Place ear 2 in. from left side of cake.
- For frosting, in a large bowl, cream the shortening and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
- Tint 1/4 cup of frosting black; set aside. Set aside 1/2 cup white frosting. Tint remaining frosting blue-gray, using small amounts of black and blue food coloring. Spread 2 cups of the blue-gray frosting over top and sides of cake.
- Trace a 1-1/2-in. x 1-1/4-in. oval for the eye. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert round tip #4. Fill bag with black frosting. Outline eye and fill in pupil; pipe eyelashes and mouth. Using star tip #25 and reserved white frosting, pipe stars to fill in eye and add nostril and toes.
- With blue-gray frosting and star tip #16, pipe stars over top and sides of elephant.
Loading Popular in the Community
Loading Reviews
