Barbie Cake

I know I said I’d talk about the pinata-but we’ll do that tomorrow. Instead I just have to show you this-I’m so proud!

Here is Princess with version one of her Barbie cake. (this was my test one used for the family party, I’m doing another for the kids party on Sat)

The skirt was made by baking a cake in both my smallest glass mixing bowl and a glass 2 cup measuring cup. The mixing bowl took FOREVER to cook all the way through, (the outside and top looked done but the center was raw-had to go back in the oven for an extra 15-20 min)

I froze the layers separately, then took them out and cut a wedge out of each, then carved out the center, fit the barbie in, glued the whole thing back together with icing, did a bit of a crumb coat (just a thin coat over the whole thing to seal in the crumbs) over the seams and the crumbling parts, put it back in the freezer for an hour, then did the top coat of frosting and decorative work.

The cake was a box mix, bought on sale for $.39, the icing was homemade (recipe below) and the barbie came from the dollar store. I had the frosting bags/tips and the food coloring on hand. Nice cake she was THRILLED with for about $2 or $3.

Homemade Icing.

4 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup shortning
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
3 Tablespoons milk

Beat shortening with extracts. Add 1/2 of the powdered sugar and beat until incorporated. Beat in 3 TBS milk. Add in the other 2 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar and beat together. Icing can be tinted (I separate it out into a couple of batches-tint more than you think you will use because you’ll never make the exact same shade again) and it can be stored for a really long time in the fridge. If you store in the fridge let come to room temp again before using.

You can also freeze the frosting.