PUPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE

Puppy Birthday Cake image

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

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 5h20m

Yield 24 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 25

Ingredients

Patterns Below
Heavy-duty cardboard
Tacky (craft) glue
2 packages white cake mix (regular size)
DOG:
1 package (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 cups crisp rice cereal
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1-1/2 cups sweetened shredded 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 sweetened shredded coconut
Green food coloring
Assorted candies such as licorice, M&M's, Starburst and Tootsie Rolls
Assorted cookies, crackers and/or pretzels

Steps:

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 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in 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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 2130 calories, Fat 51g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 774mg sodium, Carbohydrate 429g carbohydrate (326g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 7g protein.