This Great Cake Contest entry was submitted by lanebk1198 from Frisco, Texas: I made this for a child's Halloween themed birthday party. It is a 2 tier round cake with a pumpkin topper done in Halloween colors.
What you'll need
- William Sonoma medium pumpkin Bundt pan, 8" round cake pan, 10" round cake pan
- 4 chocolate cake mixes
- 1 dozen eggs
- 2 cups applesauce
- 5 1/3 cups water
- gel food coloring in purple, green, yellow, black & orange
- 2C shortening
- 2 bs. powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. butter flavor
- 1/4 C water
- 1 large marshmallow
- 1/2 C fondant
- pumpkin candies (I used Palmer marshmallow pumpkin candies)
How to make it
Prepare cake mixes according to package directions, replacing the oil in the directions with the same amount of applesauce. Bake 2 8" rounds, 2 10" rounds, and 2 pumpkin halves.
Prepare buttercream frosting. One batch equals 6 cups of frosting. In mixer, combine 2 cups shortening, 2 lbs. powdered sugar, 2 tsp. vanilla, 2 tsp. butter flavor, and 1/4 cup water. Mix on low until combined. Add small amounts of water until the frosting has a smooth, creamy consistency. Mix on medium for 2-3 minutes. Put frosting into smaller plastic containers and add coloring to each.
Frost tops of round cakes purple, sides of round cakes green. Use round tip #7 to make yellow swirl designs on the green sides. Use round tip #10 to make dot border around tops and bottoms of round cakes. Frost the pumpkin orange, then add the marshmallow on top using a toothpick for a stem. Use round tip #7 to create vines and leaves on top. Use round tip #5 to create pumpkins face.
Color fondant purple. Roll out and use cookie cutters to create name for the side of the cake.
