Cake Walk Cake ... Monkey Cake

Before school ended this last year the school had a cake walk and asked for cakes to be donated.  I of course couldn't just pick up a cake, I wanted to make something.  It was a jungle theme so I found this super cute Monkey Cake on Parenting.  I of course made it my own and I think it turned out super cute!

Ingredients:

• 1 (9-inch) round cake
• 2 chocolate-covered doughnuts
• ½ can (1 cup) vanilla frosting
• Red food coloring (I used Pink for lips)
• 1 can (16 oz) chocolate frosting (I used fondant instead)
• ½ cup chocolate sprinkles (I skipped)
• 2 brown M&M's or black jelly beans (I used fondant)
• 2 miniature York peppermint patties
• 1 chocolate Twizzler

What you'll need:

• A bread knife
• A serving platter
• 2 resealable sandwich-size plastic bags (Ziploc)
• Kitchen shears or scissors

Trimming the cakes:

1. Place the cake on a clean work surface. Using the bread knife, trim a 1 ½-inch triangle-shaped notch from opposite sides of the cake (see template). Discard scraps. Place the trimmed cake onto a serving platter.
2. Cut ½ inch from one side of each doughnut.

For the white, red and pink frosting:

1. Spoon ¼ cup of the untinted vanilla frosting into a resealable plastic bag.
2. Add enough red food coloring to 2 Tbsp of the vanilla frosting to tint it red and spoon it into a separate resealable plastic bag.
3. Add a few drops of the red food coloring to the remaining vanilla frosting to tint it a pale pink.

Frosting the cake:

1. Spread the chocolate frosting onto the top and sides of the cake, avoiding the lower half of the monkey's face.
2. Spread the pale-pink frosting into a kidney bean-shaped area over the monkey's mouth, chin and cheeks, as pictured.
3. Press the chocolate sprinkles into the forehead, the top of the head and the underside of the monkey's chin.

Assembling the cake:

1. Press the trimmed edges of the doughnuts onto the cake for the monkey's ears. Press the M&M's or the jelly beans into the center of the cake to make the monkey's nostrils.
2. Snip a very small corner from each bag of frosting. Pipe a red frosting line onto the pink part of the cake for the monkey's smile.
3. Pipe 2 white circles onto the top of the cake for the monkey's eyes and press the peppermint candies into them. Add a dab of white frosting for the sparkle in each eye, as pictured.
4. Snip the chocolate Twizzler into thin 2-inch strands with kitchen shears or clean scissors and insert them into the top of the cake for the monkey's hair.

Alexis Notes: I used My Rolled Buttercream Frosting an tinted it 2 shades of brown and a little bit pink for the lips.  I rolled out a little of the white and made the whites of the eyes and added a little crescent moons on each york patty to the whites of the eyes.  I used Wilton Gel Colors to die the fondant (this was before I found my now favorite AmeriColor at Hobby Lobby).  I used a little black fondant for the nostrils. 

I say this Monkey is prefect for any night!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.

What have I been up to?

I think Rick may be right (just don't tell him I said so).  I took on a little too much the last few weeks.  Between Caden's party, then 4th of July and then me just over volunteering.  BUT I wouldn't change it for a minute!

What has been happening here:

Mickey Mouse Cake for Charity
Birthday Dreams


For the sister of the little brother I did Mickey Mouse cake I made
Barbie Cupcakes for Charity
Birthday Dreams

Deluxe Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

made for the workers at the Boys & Girls Club

We also served at the mission doing chalk art with the homeless kids

We bought the new flooring for the whole house!

We've been hit with a heat way of temps over 95

So we went to my parents house a few times to swim and cool off

And I hit the gym!
down 20 of the 40 I gained back!!
Keep the good prayers coming

And we did some swim lessons

And I'm a little exhausted now ... lol

If you're looking for great charities to support. 

Please look into Birthday Dreams

Or Boys and Girls Club

Both of these two help so many and do it with so little money!

Hope you all have a GREAT Weekend.

We plan to have movie night Saturday with my bestie's family

Then NOTHING is planed!

ON our plan for the Movie:

Just a Few Cakes ...

Last week was a crazy busy week for me.  I was just finishing up Cole's Minecraft party and then I signed myself up to make a few more ... LOL.  Recipes to come and how to but I thought for today I will just share a few pictures.

Last week I did: 

Minecraft Creeper Cake for Cole's Party (you saw that picture last week)

Monkey Cake for the boys school Cake Walk

Pirate Ship Cake for a charity that brings birthdays to homeless kids

Zebra Print inside w/ MM Age for a friends mom

Strawberry Brownie Shortcake w/ Caramel drizzle

On the list this week to do:

Owl Diaper Cake for my coworker

Princess Castle Cake for another homeless kids' birthday party

Thom's Mom Owl Cake - on my list to do

Princess Castle Cake found on Single Mormon Mommy

Wish me Luck! 

I'll share the recipes etc soon!

Girls Just Want to have FUN ... Zebra & Leopard Cake (Cake Border Decorations)

Yesterday post showed you how to make the inside of the cake be Zebra and Leopard print.   Now to show how I decorated the outside of the cake.  This is the second time I've made a cake this big, first time all by myself.  It was a very heavy cake and the fondant work needed a little work.  But I must say I was pretty darn happy with how it turned out and the girl's sister that I made the cake wants me to make her 13th birthday cake.  That to me is the biggest compliment I could EVER get!

What you Need:

4 Cakes - Cooled (I did one zebra, one leopard and 2 pain white)

Fondant - Used my Rolled Buttercream Fondant

Safari Leopard Print Edible Cake Border Decoration (on Amazon)

Safari Zebra Print Edible Cake Border Decoration (on Amazon)

Cake Board - Found a pink Leopard one (Michael's)

Wilton Cake Separator (Michael's)

Sturdy Buttercream Frosting (to dirty ice & filling)

Easy Mousse Cake Filling 

Easy Mousse Cake Filling (found on food.com)

Ingredients

• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) boxes instant pudding mix, any flavor

Directions

1. In a chilled metal bowl, beat whipping cream on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken.
2. Gradually add in the instant pudding mix and continue to beat, just until thick.
3. If you'd like to add fruit filling, fold it into the cream after it's thickened.

I made a ring around the top of the cake and put the filling in the middle and topped with a second cake.  I put mine back in the fridge to make sure everything was firm before I started with the fondant.

Next was to put the fondant on and then add the Borders.  I put the mousse in between to cakes, then took a little of the frosting to dirty ice the cake so the fondant will stick.  I did one cake then went to adding the cake border.  I must say this was the easiest part.  A little water and it sticks right on.  NOW they said it would fit a 10" cake, BUT I did have gaps so I suggest making a 8" cake instead.  I used a Wilton cake separator between the cakes since it was a heavy cake.  I say these borders are really easy to use just use the 8" cake and maybe less filling ... lol mine were a little on the full side.

Edible Prints:

1. Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling the image. You will need to have a plain frosted cake.WHITE butter-cream FROSTING is best but any type of frosting will work, even frozen ice cream cakes! Your frosting should be fresh. If your frosting becomes dry, spray a fine mist of water over the cake (NOT the image) before applying the print. If your product is moist, DO NOT add any extra moisture. Using too much water may cause colors to run and melt your image. It can take quite a few hours for the image to blend in properly. 

2. Edible Prints cannot be moved once applied. Plan where you will place the image, then apply the image face up onto your product. To remove the Edible Print, hold the opposite edges and pull the backing page across the sharp edge of a table. Never pull on the image itself, it can tear. Lay the Edible Print on top of the cake from the middle first and gently lay it out to the ends of the image. If the image bubbles after application, GENTLY TAP (do not rub) the image. After Application add a border or edge decoration of your choice to finish. You can also add words by hand on top of the image. Avoid extensive exposure to ultraviolet lighting. As with any food coloring, the image may fade over time.

 3. If the Edible Prints seem stubborn about releasing, do not try to peel the icing sheet away as this will cause tearing. Place the Edible Prints flat in the freezer for 10 - 15 seconds (NOT LONGER). You should have no problem peeling the backing off. You should remove the image from the backing immediately after taking it out from the freezer. 

 4. Edible Prints should be stored in the packaging it is shipped in a cool, dry location out of direct lighting. DO NOT store in the refrigerator or freezer. 

5. Be careful not to let water drip on to the Edible Prints as it can melt and ruin your print. 

6. If your cake is frozen when you apply the frosting sheet, allow it to thaw slowly in the refrigerator. You’ll also want to avoid storing the finished cake in an airtight cake dome at room temperature. An airtight cake dome can act like a greenhouse.

I'm so excited how the cake came out and can't wait to do more!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.