One of the best things about this cake is that it is super cheap to make, much cheaper than purchasing a cake, and so much more rewarding :)
First things first. Prepare a good ol' box cake of your choice! Any flavor will do. Easy-peasy, right? Do everything according to the box instructions, unless you like to sub in healthier add ins!
Prepare a 10" non-stick baking pan with butter, lard, or cooking spray and bake according to the box.
(I used a 10" spring form pan because I find it much easier to get the finished product out!)
I created a Peppa Pig template by placing a clean sheet of paper over my computer screen and tracing Peppa's face. (I felt like it was a bit wide, so I cut the template longer than I traced it.)
Cut out and place your Peppa Pig template over your cooled round cake and cut around the template.
To even out the top, you will want to use a knife that is at least as long as the diameter of your circle (10" in this case) . Place the knife and cut while turning the cake as if it were on a turn table.
Now your Peppa Pig cake is ready to be iced with good old fashioned icing! Be very careful as not to tear the cake while you are icing it! Start with a generous amount of icing in the middle of the cake and ice outward!
Okay, so I was in a bit of a hurry and forgot to take pictures of the fondant process, but it is super easy! (I know, amateur...)
For the fondant, you will need:
- One 10oz bg of mini marshmallows.
- 2 Tbsp water.
- Blue and red food coloring.
- 6-7 Cups powdered sugar.
Yes, that's all you need! It's pretty great, right?
First, Place all the marshmallows and the water in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for one minute and let cool for one minute.
Microwave again for one more minute.
While the marshmallows are microwaving, prepare a wooden or silicone spoon by covering in lard and flour. ( I didn't have lard, so I just sprayed a silicone spoon (and my hands) with cooking spray and it worked out fine)
Once the mallows are done, begin stirring in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Be sure to either sift or sprinkle in the sugar so it doesn't lump!
Eventually you will get to the point where you will have to work it in with your hands. You may not need all the sugar. The fondant should not be sticky enough to stick to your hands like glue, but pliable enough too roll out.
At this point you may add a few drops of red/pink food coloring, but SAVE a 1" ball of white for the eyes! I made the mistake of forgetting that and I had to make a bit more fondant!
Work in your food dye and wash your hand immediately OR WEAR GLOVES!!
Now you are ready to roll out some dough!
Cover your work surface in powdered sugar so the fondant doesn't stick!
Begin to roll out your fondant using a rolling pin. It only needs to have a 11" diameter to cover the cake! Once you have a smooth, thick circle place the pink fondant over the iced Peppa cake!
Unless you have a fancy tool, use your clean fingers to lightly press the fondant down around the edges, be especially careful around the ears and snout as it could break. IF it does break, I have found that putting water on the break and working it back together with your hands in the best way to mend it.
Cut the extra fondant off around the edges of the cake.
Now using the extra fondant, add more red/pink dye to make it a bit darker. (If the fondant has hardened at all, you can microwave it for a few seconds!)
Wash your hands and begin rolling the fondant on the surface from the middle outward to create the outlines.
You will need one long, (about 20") outline to go around Peppa's face. If it doesn't stick to the existing fondant, you can use left over icing to 'glue' it on.
Make two more shorter outlines for the ears, and one 3" out line for the mouth.
Now you will need four circles. Two larger and two smaller, for the snout, cheek and eyes.
place the cheek and snout circle, and make two very small balls to place in the snout.
You're almost there!
Now, take the extra white fondant that we saved earlier, and roll it out a bit (Don't forget to 'sugar' your surface!)
Using any circle you have (I used a shot glass) Cut out two circles for the eyes, and add a bit of blue dye to whatever is left over for the pupils!
Place the white circles, then cover with the pink outlines and place the blue pupils!
I hope your Peppa Pig cake is a hit and that my tips have helped! Working with marshmallow fondant can be a bit frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you can have great homemade cakes at a fraction of the cost :)
PLEASE comment and tell me if you have any suggestions for working with fondant! I am definitely not a professional and would love any ideas or tips!
Happy Baking!
