Spot the Dog - Birthday Cake

For Annika's 2nd birthday, I decided to make a dog cake since she adores dogs in all shapes and sizes. After checking out my site of inspiration for birthday cakes, I picked a Spot the Dog cake for my project. Here's what I did.

First, I baked two 13 x 9" yellow cakes, recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I cooled them completely, wrapped them in foil, and froze them a day before cutting out the shape I wanted. I drew the basic outline that I wanted on paper, then laid it on the cake to make the cuts.

I re-froze the cakes until the day of the party, when I decorated them. Frozen cakes are MUCH easier to both cut and frost, fewer crumbs that way. I made my usual buttercream frosting:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup shortening
7 cups powdered sugar
1/4 t. salt
1 T. vanilla extract
1/3-1/2 cup heavy cream

Whip butter and shortening together on med-high speed (in your mixer) for at least 10 minutes. Reduce speed to low and gradually add powdered sugar. Take your time - you don't want to spray your kitchen with sugar! Add salt, vanilla, and cream to desired consistency.

I used a Tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa to tint most of the frosting a light brown; Wilton's pink food coloring for the gift, and a small amount of black for the outline.

I also melted some chocolate chips and carefully made the circle and tail spot on wax paper and froze it until hardened. The gift was decorated with candy....I loved the ribbon! Spot's tongue was a piece of candy too. All the candy was bought at a specialty candy store by a friend....thanks Ellen!

He didn't turn out perfect, but everyone thought he was super cute and Annika loved it....so that's what matters. And I did have fun making him.