Barbie Cake

My friend Shannon just celebrated her 40th Birthday and I thought it would be fun to give her a bit of her childhood back for the day. Claire has really been interested in decorating so I let her help with the Barbie Cake. It is one of the easiest cakes you'll ever make. Barbie cakes will cost you at least $30 at a bakery, this one...about $5.

I have a "dress" pan, but I also have a Batter Bowl from Pampered Chef so I decided to save myself some digging and just use the bowl that is in my cupboard.

Here is what the batter bowl looks like.


You are going to mix up a cake mix in another bowl according to directions. Spray your batter bowl well with cooking spray and dump cake mix in. Bake for about an hour at 350. Test with a skewer to make sure it comes out clean and the cake is ready. Cool 5 minutes and invert on a plate. Cool. After the cake is cool, trim the bottom with serrated knife so that the cake is level. (You can skip this step but the cake isn't as solid on the plate). Insert your doll head that you bought at Michael's.

You can also buy these doll picks on line and get any of the Disney Princesses.

We just used a simple star tip and butter cream frosting to decorate the entire thing. You can just frost it with a knife. Although, you are going to need some kind of a tip to cover up the body.

This is my recipe for Butter Cream frosting

1 stick soft Butter
4-5 C Powdered Sugar
2 t Vanilla
4-7 T Milk

Start out with 1 stick butter, 4 C powdered sugar, vanilla and 3 T milk. Mix it with your mixer. Keep adding milk by the T until it's the consistency you want, you are going to want this a bit stiffer so it doesn't slide off of the cake and holds the star shape. IF you add too much milk, add more powdered sugar. I've never used a true recipe for frosting, it was an add and adjust philosophy. When it's done, separate into different bowls and add food coloring. If you are using liquid food coloring remember it will thin the frosting a bit more.

Claire is doing an excellent job of keeping the top of the pastry bag twisted closed and applying steady, even pressure to make the stars.

I found this on the internet that "explains" how to make a star
To Make Stars
Use tip 16, 17 or 18 (you can purchase these at Michael's). Hold bag straight up and down with tip 1/8 in. above surface. Squeeze until a star is formed, then stop pressure and pull tip away. Your stars will be neatly formed only if you stop squeezing before you pull the tip away.

I already had it wrapped and ready for travel, so please disregard the Saran Wrap.
Happy Birthday Shannon!