Description
This spectacular zoo-themed centerpiece features intricate zebra and tiger striped sponges hidden beneath a landscape of buttercream terrain. Combining playful design with a moist crumb, this cake uses fondant accents and biscuit enclosures to create a safari world that is as delicious as it is visually stunning.
Ingredients
- White and black fondant
- Gel food coloring (gold, black, brown, and orange)
- Vanilla cake batter
- Chocolate cake batter
- Vanilla buttercream frosting
- Chocolate buttercream frosting
- Kit Kat bars
- Pirouline cookies
- Blue decorating gel
- Powdered sugar
- High-proof alcohol (vodka or Everclear)
Instructions
- Prepare your workspace with powdered sugar and tint fondant with gel colors to create leopard, cheetah, and tiger patterns, then hand-cut zebra stripes and assemble letter shapes to dry.
- Divide the vanilla batter into portions tinted black, orange, and plain, then drop alternating spoonfuls into the center of the cake pans to create rhythmic, concentric rings for a striped effect.
- Bake the sponges until they are golden and spring back when touched, then let them rest in the pans for ten minutes before cooling completely on wire racks.
- Secure the cakes to a large board with buttercream, stacking circular layers for high enclosures and arranging rectangular cakes to form the different zoo exhibits.
- Apply chocolate frosting for dirt and vanilla for ice, then use Pirouline cookies and Kit Kats to build fences and swirl blue gel to create a glistening alligator pond.
Notes
To achieve the best internal stripes, ensure your colored batters are of equal viscosity so they spread at the same rate in the pan. If you find the fondant letters are sticking to your hands during assembly, lightly dust your fingers with cornstarch rather than more powdered sugar to avoid dulling the vibrant colors.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean