Description
Master the art of the 2D optical illusion with this striking Cartoon Cake, featuring a tender buttermilk sponge and a crisp buttercream finish. By using bold black ‘ink’ outlines and vibrant candy accents, you can transform a classic dessert into a whimsical, hand-drawn masterpiece.
Ingredients
- 8-inch round vanilla buttermilk cake layers
- Crusting vanilla buttercream (two batches)
- Pink candy coating (compound chocolate)
- Black candy coating (compound chocolate)
- Americolor Electric Green gel food coloring
- Americolor Deep Pink gel food coloring
- Americolor Sky Blue gel food coloring
- Americolor Super Black gel food coloring
- Chocolate buttercream (as a base for black outlines)
Instructions
- Melt pink and black candy coatings in the microwave in small increments until smooth; pipe black heart outlines onto parchment, allow to set slightly, then fill with pink coating and extend the bottom points for anchors. Chill until firm.
- Bake vanilla cake layers and cool completely; fill and crumb coat the cake with white vanilla buttercream and chill until firm.
- Apply a final coat of green buttercream to the sides and top, using a heated stainless steel bench scraper to achieve perfectly straight, flat surfaces.
- Pipe a scalloped pattern of pink buttercream around the top third of the cake to simulate a drip effect, then smooth it flat with a heated offset spatula until it looks digitally rendered.
- Using a Tip 3 and black buttercream, pipe consistent outlines along every textural boundary including the base, the top edge, and the scalloped pink border.
- Pipe six large dollops of buttercream on top, outline them in black, and insert the chilled candy hearts into the dollops.
- Add small white buttercream reflection marks on the hearts and scalloped edges to complete the two-dimensional graphic illusion.
Notes
For the most convincing 2D effect, ensure your black piping buttercream is slightly softer than your base frosting to prevent it from pulling or tearing the surface. If your hands run warm, wrap your piping bag in a cool damp cloth periodically to maintain the structural integrity of the ‘ink’ lines.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Piping
- Cuisine: American