How to Make a Hello Kitty Cake

I make cakes sometimes. Remember.

Every now and then, family and friends will ask me to make them a cake. I gladly say yes, because I really enjoy making them something that will make them smile. Buuut, then I start panicking a little bit...ok ok... A LOT a bit! I want it to be great so I start to plan, prep, and freak the heck out! Anxiety starts to creep onto my back and rides me like a sorority girl on a mechanical bull. It'll whisper all kinds of things that make me worry.

Your cake will stick to the pan. Nobody is going to eat it. Someone will find Sonic's hair in the fondant. You'll run out of time and everyone will throw tomatoes in your face. You're weird.

When I actually get to making the cake... I commit full force and ignore everything in life including hunger pangs and bladder alarms. I'm  in the ZONE and I LOVE IT!

This week's challenge was to make a Hello Kitty Cake for my friend Linette's graduation party. My creative juices activated! (That sounds gross, Joanna)

Marshmallow Fondant

Ingredients:
16 oz. bag of mini marshmallows (get the good stuff!)
2 lbs bag of powdered sugar

1 cup crisco

3 Tbs of water
extra powdered sugar for dusting
extra crisco for hands

If you have a mixer with a dough hook, it is best to use it. Not only is it easier, it is less messy. If you do not have a dough hook, use your hands and mix the ingredients in a bowl. Just be warned... this will be MESSY!

Also, it's best to dust powdered sugar on your countertop before you put the mixture on it. This will prevent sticking.

When everything looks combined, pour onto the counter. Be sure to scrape EVERYTHING from the bowl til the very last crisco shmear. 

It's best to make this the night before. Leaving it on the counter is fine, but if you will be making this days ahead, put it in the fridge. Just be sure to plastic wrap it tight!



The Cake

Linette requested Marble, so I made a box of cake. Thanks Duncan Hines. I put it in the fridge to cool completely and harden just a bit. This will help you carve it easier. I printed Hello Kitty's picture straight off the internets and used it as a template.

YAY for cake scraps! They went straight into this belly ::points to muffin top belly::

I also cut out a piece of cardboard to fit the cake exactly (you shouldn't really see it) so that I can move the cake around.



Then, I topped it with a simple Chocolate Cream Cheese filling and stacked level 2 right on top!

   

I stuck it back in the fridge for about an hour and applied a regular buttercream frosting as a crumb coat. A crumb coat will help the fondant stick to the cake.

Microwave your fondant for about 20 seconds. Make sure it isn't melty, but it is firm enough to hold together, yet soft enough to roll out. It should be pliable. Roll out to about 1/8 of an inch or so.

I bought some rings that go around my roller to help get the perfect thickness. I highly recommend them. Roll it out enough to cover the cake...and then some. It should be overlapping quite a bit. Pat down and mold fondant to the cake with your hand. Cut the excess with a pizza cutter and pat the edges clean.



Now, I must apologize because I was so much in my cake zone that I stopped taking pictures. But, in a nutshell... I colored some fondant and rolled the nose and bow. I used black icing to pipe the eyes and whiskers.

Hubby asked why she doesn't have a mouth...It's because she speaks... from her heart. ::tear:: gag!

Then, I got crazy and made another box of cake, rolled out more fondant, and attempted a body. This is what I came up with... graduation Lei and all.

This cake-gift took me 10 hours to make. I had fun and wish that I could've kept it for myself. 

My anxiety subsided when I presented the cake at the party. It was a hit. Everyone thought it was amazing ::blush:: and some even said it tasted yummy. I'd like to think I did pretty darn well.

This always hurts a bit...

My birthday is coming up and I hope someone will make me a cake. I don't care if it looks nice, I just want to feel like someone took the time to make me something sweet and special. I like chocolate or Funfetti...in case you were wondering.

• If you could have your next birthday cake made...what design would it be?
• Favorite cake flavor?