My newest barbie cake – made for my dear friend Sara who is getting married in June!  We had  a lovely day down in Menlo Park today at her Bridal Shower…

And I wish I could take credit for these sugar cookie favors, but no.  They were baked and decorated by her sister-in-law, Jaime!  WOW.  My one attempt at sugar cookies failed miserably… these looked professional!

My newest Barbie cake… I made this one for a co-worker who is throwing a Bridal Shower for one of her best friends.  Three things I learned…

Or not … 

I donated a Barbie Cake to my office Holiday Charity Auction, and my coworker won, so he asked me to make a cake for his niece’s birthday.  She requested a chocolate cake with strawberry icing, and she’s in a major princess phase, so Belle from Beauty and the Beast is her current favorite.  It was my first time working with fondant, so I was v. pleased with how she turned out!

I also took the time to take step-by-step photos of the barbie cake process… enjoy!

Step 1: Bake two cakes: one in a Wilton Wonder Pan,  one in a nine inch round. When cool, slice into layers about 2 inches thick.  Use a glass to cut out the center of the cake, as I am against the amputation of Barbie’s legs so you need to make room for her!

Step 2:  Start frosting the different layers of cake.

Step 3: Once all the layers are frosted, start adding a layer of frosting to the outside of the cake.  This will form a seal when you decorate with the fondant.

Step 4: Once fully coated in frosting, place in refrigerator so frosting can set.

Step 5: In the meantime dust your board and rolling pin with powdered sugar, and start kneading your fondant and add the food coloring.

Step 6: Once the color is all mixed in, roll out the fondant till it’s about 1/4 inch thick.

Step 7:  Take your cake from the fridge and drape the frosting over the top.

Step 8:  Start smoothing the fondant against the cake.  Pick a side that will be the front of the cake and try to tuck any pleats or folds towards the back. Use a knife to cut off any extra, but be sure to keep these pieces as you’ll need them in a minute.

Step 10: Re-knead the remaining fondant, cut into three pieces, roll out each piece, sprinkle with yellow sugar and re-roll so it sticks, and then drape these pieces around the doll to create the ruffles in her skirt. 

Click here to see some other barbies!

***Update***

Now I like to use two 8 inch cake and fill the wonder pan with less batter as it bakes better that way.  Also, make sure you double or triple whatever recipe you are using as this uses a lot of batter!

Here are some of the Barbie cakes I’ve made!

It all started when my cousin, Mandy, told me how she had made her friend one for her birthday, and how she had gone shopping in Chinatown for the doll, but the doll ended up being too tall for the cake so Mandy cut her legs off!  I just couldn’t do that to Barbie so this way the cake is tall enough to cover her legs, w/ no amputations necessary.

Just make whatever type of cake you like, and fill a bundt cake mold, and two regular cake round tins with the batter. Bake them and once cool use a cookie cutter or glass to cut out a small circle from the two cake rounds, to make room for Barbie’s legs! Cut the bundt cake portion in half, and start assembling the cake by layering the different layers w/ frosting. Spread frosting on the outside, then insert Barbie (I wrap her w/ cling film to keep her clean!). Use the small pieces of cake you cut out earlier to build up her waistline, then add more frosting to clean up the mess (as it will look v. messy!). Decorate however you see fit… I used coconut for the brides, sprinkles, fruit or colored frosting to create the different looks!