Holly is three. Three years old. Bonkers. Holly has lots of things that she really loves, so choosing her a theme for a birthday cake was hard but I eventually homed in on Minnie Mouse because I had a few simple pinterest-fuelled ideas that I thought would come together well.
I'm really proud of this Minnie Mouse birthday cake. And of the accompanying cupcakes. There were a few near-disaster moments but I think the overall effect is one of the most professional-looking cakes that I've made to date. Holly was very proud of it and couldn't wait to get dressed into her matching outfit in time to welcome all her party guests.
Making this Minnie Mouse polka dot cake has taught me a few cake-making lessons:-
- Cheap fondant isn't a cost saving. I'm not yet brave enough to colour my own fondant; certainly not in such a dark colour and in such a volume. I bought cheap pink icing. It was rubbish. I had to rush out and buy a complete 2kg replacement and the difference in the ease of use was astonishing.
- Decorating a polystyrene cake dummy is harder than I thought. It's soooo light!
- Black icing - I've always thought it tasted evil. Now I know it is evil. It has a mind of its own.
- It is always good to make spares of each of your ornaments. I made two sets of ears... one of them cracked. I made two bows... one of them was... Holly'ed
My large pink polka dot Minnie Mouse cake is a vanilla sponge sandwiched with vanilla buttercream and raspberry jam. It has an icing bow (very tricky!) and the ears were formed on dowling rods.
The cupcakes are a basic chocolate sponge topped with buttercream and tiny sugar pearls for polka dots. The bows are moulded sugar (an ebay bargain) and the ears are made from giant chocolate buttons. The cupcakes went down really well with the children as I think they all found the cake a bit daunting!
Holly had a wonderful birthday party with her cousins and she crashed out on the sofa watching Bubble Guppies after everyone had left.
