Coolest Alligator Birthday Cake 49

by Kerian M.
(Murchison,TX)

Homemade Alligator Birthday Cake

My little girl is not very girly and wanted an alligator birthday party at an alligator/petting zoo. I just thought I'd make my own Alligator Birthday Cake since the local bakeries were just not willing to make what I had in mind. I'm an artist, so I didn't think it'd be too difficult, except for baking it properly.

I cooked two sheets of cake, took two large sheets of paper to make my template of the alligator, laid it over the cake so I knew how much of the cake would be used. When I drew out what I wanted, I cut it out of the paper, laid the paper back down on the unfrosted sheetcake and scored the outlines of the body. I cut it at an angle.

I used the leftover pieces to make the legs. I used fondant for the mouth, some scales and bow and then malt balls for the eyes with the white fondant over them to create "the stare". Then I frosted it till my fingers were numb. The "dirt" is Coco Crispies and there are little gummy frogs. I painted eyelashes and the teeth (on white fondant) with black food coloring (the little jar stuff, not the stuff you use to color eggs.)

Use butter cream frosting it tastes the best!
My next attempt will be a sandcastle!