Tasty Thursday

With Christmas fast approaching, you can start planning some fun theme parties using Easy Christmas Cut-Up Cakes for Kids by Melissa Barlow.

Smiley Snowman

Pans: 1 (1.5-quart) glass bowl

           1 (1-quart) glass bowl

1 cake mix, any flavor

White frosting

Yogos Rollers or Fruit by the Foot

Green or blue Peanut M&Ms

1 tube black frosting

1 baby carrot

Black licorice 

1. Make cake mix according to package directions. Put two-thirds of the batter into a greased 1.5-quart bowl and the remaining batter in a greased 1-quart bowl. Bake at 350 degrees F for 26 to 32 minutes and then carefully remove the smaller bowl from the oven. Bake larger cake another 5 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake in bowls for 10 minutes, and then invert and cool completely on a wire rack.

2. Cut the large cake according to the diagram below. Place the cakes on a large serving platter or foil-wrapped board to create the snowman.  

3. Frost the entire cake with white frosting. Make a scarf around his neck using Yogos Rollers or Fruit by the Foot. 

4. Gently press the M&Ms into the snowman’s belly for buttons, and cut small pieces of black licorice to make his smile.

5. Use the black frosting to draw the circles of the snowman’s eyes and then stick a small piece of black licorice in each for the pupils. Finally, finish by sticking in his carrot nose and licorice arms.

Variation: You can use chocolate chips in place of the licorice for his mouth and eyes.