How to make a pirate cake Liv Hansen, Professional Baker and Author
Assembling the pirate cake
1. Place the pirate hat template on a 9-inch cake, and cut around it to make the hat. The other half will form the body. You can print out the pirate hat template on BettyCrocker.com.
2. Slice a small portion off the 8-inch cake and place between the hat and the body for the face.
3. Using the scraps you’ve cut from the hat and face, make a nose and place in the center of the face. Cut ears and place on either side of the face.
4. Add a small bit of chocolate frosting to the white frosting to tint it a flesh tone. Add as much chocolate as you want to get the tone you desire.
5. Crumb coat the pirate cake (this is a thin layer of frosting to seal in the crumbs); each piece should be crumb coated in whatever the final color will be: chocolate for the hat, flesh for the face and white for the body.
6. Chill the pirate cake in your freezer for about 30 minutes.
Decorating the pirate cake
1. Apply a final coat of frosting, no more than half an inch, with the offset spatula.
2. After you apply the frosting, smooth out the sides of the cake with an offset spatula. Have a bowl of hot water handy to rinse the spatula as you go.
3. Decorate with candy:
* Use licorice for a band around the hat.
* Licorice can also be used for an eye patch, with a mint patty over the eye.
* Cut a marshmallow in half for the other eye, with a colored candy in the center.
* Cut Fruit-by-the-Foot™ into the shape of a smile for the pirate's mouth.
* Place two pieces of candy-coated gum on top of the pirate's mouth as teeth.
* Create stripes on the pirate's shirt using Fruit-by-the-Foot™.
* A candy ring makes a great earring.
* For the final touch, add "stubble" with chocolate sprinkles.
For more on the Pirate Cake visit BettyCrocker.com
