Description
This charming Bear Cake features a three-dimensional design built from moist chocolate sponge and textured buttercream fur. Perfect for celebrations, this sculpted masterpiece combines structural pastry techniques with whimsical decorating for a professional-grade result.
Ingredients
- Chocolate cake batter (prepared for two 8×3 inch rounds and one 8-inch dome)
- 4 cups chocolate buttercream frosting
- Small amount of black icing
- 3 chocolate chip cookies (for ears and snout)
- Large eyeball sprinkles
- 5 wooden structural dowels
- 8-inch round cake board
Instructions
- Bake the chocolate batter in two 8×3 inch round pans and one 8-inch dome pan; let them cool completely on a wire rack.
- Level the tops of the round cakes with a serrated knife and ensure the dome cake’s diameter matches the base layers.
- Place the first round cake on a stand and insert five wooden dowels, trimming them flush with the cake surface for support.
- Apply a layer of buttercream, place the small cake board on top, add more frosting, and center the dome cake.
- Apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream over the entire structure and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to set.
- Use a star tip (Wilton #18 or #21) to pipe small, consistent stars across the entire cake to create a fur-like texture.
- Press two cookies into the top for ears and use black icing on a third cookie for the snout before anchoring it to the face.
- Attach eyeball sprinkles above the snout and fill in any remaining gaps with extra buttercream stars.
Notes
To ensure the best stability, use a dense chocolate sponge rather than a light chiffon, as the weight of the dome requires a sturdy base. If the buttercream becomes too soft from the heat of your hands while piping, chill the piping bag for a few minutes to maintain sharp definition on the fur stars.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Sculpting
- Cuisine: American