Peep Sunflower Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Arrange 3 cupcakes vertically at the bottom of a large platter to form a stem. Arrange 2 cupcakes to the left and 2 cupcakes to the right of the stem to create leaves. Arrange the remaining 17 cupcakes at the top of the stem in a large circle.
• Combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, salt and 4 tablespoons of the milk in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or in a large bowl if using a handheld electric mixer). Mix on low speed until mostly incorporated. Increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth and spreadable. If the frosting is too thick to spread, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the remaining milk and mix until spreadable.
• Transfer 2 cups of the frosting to a medium bowl. Add about 12 drops of leaf green gel food coloring and mix to combine.
• Add a heaping 1/4 teaspoon of the lemon yellow gel food coloring to the bowl of remaining white frosting and beat until combined. Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to scoop a large dollop of the yellow frosting onto each of the 17 cupcakes that make up the flower. Use a small offset spatula to smooth over the tops and sides of the cupcakes (but not the liners).
• Wash and dry the ice cream scoop (or large spoon) and offset spatula. Use the ice cream scoop or large spoon to scoop a large dollop of the green frosting onto each of the 7 cupcakes that make up the stem and leaves. Use the small offset spatula to smooth over the tops and sides of the cupcakes (but not the liners). Scrape the remaining green frosting into a small pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip (number 802).?
• Pipe the outline of each leaf with the green frosting, then pipe a line of green frosting inside each leaf from the point to the stem. Pipe additional lines from side to side to create veins in the leaves. Use the offset spatula to square off the bottom of the stem.
• Arrange the marshmallow chicks facing outward in a circle around the perimeter of the flower, pressing to adhere. Fill the center with the chocolate wafer crumbs and press to adhere to the frosting.

Steps:

• 1. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased and waxed paper-lined 9" round pans. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper.
• 2. Level tops of cakes. Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of the cake.
• 3. Without separating Peeps and curving slightly to fit, arrange chicks around edge of cake for sunflower petals. For sunflower seeds, arrange chocolate chips in center of cake.

Steps:

• Butter and flour a 9-by-13-inch cake pan plus a 1-quart and 2 1/2-quart ovenproof bowl. Make both cake mixes; divide the batter among the pan and bowls. Bake at 350 degrees F until a toothpick comes out clean, about 35 minutes for the pan and small bowl, and 50 minutes for the large bowl.
• Let the cakes cool 15 minutes in the pan and bowls, then unmold onto racks to cool completely. Trim the flat sides of the bowl cakes with a serrated knife to make level. Using a chef's knife, cut the 4 corners off the rectangular cake, as shown; set aside 3 of the cake triangles for the tail and beak.
• Put the flat cake on a cake board or platter; use toothpicks to attach 2 cake triangles to a short end for the tail. Position the large bowl cake on the flat cake as shown, then top with the small bowl cake; insert a skewer through the cakes to secure. Trim another cake triangle to make a beak; attach to the small bowl cake with toothpicks.
• Make the frosting: Heat the sugar with the cream of tartar, salt and 2/3 cup water in a saucepan, stirring, until dissolved. Beat the egg whites with a mixer until frothy. Slowly beat in the hot sugar mixture, then increase the mixer speed and beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts and the food coloring.
• Cover the cake with a thick layer of the yellow frosting, using the frosting to sculpt a rounded chick shape. With the edge of an offset spatula, use some frosting to extend the beak and tail.
• Coat the cake with yellow sanding sugar. Refrigerate, uncovered, 15 minutes. Press the chocolate disks into the frosting for eyes. Remove the skewer and toothpicks as you cut the cake.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 13 x 9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for 13 x 9-inch pan. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around side of pan to loosen cake; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour or until firm.
• Use serrated knife to cut 8-inch circle from cake; cut 2 leaves and stem from remaining cake.
• On large foil-covered cookie sheet or wax paper-lined tray (21 x 14 inches), assemble cake parts into a flower, placing stem and leaves near bottom of circle.
• In small bowl, mix 1 container frosting and yellow food color. In another small bowl, mix 1 cup frosting from second container and green food color. Spread thin layer of yellow frosting on circle to seal in crumbs. Spread thin layer of green frosting on leaves and stem. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Spread remaining yellow frosting on circle. Spread remaining green frosting to cover leaves and stem.
• Using photo as a guide, leave 4 strips of PEEPS® chicks intact, and wrap around base of circle, with heads faced outward and bottoms pointed up. Continue around base of circle, except for area where leaves and stem attach. If necessary, place additional chicks to fill any gaps.
• Separate remaining PEEPS® chicks, and place them individually around top outer edge of circle, leaving 5-inch diameter open, with chicks facing center of circle.
• Sprinkle center of flower with yellow and orange sugars and brown candy sprinkles. Sprinkle leaves with green nonpareils and green sugar.

Steps:

• 1. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased & floured 9 inch round baking pans. ( you can wax paper if you want). Go by your box of cake mix for the temperature and time for baking. ( It's usually 350 degrees for about 25 to 30 mins.
• 2. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; (If you used wax paper, carefully remove it.)
• 3. Level tops of cakes. Spread frosting between layers and over the top and sides of cake.
• 4. Without separating Peeps and curving slightly to fit, arrange chicks around edge of cake for sunflower petals. Put their tails on the outside and turn them facing the center. For sunflower seeds, arrange chocolate chips in center. The cake will look like a big sunflower.

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two greased and waxed paper-lined 9-inch round baking pans.
• Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely; carefully remove waxed paper.
• Level tops of cake.
• Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake.
• Without separating peeps, and curving slightly to fit, arrange chicks around edge of cake for sunflower petals.
• For sunflower seeds arrange chocolate chips in center of cake.
• Yield 12 servings.