Peep Sunflower Cake Recipes

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:

• 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.

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions, using two parchment-lined and greased 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., If cake layers have rounded tops, trim with a long serrated knife to make level. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. , For petals, arrange Peeps around edge of cake, curving slightly and being careful not to separate chicks. For sunflower seeds, arrange chocolate chips in center of 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.