WHO’S A CUTE DOGGIE, THEN?

PREP TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION) MAKES 12 (4 OF EACH CAKE)

EQUIPMENT 1 disposable piping bag 1.5cm fluted tube

CAKE

453g tub vanilla frosting black and brown food colourings 12 double chocolate-chip muffins 12 double chocolate-chip mini muffins

DECORATIONS

1m black licorice strap 12 black jelly beans

5 red sour straps 12 white chocolate Melts 4 pink licorice allsorts 4 yellow mini M&M’s 4 milk chocolate Melts 1 small piece round

soft-eating licorice 2 white marshmallows 8 brown mini M&M’s

1 Divide frosting into three small bowls. Tint one pale grey with black colouring, one pale brown with brown colouring, and leave remaining frosting plain.

2 Place muffins on cake board or serving platter for decorating. Discard paper cases from mini muffins. Secure mini muffins, sideways, on top of large muffins, with a little frosting, to create the heads of your animals. 3 Spread grey frosting all over four cakes. For each cake, cut licorice strap into 3 x 5cm slices; using picture as a guide, trim to resemble ears and nose. Halve one jelly bean for eyes, and halve one jelly bean lengthways for nose; position on cake. Trim a red strap into a 1.5cm piece for tongue; position on cake. Repeat with remaining grey cakes.

4 Place plain frosting into piping bag fitted with the tube. Pipe all over four cakes to add texture. Using picture as a guide, position white chocolate Melts to form ears and nose. Trim a small piece of remaining licorice strap into a triangle for nose. Cut 1 jelly bean in half and position for eyes. Cut pink section of licorice allsort into triangles and position on top of cake for bow. Cut a red sour strap into thirds lengthways, place around neck for collar; position a yellow M&M for tag. Repeat with remaining plain cakes.

5 Spread brown frosting over remaining four cakes. Using picture as a guide, position a milk chocolate Melt for nose; secure a thin slice of soft licorice onto Melt with a little frosting. Cut marshmallows in half; attach one brown M&M to one half; position on cake for eye. Attach another brown M&M onto face for eye. Using picture as a guide, trim licorice strap into 2 x 3cm pieces for ears; position on cake. Repeat with remaining brown cakes.