Pinata Christmas Night Cake

Slice this cake open to reveal a shower of sweets and treats

INGREDIENTS (SERVES 12)

◆ ◆ 1 50g medium butter dome cake

◆ 1 tsp vanilla essence

◆ 80g icing sugar

◆ 1 pack Cadbury Snow Bites

◆ 1 pack M&Ms or Smarties

◆ 4-5 tbsp apricot jam

◆ 350g blue fondant icing

◆ 350g white fondant icing

◆ edible glitter spray, optional

1 Beat the butter, vanilla essence and sifted icing sugar until light and soft. Cut the cake in half, horizontally, about one third the way down.

2 Use a 9cm scone cutter to remove a plug of cake from the bottom two thirds and scoop a little cake out from the top half, too. Spread the cut sides with the icing.

3 Put the base on the turntable and fill the hollow with the sweets. Put the top of the dome back in place.

4 Roll the blue fondant to a circle 32cm diameter. Brush the cake with jam. Drape the icing over and smooth out creases. Trim the base.

5 Roll the white fondant to a 32cm diameter circle and cut in half. Using a sharp knife cut undulating snowdrifts around the inside of the circumference.

6 Spread a little jam on the back of the white strips and fix around the base of the cake. Cut Christmas trees, stars and reindeer from the spare rolled icing.

7 Brush the back of the trees, stars and reindeer with a little jam and fix onto the cake. Spray the whole thing with edible silver glitter, if liked.