The Sport Relief weekend has finally arrived!
As I'm sure you may remember I recently took part in the Milton Keynes leg of the Team Honk Relay for Sport Relief, where we were lucky enough to have Damini the Elephant (from Woburn Safari Park) as part of our team.
So when I found out that Mummy Mishaps is hosting the Team Honk Great Bloggers Bake Off it seemed like a perfectly good idea for me to make ...... yes you've guessed it ..... an Elephant cake.
(Just for future reference, if I ever mention having one of these 'brilliant' ideas to you please feel free to give me a slap and return me to my senses. Thanks).
Anyway, it has taken me all day, and needed a LOT of patience, but here it is.
My version of Damini the Elephant.
Ok, so she's not quite as impressive as the real Damini, but I am pretty pleased with how she turned out. Even if I did spend a lot of time fixing broken cakes with cake glue (icing sugar and water).
To make my elephant cake I used a very basic Victoria Sponge recipe -
Ingredients
220g sugar
220g butter
220g self raising flour
4 eggs (slightly beaten)
Method
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add the egg, with a little flour each time, and mix together.
- Continue to do this until all of the egg and the flour is added and the mixture is smooth.
- Separate the mixture into 2 round tins that are the same size (Victoria Sponge tins if you have them)
- Bake the cakes in the oven at 180C for around 25 minutes, until they are golden and cooked through. (you can check this by using a skewer. Stick it in to the centre of the cake and if the cake is cooked then the skewer should be clean when you remove it from the cake).
These 2 cakes will become the elephants head and ears.
Repeat the same method above, but instead of separating the mixture into 2 round tins pour the mixture into a square tin instead (approx. 8 x 8 inch if you have one).
This cake will become the elephants trunk and tusks.
Once all of the cakes have completely cooled, you can start to assemble the cake.
Use one round cake as the elephants head and cut the other cake in half for the ears. Cut the cake down the middle in a wavy line and place next to the head.
Then cut your square cake into 3 rectangles. Use one as the trunk and shape the other 2 to become the tusks. (you will have quite a bit of 'waste' but why not use that to make some cake pops?)
Once you have the cake assembled, decorate as you please. I used butter cream as I found this the easiest way to decorate such a complicated shape. You can find a simple butter cream recipe on Google.
I then used a little bit of ready made royal icing for the eyes.
If you would like to find out more about the Team Honk Great Blogger Bake Off then just click on the badge below ......
Everyone who is taking part in the Bake Off, including me, has made a donation to Sport Relief.
If you don't want to bake then you can still make a donation by clicking HERE.
Thank you.
Love Missy x
