In our house it has become tradition that Birthday’s center around the cake. The kids love getting involved in everything from the concept, helping with baking and putting on the final touches.

My youngest wanted a dinosaur cake for his 3rd Birthday. Not wanting to take on too much in my already hectic mom juggling act, I found this relatively simple design and used a family beat and bake cake recipe – one bowl mixing super easy with the kids.

Ingredients

  Cake

• 190g softened butter or margarine
• 3 eggs
• 8 ml vanilla essence
• 25 ml baking powder
• 250ml caster sugar
• 600ml cups plain flour
• 300ml milk

For chocolate variation remove 100ml of flour and replace with 50ml coca

Butter Icing

• 90g softened butter or margarine
• 375ml icing sugar
• 8 ml vanilla essence

For chocolate variation mix 25 ml coca with boiling water and add to icing

Method Cake

• Step 1 - Preheat oven to 200 ºC and grease pans.
• Step 2 – Soften butter in a large bowl. Do not melt. Add the sugar.
• Step 3 – Sieve the dry ingredients.
• Step 4 – Add eggs, milk and vanilla essence.
• Step 5 - Beat all the ingredients together for 3-5 minutes.
• Step 6- Pour into prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Method Icing

• Step 1 - Soften butter and vanilla essence.
• Step 2 – Add sieved icing sugar a spoonful at a time.
• Step 3 – Beat until soft and creamy.
• Step 4 – Use as required.

Method Assemble

• Step 1 - Cut shapes.
• Step 2 – Arrange shapes on cake board.
• Step 3 – Apply thin layer of icing (crumb coat) and place in fridge for 30 minutes.
• Step 4 – Apply final layer and decorate.