Chocolate Lab Dog Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottoms only of 2 (13x9-inch) pans with cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper or cooking parchment paper; spray paper with cooking spray.
• Make and bake cake mixes as directed on boxes for 13x9-inch pans, using water, oil and eggs. Cool 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans to cooling racks. Remove waxed paper; place top side up on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• With large serrated knife, trim off dome of cake to level surface, if needed. Line 2 small cookie sheets or trays with foil. Place 1 cake on each; cover with foil and loosely wrap each cake. Freeze about 5 hours or overnight until cakes are frozen. Meanwhile, cut out paper templates.
• Remove cakes from freezer. Place templates over cakes as shown in photo. Cut cakes around templates. (Discard cake scraps or save for another use.)
• Arrange cake pieces on paper-covered cardboard as shown in photo to assure correct placement. Move all smaller pieces to cookie sheet; return to freezer to keep frozen for easier frosting.
• Spread frosting over larger cake pieces on board to seal in crumbs. Add smaller pieces one by one, spreading frosting over all exposed edges to seal in crumbs. Freeze about 15 minutes to set frosting.
• Frost entire cake with remaining frosting. With offset metal spatula or knife, make wavy strokes to create furry appearance. Use extra frosting to round edges of muzzle and legs to blend into body. Add a little extra frosting above eyes to make eyebrows.
• Place 2 brown candies on face for eyes and 1 for nose. Use remaining brown candies to create paws. Cut taffy into 1x1/2-inch piece; round edges and make indentation down center to create tongue. Insert tongue into mouth. Store cake loosely covered at room temperature or in refrigerator up to 1 day before serving.
• Just before serving, fold chewy fruit snack in half to create a triangle. Gently stretch to 8 inches wide and 4 inches tall. Place bandana on neck of puppy.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Spray bottoms only of two 13x9-inch pans with baking spray with flour. Make and bake cake mixes as directed on boxes for 13x9-inch pans. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, cut out paper templates (see Expert Tips below). Place cooled cakes on work surface. Place templates over cakes as shown.
• Cut cake around templates. (Discard cake pieces cut from around templates, or save for another use.) Arrange cake pieces on tray as shown. Freeze 1 hour for easier frosting.
• Tint 1 container frosting light brown, using brown and yellow gels. Spread frosting over entire cake to seal in crumbs, using extra frosting to attach nose, ears and legs on cake.
• Tint 1/2 container frosting dark brown, using brown and yellow gels. Using pastry bag fitted with grass icing tip (#233 or #133, depending on manufacturer), frost ears. Tint remaining container frosting light brown, using brown and yellow gels. Frost head, using grass tip. Create definition near eyebrows by applying additional frosting with grass tip.
• Frost remainder of dog body, using remaining light brown frosting and grass tip. Place chocolate-covered candies on face for eyes and nose. Cut licorice in 8 thin strips, and place on feet to define paws. Cut fruit snack for collar and tag, and place at neck. Use gel, if desired, to make dog's initial on tag.