Is it a llama, or an alpaca? We'll let you decide. |
Here's a couple tips on how to make one for yourself. I am in no way a professional baker by the way, just a regular mom that tries to obtain her kid's wishes through baked goods. You will need:
Round cake baked with 2 (or more layers)
Top (roundish) part of cake trimmed off (save that part for the raised llama nose)
Frosting in white and whatever other color you want to make your llama
A few easy gel frostings with easy tips in black and pink for the facial features
The "grass tip" or Wilton tip (#233)
Pale Laffy Taffy, or vanilla Tootsie rolls for the ears
First, bake a two layer cake and stack the two layers. (Sometimes I will bake the cake the day before, let it cool, wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze until the following day when I'm ready to frost. Frozen cake is sometimes easier to frost with less of a crumb coat needed).
We used two 8-inch round cakes and layered them with strawberry jelly between the layers |
Use the cut off top of the cake when you even it out to make an elevated llama nose |
Place white frosting on the top of the cake. |
It's messy to frost the sides, but then pick the whole thing up with a fork or large spoon. |
Squeeze near the cake and pull up quickly to make little sections of "grass" or "fur" everywhere. |
Smooth sides and fluffy bottom |
After that you want to add the face. I used black pre-made frosting gel in a tube (with a decorative tip) to make the lines for the smile and the eyes with those most adorable eyelashes.
The nose is a "U" shape with two mouth lines to make a smile, and then a large dot for the eye and three eye-lashes for fun |
I love the pop of color in the cheeks |
Next (and rather last minute) I wanted to add ears. We had a pineapple Laffy Taffy, but you could also use a vanilla Tootsie roll. You can either roll it around in a clean warm hand until you can shape it into a tear drop shape, or some people will microwave the candy for a few seconds to get it warm and pliable.
Cute, edible ears |
I sort of pinched the bottoms of the circles or teardrops to give it a more realistic look. I also put some extra frosting under where I wanted them to be to prop them up a bit. Isn't this the cutest stinkin' thing you've ever seen?
Hello, I'm adorable |
After that, there was nothing left to do, but party!
Bring on the party animals! |
Light da candles every-ting all right! |
They had the best time. We got a lot of OOOoohs and Aaahhhhs when her friends saw the cake.
Happy birthday to you.... |
So, if you have a llama lovin' tween in your life, a 4-H guru, need something for your Future Farmers of America party, or if you just want this cute face looking up at you at your next gathering, give this one a try. Let me know how it turns out!
Enjoy.