Hoppy Frog Cake

Name: Hoppy Frog Cake
Ingredients: 3/4 cup butter, softened; 1-1/4 cups sugar; 3 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup milk; 2 individual cream-filled sponge cakes; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1/2 cup shortening; 1 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 milk chocolate M&M's; Green paste or gel food coloring; Shoestring red licorice

18 ingredients

5 steps

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 individual cream-filled sponge cakes
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 milk chocolate M&M's
Green paste or gel food coloring
Shoestring red licorice

Directions

1

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Fill 12 greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Pour the remaining batter into a greased 9-in. round baking pan.
2

Bake cupcakes at 350° for 20-25 minutes and cake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes for 5 minutes and cake for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire rack to cool completely.
3

To assemble, place the 9-in. cake in the center of a 15x13-in. covered board. Place two cupcakes above the cake for eyes. Arrange sponge cakes below the cake for legs. For feet, cut one cupcake in half using a zigzag cut. Place each half with a rounded edge touching a sponge cake. (Save remaining cupcakes for another use.)
4

For frosting, in a small saucepan, whisk flour and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Cool. In a small bowl, cream the butter, shortening, sugar and vanilla. Beat in milk mixture until smooth, about 4 minutes.
5

Use 1/3 cup white frosting to frost the bottom two-thirds of eyes; add M&M's for pupils. Tint remaining frosting light green; spread over eyelids and over the top and sides of the rest of frog. Arrange one long licorice piece for the mouth. Place two 1-in. licorice pieces at the ends of the mouth.