How to Decorate a Pig Birthday Cake

Pigs are frequently featured in children’s literature, from Wilbur in “Charlotte’s Web” to “Babe,” the sheep-herding pig. A pig birthday cake will be a big treat for a child who is fond of these characters or who simply likes barnyard animals. The pig cake is easy to make if you can pipe on icing.

Things You'll Need

• Baked 10-inch round cake
• Serving platter
• Baked dome cake (baked in a Pyrex bowl or the Wilton Ball Pan)
• 4 baked cupcakes
• Buttercream icing
• Pink gel food coloring
• Pastry/icing bags
• Star decorating tips
• Small jelly candies

Instructions

1. Create the basic shape of the pig birthday cake by placing the cooled round cake on the serving platter or cake board. This will serve as the body of the pig cake. Crumb coat the round cake with a thin layer of buttercream icing.

2. Center the cooled domed cake on top of the round cake. The domed cake will be the head of the pig birthday cake. Crumb coat the domed cake with a thin layer of buttercream icing.

3. Place two of the cupcakes at the bottom of the round cake pan to form the legs. Cut another cupcake in half for the ears. Place the ears on the opposite end of the round cake from the legs, and make sure the ears are touching the head. Place the final cupcake on top of the domed cake as the pig's snout. You may wish to crumb coat the cupcakes before you put them in place on the pig cake.

4. Tint the buttercream with the pink food coloring. Place the pink icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Cover the entire cake, including the pig's legs and ears, with the pink icing.

5. Use the candies for the eyes, nostrils and mouth of the pig birthday cake. Or tint icing the appropriate colors and use it to pipe in these features.

Tips & Warnings

• To add a grassy background, tint 2 cups of coconut with green food coloring. Sprinkle the coconut around the cow.

• Use a small wooden skewer to hold the snout in place. You may also cut off the top of the dome to make a flat surface for the cupcake snout to sit on.

• Instead of piping stars on the pig cake, simply spread smooth icing over the pig shape for an easier version of this cake.

References

• Family Fun: Fat Piggy Cake Recipe