How to Make a Polka Dot Giant Cupcake

A giant cupcake pan allows you to create a single cake in the shape of a huge cupcake that you can then decorate in a wide variety of ways. The giant cupcake pan consists of two parts -- one part is the bottom half of the "cupcake" and the other is the swirled top of the cupcake. The pieces are baked separately, removed from the pan, leveled and then stacked one on top of the other to form the cupcake.

Things You'll Need

• Giant cupcake pan
• Pink chocolate wafers
• Spatula
• Cream-cheese icing or other pourable icing
• Wire rack
• Baking sheet
• Fondant in various colors
• Circle cookie cutter
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Bake the two sections of the giant cupcake in the pan. Remove the two sections and place on a wire rack to cool.

2. Make a chocolate candy liner for the giant cupcake using pink chocolate wafers. Melt pink chocolate wafers according to package directions. Pour the melted chocolate into the bottom portion of the clean giant cupcake pan. Coat the pan thoroughly with the melted chocolate, tipping the pan and using a spatula as needed. Cool the chocolate in the refrigerator for about a half hour. Remove the pan once the chocolate has set and carefully release the chocolate liner from the pan.

3. Trim the cake for the base of the cupcake so it will fit into the cupcake liner. Gently lower the cake into the chocolate liner. Spread a layer of icing on the cake to hold the top onto the base.

4. Make cream cheese frosting or another frosting that is pourable to cover the top portion of the cupcake. Place the top portion of the giant cupcake on a wire rack. Place a baking sheet or other pan underneath to catch the excess icing. Slowly pour the icing over the top of the cake. Allow the excess icing to run off the edges. Because the icing is pourable, it will conform to the ridges and make them more prominent than with other icings. Add more icing if necessary to cover the cake.

5. Allow the icing to set. Slide a spatula or cake circle underneath the cake. Transfer it to the base of the cupcake. Center the top on the base.

6. Roll out the various colors of fondant. Use a circle cookie cutter or other round object to cut out circles. Press the fondant circles into the icing on the top section of the giant cupcake.

7. Cut a length of coordinating ribbon. Place the ribbon around the chocolate liner base of the giant cupcake. Tie it in a knot to hold it in place. Tie the remaining length of the ribbon into a bow.

Tips & Warnings

• Adapt this polka dot giant cupcake for a boy by choosing shades of blues and browns instead of pink and brown.

References

• Wilton; How to Make a Giant Cupcake; Angie Thayer; December 15, 2010