Land Before Time Dinosaur Cake

by Kathleen Dyer
(Norwalk, CT)

This dinosaur cake is a sculpted cake made from 2 cake mixes in two 8 inch round cake pans and one 9 inch round cake pan. But I think you can easily adapt with other sizes. I used 2 halves of the large pan to make the hump of the body, from the first 8 inch cake layer cut a shape of the neck, a 'c' shape, then cut a curved pointy tail.

The middle of that layer becomes the folded legs (or skip that part and hand the cake over to the kids). The head can be cut from the last layer. I cut two identical shapes (or close enough) to make two sides for the head.

I mapped out my dinosaur shape and cut a cardboard piece big enough for it and covered it with foil.
Ice the two head pieces and the two body pieces in between with a thick icing and begin to arrange the dino as you see fit on the covered board. The rest of the dinosaur can have icing to connect the pieces to the board and to each other.

Then use a very thin crumb coat all over the cake pieces. This is an important part as it turns out. It kept the cake moist as I dried it overnight and makes it easier to ice later.

I used a star tip and iced in purples at my sons request, but you can also use a smooth icing. I also iced the board in green to give it a neater background, but that's not necessary. I also used other plastic dinosaurs to decorate.

Dinosaurs Centerpiece