Flowerpot Cake

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  • Level: Easy
  • Total: 2 hr
  • Prep: 1 hr 30 min
  • Cook: 30 min
  • Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 6-inch-round and an 8-inch-round cake pan with parchment paper; coat with cooking spray. Prepare the cake mix as directed; divide between the pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool. 
  2. Level the tops of the cakes with a serrated knife (save the trimmings). Halve the cakes horizontally. Working on a cake board or plate, stack the 8-inch layers, then the 6-inch layers, frosting between each layer. 
  3. Hold a serrated knife at an angle and trim the edges of the layer cake all the way around to make an upside-down pot shape. Cover the cake with all but 1/2 cup of the remaining frosting; freeze 30 minutes. 
  4. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons cocoa powder on a sheet of parchment; put the fondant on top, make a small well in the middle and put the food coloring in the well. Knead until the color is even.
  5. Dust a surface with cocoa powder; roll out the colored fondant into a 24-by-6 1/2-inch rectangle, trimming the edges to make them straight. Cut off a 24-by-1 1/4-inch strip of fondant; set aside. 
  6. Wrap the wide piece of fondant around the cake, pressing and smoothing it with your fingers. Trim the excess with a paring knife.
  7. Reroll the fondant scraps and cut out a 5-inch circle; press the fondant circle on top of the cake to form the pot bottom. Invert the cake onto a board. Lightly brush the thin strip of fondant with water; attach to the top edge of the cake, allowing the strip to come slightly above the edge. Trim the ends. 
  8. Cover the top of the cake with the remaining 1/2 cup frosting, then crumble the cake trimmings on top. 
  9. When ready to serve, stick mint sprigs and edible flowers into the cake.