With Earth Day approaching, celebrate our planet with cake (and something special at the core!).

Food:

● 1 recipe yellow cake batter (choose any recipe you like)

● 1 recipe red velvet cake batter (choose any recipe you like)

● Vanilla Buttercream frosting (use the large batch recipe included)

○ 6 cups (12 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

○ 2 pounds (1 bag) confectioners' sugar

○ 1 tablespoon vanilla

○ 1/2 teaspoon table salt

● Food coloring: blue, yellow* (*yellow is optional)

● 1 x large white gumball

● Green fondant

Tools:

● 1 x 9-inch or 2 x 6-inch cake pans

● 2 x half-sphere baking pans (i.e. the Wilton 3-D Sports Ball Pan Set)

● Serrated knife

● Ice cream scooper

● Offset spatula

● Parchment paper

● Rolling pin

Prepare your favorite yellow cake recipe — divide the batter amongst 9-inch or 6-inch cake pans. Bake and cool the cakes.

Prepare your favorite red velvet cake recipe — divide the red velvet batter between the two dome pans. Bake and cool the cakes. Once cool, place the cakes in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use them.

Prep the Buttercream Frosting: Make one large batch of vanilla buttercream. Beat the butter for a few minutes on medium speed, preferably using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. On slow speed, gradually add the confectioners' sugar 1 to 2 cups at a time, and then slowly add the vanilla and salt. Once combined, increase the speed to medium and beat for an additional 3 minutes.

Add roughly 4 cups of the vanilla buttercream into a bowl with a few drops of blue food coloring and stir to combine.

Cover the remaining white and blue buttercream bowls until you’re ready to use them.

Add the yellow cake(s) into a bowl and break down the cake with your hands. Add roughly 1/4 cup of the white buttercream frosting into the bowl. Mix with your hands until the cake is pliable and able to be molded without crumbling. If the cake isn’t a bright yellow, work in a few additional drops of yellow food coloring.