Coolest Camping Birthday Cake

For my son’s 8th birthday, we decided to have five friends “camp” over in the backyard. The cake had to be one that featured a tent. Using a few ideas from other cakes, this Camping Birthday Cake is my adaptation!

The cake started with one 9×12 chocolate cake and two 8×8 lemon cakes. I used the chocolate cake as a base and the yellow cakes to make the tent. The chocolate cake was covered with chocolate frosting and ground mint thins to look like dirt and I dyed coconut green to make grass. Next I cut up the tent and glued it together with frosting inside to hold pieces and on top. I made marshmallow fondant (yummy) and draped it over the tent and trees (ice cream sugar cones). I also made gum paste to construct the log, birdie, feet and grizzly bear. The fire pit was gourmet jelly beans (could not find candy rocks), black crystal sugar (ash), chocolate-covered pretzels for logs and I found candles that burn the color of wax (in this case red/yellow) for fire.

My 8 yr old LOVED it and so did his friends! Also, the marshmallow fondant was so yummy!

1 16oz bag of mini marshmallows

3 tablespoons of water

2 lbs. powdered sugar and optional flavoring

How to make fondant very easy, all you do is put the marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl, add the water, and put it into the microwave for 2 minutes.

Stir marshmallows making sure it’s all melted, then add your flavoring and powdered sugar to your liking. Knead dough on a powdered sugar surface and keep adding powdered sugar to make dough less sticky and more workable. There you have it!

Allow your fondant to set up overnight covered. Before you use, microwave for 30 seconds and knead until smooth and pliable.