Ingredients
Rocking horse
Butter cream
Decorations
Method
Rocking horse
1.Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F. Grease 20cm x 30cm (8-inch x 12-inch) rectangular cake pan; line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 5cm above sides.
2.Make cake according to directions on packet. Spread mixture into pan; bake about 30 minutes. Stand cake in pan 5 minutes before turning, top-side up, onto wire rack to cool.
3.Cut 4cm wide strip from long edge of cake at base. Cut this strip into three even-sized pieces; cut a small wedge from one third for the ears, the larger wedge makes the head.
4.Cut another wedge from the next third of cake; the small wedge makes the nose, the larger wedge makes the neck where it joins the body. Cut about one third off the end of the remaining piece of cake; the larger piece forms the top part of the neck, reserve the small piece.
5.Cut a 4cm wide strip from each end of the cake for the legs. Cut a slightly curved piece from the top of the long side of the large piece of cake, to give the curve of the back of the horse. Reserve cake cut-offs.
6.To make butter cream, beat butter until white as possible, gradually beat in half the sifted icing sugar then milk, then remaining icing sugar. Beat until smooth.
7.Position cakes on 40cm x 50cm (16-inch x 20-inch) rectangular cake board to form horse shape; secure to board with a little butter cream, using reserved cake cut-offs to fill gaps between legs and body.
8.Tint butter cream red; spread all over cake. Sprinkle coconut all over cake.
9.Using picture as a guide, position Smarties on cake for saddle and feet. Push potato straws into cake for horse’s neck, mane and tail.
10.Cut jubes to represent eyebrow and part of eye; secure a black Smartie to eye with a little butter cream, secure yellow mini M&M for pupil with a little butter cream. Cut red jelly fruit ring for mouth.
11.Use thin strips of licorice strap to make stirrup and bridle; decorate with silver cachous.
12.Position coathangers, stacked two on top of each other, at base of rocking horse, to make rocker.
While not as old as the Trojan horse used by the Greeks, this cake certainly has the looks of an antique rocker.
Note
