[Moosey]

My Hubbie is 30 on Thursday and as I have a day off tomorrow I thought I would make him a brithday cake.  Now on watching ace of cakes he said I would have a moo cow cake!

So my question is does any one have a good plain sponge recepie.  I'm just doing jam and buttercream.  And two any ideas on how to do a cow cake???  I'm thinking maybe just a white round cake with black cow like splotches and an icing cow on the top?  Can you tell i'm a little out of my depth?

Any ideas gratefully received    Thanks as always!

[Debz]

Do a white round cake and use a green ribbon round it for grass.  You could do black splotches on it or just print off a big picture of a cow and stick it on with icing.  If youre hubby will remember the magic roundabout you could use a picture of the cow from it and stick some of those icing flowers on it.  That cow always had a flower in its mouth (if I am remembering correctly) 

I don't do much baking but my mother always swears by a 4, 4 and 4 recipe.  4oz of flour, 4 oz of sugar, 4 oz of butter and an egg. 

[wighty]

Half eggs to fat, so if you're using four ounces of fat then it is two eggs. I knew that and have just checked with my chef trained husband.

[sunshineband]

If you felt ambitious (OK even more ambitious!) you culd make a lrgish sponge tray bake and cut out a flat cow shape out of the sponge when it is cool (use a fine serrated knife) and then cover it with either white roll out icing or any kind of buttercream. Love the idea of the flowers .. wa she called  Ermintrude?

[mumofstig]

Would it be easier to cut round the shape of a cow from the ready rolled (or ready to roll)  icing and stick this onto the top of the iced cake. You could colour the icing for the cake in green.
Depends how adventurous you feel

[Ice]

That's kind of what I was thinking mumofstig.  A square cake covered in green icing.  Then get a cartoon picture of a cow and print it out.  Put that on the cake and using a pin mark out the shape of the cow.  Draw it in with those icing writing kits from the supermarket.

I know what I mean.  Not sure it comes over very well though.

[wighty]

I used to make a lot of jumpers on my knitting machine following 'squared up' patterns (I know what I mean but can't think of the right words. )  My friend who made cakes used to borrow my patterns and trace them and then 'pin prick' the pattern through and as Ice says trace them with icing pens. Sorry having a bad day today.

[nothinghasdiedyet]

Don't forget a Photo once you're done 

[Moosey]

Brilliant ideas thanks 

So after a nightmare morning with my mother she is safely back at home and I have approx 3 hours to make this cake before Hubbie comes home.

I have my ready rolled icing and writing icing pens.  I have printed out my cartoon cow and am ready to bake!  Hopefully it will have enough time to cool etc!

Will update with a pic when done 

Thanks again xxx

[Moosey]

Oh my gosh I made a cake!!!!!!! 

Am really pleased with myself!  Thanks for all the tips and advice.  I used the 4,4,4,2 recepie and did 12oz guesed the oven temp and the time and it actually worked!

Hubbie said it didnt look too much like a cow but was thrilled all the same, he'd never had a home made cake before.  Was showing it off to his dad last night and his dad was all proud of me!! I guess to be honest it looked a bit amatur and maybe not like a cow at all but I'm chuffed all the same.  Will post a pic tomorrow if I get a chance.

[Poolfield2]

Well done Moosey, the family will never forget the first homemade cake.

[Moosey]

This was the finished effort!   

[mumofstig]

Well done you.  I'd have been chuffed to bits with that for my birthday

[Faz]

thats a well cool cake. I like making birthday and made one in the shape of a banger for our boys birthday last year!

[Ice]

Aaaaah, that's lovely, well done.