Oh Boy! Easy Mickey Mouse Cake

M-I-C-K-E-Y

M-O-U-S-E!

One of my best friends came to visit me this weekend, and it just so happened to be her BIRTHDAY. So, of course, I had to bake her a special cake to celebrate. And while we love a lot of the same fandoms (we’re both nerds at heart), I knew I just had to make a Disney-inspired cake.

Whenever I am planning a Disney vacation, she’s the first person I tell! She’s a Disney fanatic, so a little extra magic on her birthday seemed to be the perfect fit.

Funfetti (her favorite) topped with delicious homemade buttercream icing and some (somewhat hidden) Mickey Mouse designs! What do you think?!

Happy Birthday Gwen!

Mickey Mouse Cake

What You Need:

CAKE

• Three 6-inch circular cakes

BUTTERCREAM ICING

• 4 sticks of salted butter, room temperature
• 2 lbs. of powdered sugar (1 bag)
• 2 tsp. of vanilla extract
• 3-5 tbsp. milk
• Food gel coloring — purple

DECORATING TOOLS

• Assorted rainbow sprinkles
• Parchment paper
• Angled spatula
• Icing smoother
• Icing bags
• Icing couplers
• Icing tips — medium and small round tip
• Serrated knife

Prepare and bake three 6-inch circular cakes (I went with Funfetti).

CAKE BAKING TIPS: Grease your cake pans and then sprinkle flour all over the surface. Next, cut out a circular piece of parchment paper and lay it on the base of the pan before pouring the batter into the pans. These steps will help your cakes slide right out of the pan once they cool.

Once your cakes are out of the oven, set them aside to cool. Then, using a serrated knife, level off the top of the cake, if needed.

Before you begin to ice your cooled cakes, place several small pieces of parchment paper on your cake stand or cake plate and then place your first cake on top. By doing this, you will help to keep your cake plate clean and free of extra icing while you work.

Next, it’s time to prepare your buttercream icing.

Using a stand or hand mixer, beat your softened butter, vanilla, and a tablespoon or so of milk until blended and smooth. (I let my stand mixer go for several minutes until the butter mixture is creamy). Slowly add your powdered sugar, a few cups at a time, until all of it is incorporated. Next, add one tablespoon of milk at a time, if needed, until you reach your desired frosting consistency. Taste test to be sure it’s perfect!

Set aside a small bowl of white icing to be used later for your Mickey Mouse icing designs. With the remaining majority of icing, add purple food coloring to your liking and mix well.

Add a generous amount of purple icing to the top of your first cake. Then, using your angled spatula, smooth the icing out across the top of the first cake.

Once your icing is smooth and an even layer, place your second cake on top. Repeat the process, adding a layer of icing to the top of the second cake. Spread the icing across the top of the second cake with your angled spatula and spread the excess icing over the edge of the cake. Repeat process for your third cake, smoothing the top icing layer.

Add icing around the edge of your cake, then use an angled spatula to smooth the icing.

Now, if you’re a beginner cake decorator like I am, you may be wondering how to get your icing extra smooth around your edges. (Those Instagram videos make it look so easy!) I’m still working to figure this out, but I recently found a tip that has helped my icing smoothness tremendously!

After smoothing your icing around your cake with your angled spatula, place your cake in the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes or so. Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Take your icing smoother and run it under hot water for several seconds. Dry it off and then while it is still warm, use it to remove any excess icing from around the edge of the cake. Running your tool under hot water will help to achieve that extra smooth icing layer. Repeat until your achieve that extra smooth icing look.

Transfer your cake to your cake stand, if it is not already on it, then place it on top of a cookie sheet with a raised edge while you add your sprinkles. (The cookie sheet will catch any rogue sprinkles that might fall.)

Pour your assorted rainbow sprinkled into a small bowl, then grab a handful at a time and gently press them onto your iced cake around the bottom edge.

Now for the finishing touch! It’s time to add your Mickey Mouse designs randomly around your cake. Prepare an icing bag with an icing coupler and a medium round tip and then place your reserved white icing in the bag.

With the medium round tip on the bag, ice a medium-sized circle for Mickey’s head. Repeat sporadically around the cake.

Switch your icing bag to use a small round tip, then add two small circles on either side of Mickey’s head for his ears. Repeat for all Mickey shapes.

Add any remaining sprinkles to the top of the cake.

And there you have it! A cake to celebrate the leader of the club!