How to make a Cookie Monster Cake

If you have never made a decorated cake before, try this one. The frosting is very forgiving and mistakes can easily be hidden.

Tools needed - All items were purchased from Michael’s using several 40% coupons that come almost weekly in their ad. If you don’t get a Michael's ad go to their website and print them.  You will have to make multiple trips to use the coupons because you can only use one coupon per visit.
• Elmo pan  - $7.79 
• Wilton tip set with #233 & #47 - $1.01
• Wilton tip #4 - $.60
• Wilton coupler - $.60
• Wilton decorating bags (12 ct.) - $2.39
• Wilton coloring – Royal Blue  - $1.20
• Wilton coloring – Black - $1.20
Ingredients
• 1 box cake mix
• ½ cup shortening
• ½ cup (1 stick real butter), softened not melted
• 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla – Wilton’s makes a white vanilla that can also be purchased at Michael’s regular vanilla will tint frosting slightly. I used regular vanilla in my frosting so decide for yourself if you want the pure white or if you can deal with off white.

Directions
The night before:
1. Make cake according to package directions and bake in the Elmo pan.
2. Cool in pan on a cooling rack 10 minutes.
3. Cut the bottom off the cake so it will lay flat and place cooling rack on top of pan.
4. Flip cake onto cooling rack.
5. Allow to cool slightly; cover with a clean dish cloth and leave overnight.
6. By letting it sit overnight it can slightly dry allowing for much easier frosting.

To decorate:
1. Cream together shortening and butter; gradually add sugar 1 cup at a time and mix in.
2. Add milk and vanilla. Mix.
3. Remove 1 cup of frosting and spread on the eyes. Do not worry about smoothing it yet; just get them covered.
4. Remove ¾ cup of frosting and color black you will need an extremely small amount of color for this!
5. Color the rest of the frosting Royal Blue less than ¼ teaspoon of the tint will be sufficient.
6. Prepare the decorator bag – follow the directions on the back of the decorator bag package on how to insert the coupler and #233 tip
7. Fill bag with blue frosting and squeeze a little out the tip. Start frosting with ½ strokes all around the bottom of the cake. Then add another layer around the bottom. Next, begin to fill in around the eyes, nose, mouth and chin. Continue with ½ inch – ¾ inch strokes all around the cake until everything is filled except the mouth.

8. With a dry finger, go back to the eye and very gently smooth out the frosting on the eye by gently patting it down and molding it into a smooth look.
9. Fill another bag with black frosting. Using the #4 tip draw the eyes on and the corners of the mouth. Change the tip to the #47 and fill in the large part of his mouth. Smooth out the lines with your finger.

10. Enjoy!!