Jolly Santa Claus Cake

Prep Time: 45 Minutes
Cook Time:
Total Time: 3 Hours
Servings: 12

Ingredient List

  • Small check mark in a circle icon 1 box (16.25 oz) Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
  • Small check mark in a circle icon Water, vegetable oil and whole eggs called for on cake mix box
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 1 teaspoon red gel food coloring
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 3 cups from 2 tubs (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 2 pieces of round chocolate candy
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 1 small red gumdrop
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 1 large marshmallow
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 1 tablespoon white candy sprinkles
  • Small check mark in a circle icon 2 tablespoons red and green candy sprinkles

Preparation

  1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
  2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. In small bowl, place ½ cup of the batter; stir in ½ teaspoon of the food color. Divid remaining batter between pans. Drop tablespoonfuls of colored batter in random pattern over top of batter in each pan. Cut through batters with table knife in zigzag pattern for marbled design.
  3. Bake 29 to 34 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; run metal spatula around edges of pans to loosen cakes. Remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Trim off rounded tops of cake layers, if necessary.
  4. Place one cake layer on serving plate, bottom side down. Spread ⅔ cup frosting on top; top with second cake layer. Frost top and side of cake with thin layer of frosting to form a crumb coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set.
  5. In small bowl, place 3 tablespoons of the frosting; stir in remaining ¼ teaspoon food color until blended. Fit decorating bag with ½ -inch star piping tip; fill with ¾ cup of the untinted frosting. Set red colored frosting and filled decorating bag aside.
  6. Remove cake from refrigerator. Using remaining ¾ cup untinted frosting, spread around side and two-thirds of top of cake (use photo as a guide).
  7. To decorate Santa’s face: For hat, spread red frosting on top third of cake. Place 2 candies for eyes. Slightly flattengumdrop to form nose; place in center of cake. Using decorating bag, pipe brim for hat, mustache and decorative swirls for the beard. Slightly flatten marshmallow; place at side of hat for pom pom (use photo as a guide).
  8. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon white candy sprinkles on beard. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of the red and green candy sprinkles on brim of hat. Press remaining red and green candy sprinkles along bottom edge of cake. Store loosely covered at room temperature.