Great Cake Contest

I made this cake for my boyfriend's birthday. He is the general manager at Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries in Madison, WI. He loved it!

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

• Bun and French Fries:
• Yellow Cake Mix (2 boxes)
• Additional ingredients required for cake mix
• Sunflower seeds
• Hamburger:
• 1 1/2 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 20 large marshmallows
• 3 cups Cocoa Pebbles
• Toppings and Bun:
• Approximately 3 lb. Fondant
• Food coloring
• Buttercream Icing:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup Crisco
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. butter flavoring
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. almond extract
• 1 lb. powdered cane sugar
• 1 tbsp. meringue powder
• Milk as needed

1. Mix both boxes of yellow cake mix according to package directions. Pour into prepared pans (2 tall 9" pans and 1 regular 9" pan). Pour the batter pretty high in one of the tall pans-this will be used for the top bun. The other two cakes do not need to be very high. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.

2. Meanwhile, mix buttercream frosting. Mix butter, crisco, and salt together to incorporate, about 5 minutes on low speed. Add flavorings and mix well. Add about half of the powdered sugar and the meringue powder and mix. Add the remaining powdered sugar in 1/2 cup increments until you reach the consistency you want. Add a little milk if necessary.

3. Color Fondant: You have to guess a little bit on how much you will need for each item. Color about 1/2 of the fondant a light brown color. (I use food color gels. It is much easier to get the desired color). Divide the remaining fondant into 4 pieces. The lettuce will require a little more than the other toppings; color this piece dark green. Color fondant for the tomatoes and the cheese. The onions will not need any food coloring.

4. Lettuce: Roll out to 1/4" thick. Using a pizza cutter, cut into 4 curvey sections. Scrunch up pieces to make them 3-D.
   
   Tomatoes:
   Roll fondant to a little less than a 1/2" thick. Using a circle cutter (about 4" diameter), cut out 4 circles.
   
   Onions
   Follow the steps for the tomatoes, except take a smaller circle cutter & cut out the middle to make a ring.
   
   Cheese: Roll 1/4" thick and cut into a 9"x9" square.
   
   Set all aside.

5. Make hamburger patty.
   Melt together butter, marshmallows and cocoa powder. Add cocoa pebbles and stir until evenly mixed. Press into a greased 9" spring form pan. Set aside.

6. Round off the top of the taller cake just a little bit (just to look like a hamburger bun). Level off the taller of the two shorter cakes. Slice the third cake into 1" wide strips to look like French fries. Lay onto baking sheet and bake at 325 degrees until golden brown and crispy (about 20 minutes). Frost the remaining two cakes (the bun). Spread frosting thin and even so that there won't be any reason for air bubbles under the fondant.

7. Split brown fondant into two pieces (one bigger than the other). Roll the bigger piece 1/4" thick so that it will cover the top bun. Place over cake, smooth out any bumps, and trim off excess. Place bottom bun on a cake board. Follow the process used for the top bun. Color a little of the frosting to match the color of the bun and pipe a simple border at the base of the bottom bun. Using the same frosting, "glue" sunflower seeds to the top bun

8. Using white frosting make little seeds on the tomatoes.
   Now, time to assemble the cake!
   Remove sides of spring form pan from the hamburger patty. place on top of the bottom bun. (You may want to stick a wooden rod through the center to hold the cake together). Place cheese on top, then the lettuce, then the tomatoes and onions. End with the top bun. Be sure that the rod will not poke through!

9. Place French fries in a little container and color a little of the frosting red and squeeze into a little souffle cup. Arrange everything onto a tray or sheet pan. The cake is finished!