Flamenco dancer and naughty kitten cake

Ingredients

For the cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For decorating

• Pink, white, black and red buttercream or fondant
• Food coloring in different colors
• Piping bags and tips in different sizes
• Small plastic kitten figures
• Edible sugar sheets printed with flamenco and naughty kitten designs

Step-by-step preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and prepare two round cake pans with nonstick spray or butter and flour.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
4. Add half the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until combined. Then add the milk and vanilla, followed by the rest of the flour. Beat on low speed until the batter is smooth.
5. Pour the batter into the pans and bake for 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
6. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before turning them out onto a rack to cool completely.
7. To decorate, cover each layer with pink buttercream or fondant. Divide the remaining icing or fondant into portions and tint them in different colors for the flamenco and kitten designs.
8. Use piping bags and tips to create flamenco and naughty kitten designs on the cake, using the printed sugar sheets as a guide.
9. Place the small kitten figures on top of the cake for extra detail. You can also add small fondant flowers for an elegant, fresh touch.
10. As a finishing touch, add music notes and flamenco shoes in fondant or icing to decorate the sides of the cake, using different shades for depth and realism.