How to Make Your Own Whimsical Abstract Brushstroke Birthday Cake

Directions

• Bake boxed cake mixes according to instructions for four 9 in. round pans – you need three round cakes – the fourth leftover can be for snacking or you could go for a four layer cake!
• Let your round cakes cool COMPLETELY, otherwise icing will melt off.
• Get your cake stand and center your first layer of round cake on it*
• Take 1/2 jar of icing (~1/2 cup) and ice just the top of this layer of cake – this will be the icing sandwiched in-between your layers.
• Add another cake layer and another layer of icing.
• Add another cake layer and use one whole jar of icing (~1-1.5 cups) to ice the outside of the cake. Begin by applying a thin “crumb layer” that seals in the crumbs and then go back and put on a thicker layer of icing until the entire cake is covered.
• Get 5 small bowls and put about 1/4 cup or two good size dollops of icing in each bowl ready for food coloring*
• Make the following colors with your food coloring:
  – PALE YELLOW (1 drop primary yellow)
  – BLUE (1 drop primary blue)
  – LIGHT TEAL (1 drop neon blue)
  – FUCHSIA PINK (1 drop neon pink)
  – LIGHT PINK (take a little bit of your fuchsia pink and add to your bowl of white icing until you have your desired light pink)*
• Using a regular butter knife, GENTLY smear a dollop of icing onto your cake in varying areas, using varying colors. Just like you would smear cream cheese on a bagel, but perhaps gentler! After smearing a color, use the edge of the knife to make different types of stroke patterns in the icing.
• Apply patches of sprinkles as seen in the photo or in a design you like. I used chopsticks and tweezers for preciseness in placing them.
• Top with your cake topper or candles.
• Let the Birthday Wonder begin! YAY!