Batman Smash Cake

What's a smash cake? Smash cakes are small cakes that one year olds get to tear into on their first birthday party. This instructable shows you how to make a Batman themed cake (this one actually says "Fatman" because that's what this little guy's nick name is).

You can pick out a flavor. I just chose plain vanilla. This is for a double layer 6" round cake.

I just used a box mix that calls for:

4 egg whites,

1 and 1/4 cup of water,

1/2 cup vegetable oil .

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For the frosting you will need:

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temp.

1/4 cup milk at room temp.

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pound of powdered sugar.

Other items you will need:

6" x 2" baking pan,

Two mixing bowls,

Knife,

Mixer,

Rubber spatula,

Yellow food dye,

Black edible decorating dough

Cake circle

Spread vegetable oil in the inner surface of the pan and dust with flour.

Mix up your cake batter according to the instructions. Fill cake pans and cook for 30 minutes.

Use a toothpick to poke the center and make sure there is no liquid batter on the toothpick.

Let cool and then lightly push the edges of the cake inward to break them free from the sides. Gently flip the pan and drop the cake out onto a plate. Flip the cake over and use a serrated knife to cut the top of the cake level.

While the cakes are cooking you can use this time to make a decorative cake stand.

Wrap a cardboard box in wrapping paper in the same colors as the theme of your cake.

Fold a black piece of construction paper in half and cut out black triangle pieces. Use the first piece as a guide for cutting the others to ensure they are all the same size.

Unspool a length of sewing thread and double it up so that is roughly a little longer than the front of your box. Cut and knot both ends. Use a glue stick to glue the middle of the triangle pieces and then press then together while the string is sandwiched between the two sides.

Then, tape either end of the banner to the edges of the box with scotch tape.

Use a mixer to mix all of your icing ingredients until smooth. Mix in maybe half a teaspoon of yellow icing colorant.

Print off some batman symbols on printer paper and cut out one that will nicely fit the top of the cake.

Roll out some of the black decorating dough flat on a silicone mat.

Press the cutout symbol and using a knife trace the symbol to end up with an edible symbol for your cake. Trim the edges as needed.

To make the skyline roll out a long length of black decorating dough (roughly 19") and flatten it. You can use a smooth sturdy plastic cup as a rolling pin for this.

Use a straightedge to cut a nice clean line on the bottom of the strip.

Cut out geometric roof tops to form a city skyline. Next, use white decorating dough and mix in yellow food dye (or you can buy the premade dough in yellow) and work into a flat patty. Criss-cross cut across the dough to make multiple squares. These will be the lit windows of your skyline. Using dabs of water as glue, place the windows along the skyline.

To make the icing application easier I cover a cake circle in foil and then set it on top of a jar.

Take your first cake that should be cut so the top and bottom are both flat and scoop a wad of icing and using a icing knife to smooth it out. This layer may end up being thick but that's fine. Gently place your second cake layer directly on top of the icing platform.

Then apply icing on the top and sides with the icing knife. Apply until smooth. Refrigerate the cake for at least 30 minutes. This forms the crumb coat and makes your final coat end up looking smooth.

Add your second coat of icing and work it until it is smooth.

While the second coat is still a little wet you can stick on your skyline and your Batman symbol.

If you choose, you can write the child's name (or nickname) across the batman symbol in yellow icing.

Keep refrigerated until the party.

When the birthday comes, let the kid have at it and make sure to take plenty of pictures.