Name: Puppy Dog Cake
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 24 servings
Ingredients: 4 large eggs, separated; 4 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped; 1/2 cup water; 1 cup butter, softened; 2 cups sugar; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut; 1 cup chopped pecans; FROSTING:; 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened; 1 cup butter, softened; 7-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons 2% milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; DECORATIONS:; Tootsie Roll Midgees; 2 red Fruit Roll-Ups; Brown food coloring

Just a glance at this tasty canine confection is bound to get guests' stomachs growling! This cake is surprisingly simple to prepare, too. You can easily "groom" this baked treat into a pooch by adding chocolate and a fruit snack to make a friendly face. —Nancy Reichert, Thomasville, Georgia

Ingredients

4 large eggs, separated

4 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup water

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

FROSTING:

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

1 cup butter, softened

7-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons 2% milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DECORATIONS:

Tootsie Roll Midgees

2 red Fruit Roll-Ups

Brown food coloring

Instructions

1 Let separated eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

2 In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave white chocolate with water at 30% power until chocolate is melted; cool to room temperature.

3 In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in the egg yolks, vanilla and white chocolate mixture. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. In a small bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into white chocolate mixture with coconut and pecans.

4 Fill 4 greased muffin cups half full with batter. Spoon remaining batter into 2 greased 9-in. round baking pans. Bake cupcakes at 350° for 15 minutes and cakes for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

5 In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter. Add confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla. Color 1 cup of frosting brown; set aside.

6 Place 1 cake on a large platter or covered board (about 14x11 in.). Cut off cupcake tops; cut a 1/4-in. piece from a rounded edge from each cupcake (creating a flat edge) and discard. Place cut side of 2 cupcakes against side of cake with edges touching; frost top of cake and cupcakes. Top with remaining cake and cupcakes; lightly frost top and sides.

7 Fill separate piping bags with the white and brown frostings. Using a grass piping tip, pipe 1 ear with white frosting on 1 ear with brown. Then, using a small star tip, pipe frosting on the top of the cake in white and brown.

8 Mold Tootsie Rolls into eyes, nose, brows and snout; place onto cake. With scissors, cut off a 1-in. strip from a Fruit Roll-Up, round 1 end; place straight end under nose for tongue. Place remaining Fruit Roll-Ups around base as collar. Add frosting accents if desired.