Aren’t novelty cakes the cutest, and these Mini Gift Box Cakes make adorable individual dessert treats. Covered in rolled fondant these little desserts are sure to make an impression.
Rolled fondant gives cakes such a beautiful, flawless finish. It creates that stunning perfection on any baked treat. It can be molded and cut like clay and made into any shape you desire, making an impressive creation. I mean don’t wedding cakes and celebration cakes just take your breath away when they are covered in fondant. It just looks so amazing.
I had so much of fun making these little treats and everybody just loved the cute idea. Whenever I need to cover a cake with fondant, I bake a cake which has a firm structure ,something like pound cake, madeira or a standard butter cake. It makes it easier to hold the weight of the heavy fondant.
For this recipe, I baked a standard butter cake. and used a square baking tin. After baking and cutting the cake to form 2 layers, I then put a square shaped cookie cutter on the cake and used it as a guide to cut out 12 equal sized blocks of the cake. It would be great if you have a 12 cup square muffin pan, so that you do not have to cut into equal squares…. I saw it on Amazon the other day, and I have got to get me one of those too. It is a really convenient pan for individual desserts and cakes.
It is best to place the cake it in the fridge for about half an hour before cutting into squares .This helps it firm up, making it easier to cut.
These squares are then sandwiched with strawberry jam and then covered in buttercream, getting the edges as neat as possible and the tops smooth. You can place it in the fridge for a while again and then do a second coat of buttercream just to neaten it out. I know that it is placed in the fridge a few times, but this really makes it easier to work with when you are going to cover with fondant.
Okay, just one more time, place the neat buttercream covered squares in the fridge to crust up a bit, so that when you cover with fondant, the buttercream will not be soft and the fondant will form neat edges around the cake.
The fondant is kneaded a bit, just to soften and then draped over the individual square. Shape around the 4 corners and then using a cake smoother, push out any creases to create a smooth polished look. Cut off excess fondant and keep in a sealed bag and cut to form strips to create the ribbon around the cake. I just cut out little flowers to serve as the bow, but you can decorate it as you prefer.
I usually just buy white fondant and then colour it with gel or powdered colouring. Try not use the liquid food colouring because it will make the fondant too sticky and a bit more difficult to work with.
That’s it, really easy , but so cute and impressive.
I hope that you have as much fun as I did working on this…and I think that it is a great idea to let the kids get involved, decorating their own desserts or to give as a little gift.
Enjoy ♥
- 1½ cups / 225g cake flour all purpose flour
- 3¼ tsp baking powder
- 4 eggs
- 225 g / 16 tablespoons margarine softened ( 2 sticks / 8 oz)
- 1 cup / 225g caster sugar superfine sugar ( 7 oz)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence / extract
- 2 tsp / 10 ml milk
- 225 g / 16 tablespoons margarine softened ( 2 sticks / 8 oz)
- 375 g / 3 cups icing /powdered sugar sift if there are any lumps
- 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Rolled fondant colored to your preference SEE NOTE 1
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Preheat the oven to 160ºC / 320 °F
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Grease and line a 20cm square baking tin
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Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl.
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Add the eggs, margarine,caster sugar, vanilla extract and milk and beat until thoroughly mixed.
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Pour into the tin
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Bake for 25-30 minutes. To check if the cake is cooked insert a skewer and if it comes out clean the cake is ready.
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Leave to cool in the tin for about 10 minutes and then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Place in the fridge before cutting through the cake to divide into 2 equal layers. Then using a square cookie cutter as a guide cut into 12 equal sized squares. I used a 6cm square cookie cutter.
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Spread a layer of jam and buttercream on 6 of the cut squares and sandwich with the remaining 6.
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Using a palette knife, apply the buttercream on the sandwiched cakes. Making sure that the corners are neat and smooth all around. Place in the fridge for about 20 minutes and then add another layer of buttercream making sure that it is smooth and neat. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes again to allow the buttercream to firm up making it easier when you are covering with the fondant
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Knead the fondant and roll out on a clean dry surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar or corn flour. Cover the individual cakes and using a cake smoother to shape and push out any bumps around the top and the edges. Cut out excess fondant at the base of the cake to use as decorating as you prefer.
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Beat the margarine in a mixer until it is creamy. Scrape your bowl. Add milk and extract and blend slowly until combined. Raise speed to medium and beat to form a smooth butter mixture.
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Add half of the powdered sugar and blend on low until combined. Srape bowl, add the remaining sugar and set the mixer to medium low and blend for 2-3 minutes.
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Resist the urge to add more milk right away because the buttercream will thin out as it mixes.
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After mixing on low for 2-3 minutes you can choose to add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to reach your desired consistency.
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Frosting can be made softer with the addition of milk, 1/2 teaspoon at a time. This will keep for 3 days at room temperature or 2 weeks refrigerated
NOTE 1
I usually just buy white fondant and then colour it with gel or powdered colouring. Try not use the liquid food colouring because it will make the fondant too sticky and a bit more difficult to work with.
I’ve never worked with fondant before – now you’ve inspired me! The colors of your packages are so adorable. And so creative! Thanks for the instruction and the recipe.
Oh, thank you so much Laura, I really do hope that you give it a try…and I would love to know how it worked out 🙂
These are just so cute, I like working with fondant it’s so clean and easy to work with. These would definetly go down well at any party.
Thank you Emma, that is so true, working with fondant really is easy and makes a cake look so beautiful 🙂
wow they are so adorable and pretty!
Thank you Angie 🙂
I haven’t worked with fondant before, but these mini cake boxes are too cute!! Love how you have decorated them! These are so cute for gifting! Love them!
Thank you Deepika, fondant is really fun to work with and you can really get so creative with it 🙂
These are seriously good Ashika. Absolutely professionally decorated. You should be making and selling these to local cake shops!
Thank you so much Neil I really appreciate your awesome comment, that is a great idea…maybe I will give it a try 🙂
You are an artist my friend!!!! These are way too darn adorable and each cake is a work of art. Anyone will flip to receive these:)
Aww thank you Maria, you are too kind 🙂
I gave a few of these to my neighbour and I laughed when she asked…”Can you really eat these or are they ornaments?”
You are a cake magician, my dear. These little cakes are too cute for words! And they sound delicious too 🙂
Thank you Kelsie, I had so much fun making these little treats…and oh yes they are so yummy 🙂
These are ADORABLE!! I’m a little shy with fondant, but after seeing things like this I feel like I need to try again. My boys would just love these!!
Thank you Katherine…you really need to give this a go, you get used to working with it and the the creativity is absolutely endless:)
OH MY GOSH Ashika those are so cute!!!! AHH! I’m so impressed with your fondant skills! I have never worked with fondant before, I have only seen people work with it on baking shows. Your Mini Gift Box Cakes are so perfect for the holidays! Great work my friend!
Awww thank you Alia….you are are such a sweetheart. I love working with fondant, it makes cakes really look great. You should give it a try as well, it is so much fun 🙂
These are so darn cute!! They are too pretty to eat, but I think I can manage to sacrifice a few if they were in front of me 🙂
Thank you Thao…hahaha these are way to tempting, so you really can’t help eating them 🙂
So cute! Your decorations are on point!!
Thank you Kelly 🙂
these are so cute!!! i still haven’t played around with fondant, but doing mini cakes sounds like a good starting point (: