Special Occasion Cakes Recipes - Chocolate Fruit Birthday Cake

Ingredients

• 18cm/7in square deep chocolate Madeira cake

• 45cm/3 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved

• 450g/3 cups marzipan

• 450g/2 cups chocolate fudge icing

• red, yellow, orange, green and purple food coloring

• while cloves angelica strips

MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT

• 20cm/8in square silver cake board

• medium gateau nozzle nylon piping bag

• 0.75m/3/4yd yellow ribbon, 1cm/1/2in wide

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Method:

1. Level the cake top and invert. Brush with apricot jam.

2. Use two-thirds of the marzipan to cover the cake. Reserve the trimmings.

3. Place the cake on a wire rack over a tray and pour three quarters of the chocolate fudge icing over, spreading with a palette knife. Leave for 10 minutes, then place on the board.

4. Using the reserved icing and a medium-size gateau nozzle, pipe stars around the top edge and base of the cake. Leave to set.

5. Using the reserved marzipan, food coloring, cloves and angelica strips, model a selection of fruits.

6. Secure the ribbon around the sides of the cake. Decorate the top with the marzipan fruits.