How to Make a Half Pipe Cake
- 1). Purchase two boxes of butter recipe cake mix, in the flavor of your choice. Butter recipes tend to produce a cake that's a little more dense, which is helpful (as you'll see) when you're cutting it in two.
- 2). Preheat the oven. Dust the sides and bottom of (2) 9 by 13 pans. To dust pan, rub a thin layer of butter on all sides, and follow this by shaking a tablespoon of flour around the pan. Do this even if you're using a non-stick pan. Pour out the excess flour and tap the pan bottom to be sure you've gotten out any large clumps of flour.
- 3). Mix the cake ingredients according to instructions, and pour the mix into each pan. Bake until done according to box instructions.
- 4). Place cakes, still in their pans, on a table to cool. Place a large platter (or whatever you plan to set your cake on while you construct it). After an hour or so, run a knife along the edges of one of the cakes. While holding onto the top, flip the cake over and gently release it onto the platter. It will be upside down.
- 5). Run a knife along the edge of the second cake. Do the same as you've done to the first cake, but place it on a table or cutting board next to the first cake. Slice the second cake the short way, into four even sections.
- 6). Build the sides of the half pipe along the shortsides of the first cake, by placing two pieces (from the second cake) upright on each side. The remaining two pieces, which you'll shape with a knife into a slant, will create the arch in the pipe. (See "Resources" below for images of halfpipe cakes.) These images will give you ideas and help guide you as you put your cake together.
Secure your construction by gently inserting fondue sticks or thin wooden dowels (at craft stores). Frost the cake thickly with your child's favorite frosting. Don't judge your work until you've added the frosting.
