Ladybug Cake

Ingredients

• 12 servings purple gel food coloring black
• 12 servings purple gel food coloring red
• 1 large marshmallows cut in half
• 12 servings green beans black cut into 2-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons sugar red
• 1 container vanilla frosting 
• 1 box cake mix white yellow

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• knife
• wire rack
• toothpicks

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350F. Generously grease 2-quart round heatproof bowl with shortening; lightly flour. Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs or egg whites.
2. Pour batter into bowl.
3. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around side of bowl to loosen cake; remove from bowl to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
4. On serving plate, place cake, rounded side up, trimming bottom if needed. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the frosting and the black food color until blended.
5. Mix remaining frosting and red food color until blended.
6. Spread red frosting on two-thirds of cake; sprinkle with red sugar.
7. Spread black frosting on remaining one-third of cake for head.
8. Place remaining black frosting in decorating bag fitted with small round tip. Pipe wings and dots on sugared portion of cake.
9. Add marshmallow pieces for eyes; pipe pupils with black frosting. Pipe red frosting for mouth. Insert licorice pieces into cake for antennae. Store loosely covered.