Prep Time: 25 Minutes • Start to Finish: 3 Hours 10 Minutes • 16 servings
Birthday cakes CAN be easy! There are no special decorating skills required for this one—candies and frosting create the fun.
1 Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms only of 1 (8-inch or 9-inch) round cake pan and 1 (8-inch) square cake pan.
2 In large bowl, beat cake mix, soda pop, oil, egg whites and a few drops food color with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly between pans.
3 Bake 26 to 34 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (times may vary between the two pans). Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Freeze cakes uncovered about 1 hour for easier frosting.
4 Place round cake near one end of tray for globe of gum ball machine; frost top and side with half of the frosting. Place square cake next to round cake for machine base. Stir 1 teaspoon food color into remaining frosting; frost sides and top of base with frosting. Wrap candy bar with foil. Place foil-wrapped candy bar near bottom of base. Use decorating gel to draw trap door on candy bar. Arrange chocolate coin and peanut candy above candy bar. Arrange gum balls on globe. Store loosely covered.
1 Serving: Calories 260; Total Fat 10g (Saturated Fat 2.5g, Trans Fat 1.5g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 230mg; Total Carbohydrate 39g (Dietary Fiber 0g); Protein 2g Exchanges: ½ Starch, 2 Other Carbohydrate, 2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2½
Tip If you don’t have a candy bar to use for the trap door, you can use decorating icing or gel to draw it on the cake.