If time is short, use small animal toys instead of these modeled 

ARK CAKE 

MATERIALS

• 1 x 1.5 litre ( 3 pint / 7½ cup ) oval cake & I x 20cm ( 8in ) square cake
• 20cm ( 8in ) round cake board
• 440g ( 14oz / 1 ¾  cups ) buttercream
• 2kg ( 4lb ) sugarpaste / rolled fondant
• black, brown, yellow, blue, pink & golden - brown food coloring pastes
• icing/confectioners' sugar in a sugar shaker
• sugar glue 

EQUIPMENT  

• sharp knife  
• large rolling pin  
• cocktail sticks/toothpicks
• fine paintbrush
• small circle cutter
• small pieces of foam sponge 

ARK CAKE METHOD:

Cut the crust from each cake and slice the tops flat. Cut the square cake into four equal-sized squares and stack one on top of the other Make sure they sit evenly, then trim either side to create the sloping roof, cutting down two layers only Sandwich the layers together with buttercream Cut a layer in the oval-shaped cake and sandwich back together with buttercream, then spread a thin layer of buttercream over both cakes.

Color 280g ( 9oz ) of sugarpaste black. Using icing sugar to prevent sticking roll out 220g ( 7oz ) of black and place the top of the oval-shaped cake down onto it. Cut around the shape, then pick the cake up and position it on the center of the cake board.

Color 875g ( 1 ¾ lb ) of sugarpaste brown. Roll out and cut strips about 2cm (1/4 in ) wide Cut these strips into different lengths and texture the surface of each, using a knife to give a wood effect. Cover the bottom cake with these strips, working from the base upwards Mark little holes at the end of each plank using the end of a cocktail stick Cover the cabin in the same way, leaving the roof uncovered. Cut four thin strips and secure them vertically on each side of the ark with sugar glue.

Cut two holes on either of the cabins and remove the sugar paste. Thinly roll out some black sugarpaste and cut two circles to fill these gaps. Roll a thin sausage of black sugarpaste and twist it into a loop for the door on the side of the ark.

Color 155g ( 5oz ) of sugarpaste pale yellow. To make the roof, roll out 125g ( 4oz ) of yellow and cut two pieces to fit either side of the roof. When the yellow sugarpaste pieces are flat on the surface, use a sharp knife to mark a straw shape, being careful not to cut too deep into the sugarpaste. Pull the knife downwards to stretch and fray the bottom edge, then position the pieces on the top of the cake.

Color 185g ( 6oz ) of sugarpaste blue. Roll out the blue sugarpaste and press it onto the cake board around the ark Use your fingertips to create an uneven water effect then trim any excess from around the edge of the cake board.

To make the animals, first color 170g ( 5 oz ) of sugarpaste yellow, 125g ( 4oz ) grey 30g ( 1oz ) pink, 15g ( ½ oz ) pale brown and 15g ( ½ oz ) golden brown Use these pieces of colored sugarpaste and the remaining pieces of pale yellow, black and white sugarpaste

Each animal's head is shaped from a ball of colored sugarpaste. When a long muzzle is needed, pinch at one of the balls, twisting the sugarpaste to form a rounded end to create the giraffe, also pinch underneath the ball of sugarpaste to make the neck. For the elephant, twist the sugarpaste until long for the trunk and taper it in at the end.

Indent the nostrils with the end of a paintbrush, or use a cocktail stick. Mark smiles using the circle cutter pressed in at an angle The zebra and tiger stripes are created with tiny uneven sausages of black sugarpaste pressed flat. The patches on the giraffe and snake are tiny different-sized balls of sugarpaste, also pressed flat. When all the animals have been made. place them on the ark in pairs. Cut two holes in the top of the roof for the giraffe's heads, and secure them in position with sugar glue. You may need to use small pieces of foam sponge for support whilst drying.

USEFUL TIP

Instead of coloring the sugarpaste brown, you could use chocolate sugarpaste as a delicious alternative.

Also Read: PLAY WIGWAM CAKE