How to Shape a Banana Cake

 Things You'll Need:

• 12-inch round cake pan
• Cupcake pan
• Frosting
• Food coloring
• Large knife

Step 1: Bake a single layer, round banana cake and a separate batch of banana cupcakes from the same batter. Set both baked items in your refrigerator to cool for at least two hours to prevent tearing during cutting.

Step 2: Remove the top of one cupcake. Cut the remaining cupcake base in half horizontally. Frost in between the layers to create a two layer mini-cake. Join the two halves with frosted sides together. Cut this mini-cake in half vertically and chill the two semi-circles in the refrigerator for half an hour, firming the frosting in between the layers.

Step 3: Frost the top and sides of your 12-inch cake with whatever color you want for your monkey. The two half-circles you made earlier should continue chilling in the refrigerator during this time.

Step 4: Remove the two half-circles from the refrigerator and spread icing on the cut sides and top of each half-circle. Adhere one half on each side of the monkey face as the ears, with the frosted cut sides facing the main cake. Place the entire monkey cake in the refrigerator. Cooling the unifying frosting between the ears and the face of the cake makes the attachment between the mini-cake ears and the 12-inch cake more secure.

Step 5: Remove the monkey cake from the refrigerator after 30 minutes and apply a top layer of frosting with a flat cake server or wide knife to smooth out the creases and bumps. Waiting until after the first layer of frosting is cooled allows a smoother application for the final frosting layer.