This adorable cake looks like it was plucked from an enchanted forest! A chocolate "stump" cake is decorated with buttercream frosting and fondant forest creatures. Recipe and concept by Samantha Chiu of @samanthachiu!
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 4-inch cake pans with butter and lightly dust with flour.
Melt butter in a large bowl. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, sugar and salt. Add flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, stirring until just combined.
Fill prepared cake pans 3/4 full.
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Using a serrated knife, level the cakes by slicing across the top of each cake.
Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
Whip butter with electric mixer and slowly add powdered sugar. Add the milk and vanilla extract and beat for 5 minutes or until it reaches a smooth and creamy consistency.
Spread a thin layer of frosting on your cake stand and center your first layer of cake.
Spread frosting on top of cake layer with an offset spatula, gently pushing the frosting toward the edges of the cake.
Place the second cake layer on top of the first and spread with frosting.
To crumb coat the cake, use the spatula to spread a thin layer of frosting over the entire cake. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Mix a drop of brown food coloring to the remaining frosting and apply to the top of the cake. Use a fork to make the tree-like rings.
Mix a few more drops of brown food coloring to the remaining frosting and use the spatula to frost the sides of the cake in a vertical motion.