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Everything About Ladybugs!
Your comprehensive resource for ladybug facts, crafts, products & fun!
Your comprehensive resource for ladybug facts, crafts, products & fun!
See More ladybug cake ideas: Page 2
See Ladybug cake and party supplies: here!
Planning a ladybug themed party? Or just want a cute kitchen project to do with your kids? Why not make a ladybug cake! I've always enjoyed baking and creating art pieces with my baking, so when I decided to make a ladybug cake, I couldn't wait to get started.
Ladybug cakes are fun to make and eat too!
The recipe that follows was taken from my Taste of Home Baking Book and then I altered the cake pan type and frosting colors to make the ladybug cake. For the round ladybug shape, I used my Betty Crocker Bake 'N Fill Dome Pan. I chose not to have a filling in my cake and it turned out great, but let your imagination run wild and fill it up with ice cream, pudding or frosting!
Planning to Decorate a Ladybug Cake
Decorating the cake was tricky. When I first started I imagined this deep red colored frosting that I would use for the ladybugs red shell. Well, when I started adding the red food paste to the white frosting all I could come up with was pink that kept getting darker and darker but would not turn red. Soon, I was worried if I added much more of the food coloring paste, the frosting would taste too bitter. So I stopped adding the red and settled for the super dark pink. Then I took some red colored sugar crystals and added them all over the cake after I had iced it.
The same went for the black frosting for the head and the black stripe down the ladybug's back. I came up with a really deep gray color and it worked for me, it ended up coming out really cute. For the stripe I used a pastry bag with the black frosting and a medium tip to draw it on. For the ladybug's head I used a cupcake, attached it to the body with two toothpicks and then frosted it. For the ladybug's spots I used Junior Mints, they really added the character I was looking for. Then using some pastry bags, I piped on a smile and the eyes to the ladybug's face using a small pointed tip with white frosting.
Improving the Ladybug Cake
After I made the ladybug cake, I did some research and found some tips to get red frosting that won't taste bitter. If you add a pink food coloring paste to the white icing first then add red, you won't have to add as much red reducing the risk of the frosting becoming bitter. Wilton also has a No-Taste Red Food Coloring Paste that does not add any bitterness to the frosting. And for the black frosting, try using chocolate frosting as your base and adding black food coloring paste to that.
Also, once you've added the food coloring to the frosting it will get darker over time!
I colored some coconut with green food coloring drops and put it around the ladybug on the plate to look like grass. Then using the star tip on my pastry bags, I made some yellow flowers. Use you imagination, be creative and have fun!
For the cake use your favorite chocolate cake recipe and frosting, or I've added the recipes I've used from my Taste of Home Baking Book!
Chocolate Cake Recipe
3 eggs
1- 2/3 cups sugar, divided
1-1/2 cups milk, divided
3 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
In a saucepan, whisk one egg until blended. Stir in 2/3 cup of sugar, ½ cup of milk and chocolate.
Cook and stir over medium heat until the chocolate is melted and mixture just begins to boil.
Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and remaining sugar until it is light and fluffy.
Add remaining eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Beat in vanilla extract.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with remaining milk, beating well after each addition.
Add chocolate mixture, mix well.
At this point, grease and flour the dome pan and fill it only to the fill line on the inside of the pan. I had to bake it for 55 minutes at 325 degrees. Keep an eye on it and if a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, it's time to take it out of the oven. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes and then remove it from the pan to cool completely. Don't forget to lick the spinners!!
For the frosting, use your favorite buttercream recipes. I used a Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. Don't forget about the chocolate tip I mentioned earlier to get a blacker result for the head!!
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
½ cup butter, softened
4 ½ cups confectioner's sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
5 to 6 tablespoons of milk
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy.
Beat in confectioner's sugar and vanilla extract.
Add enough milk to achieve desired consistency.
Tip: Sift your powdered sugar before you add it to your recipe to remove any lumps!
Libby the Ladybug Recommends: 
who is Libby the Ladybug?
Taste of Home Baking Book - This is a great asset in our kitchen for all our baking. We are always able to depend on this book for great tasting recipes. It is even better when you can bake a ladybug cake and have it be tasty too!
Betty Crocker Bake ‘N Fill Dome Pan - For us this really took the work out of making a fun shape for our ladybug cake. This pan is very versitile for making a variety of cakes and doing difficult layers, fillings & even ice cream cakes.
Submit Your Ladybug Cakes to Our Site!
If you would like to submit your ladybug cake to our site we'd graciously accept it. Show the world your cake making skills, share a trick or two and your favorite cake recipe. We look forward to seeing your ladybug cake!
Are you having a ladybug themed party?
Check out the great list of ladybug cake and party supplies we've found for you to choose from! You could even do a ladybug themed baby shower with some of these great supplies. There are adoreable ladybug diaper cakes and ladybug shower invitations ready for you to theme your party.
Still hungry for more ladybug food ideas?
Ladybug cupcakes!
The party animal has a really adorable ladybug cupcake recipe that you should check out. Click here to see learn how this cute little ladybug cupcake was made and enjoy this at your next ladybug themed party
Ladybug rice crispy treats!
You may also want to check out the yummy ladybug rice crispy treats and all the other tasty treats that the party animal has available here!
Ladybug Cookies
Ladybug cookies are a great cooking craft for birthdays, holidays, and just general family fun. Learn how to make ladybug cookies or submit you own great ideas.
Ladybug M&Ms
Have you ever seen those M&Ms with printed messages on them? Well how about some M&Ms that look like ladybugs. Check out our idea here!
More cool ladybug stuff to check out...
Ladybug Games
Free ladybug flash games for kids or adults with some time to kill. A lot of these ladybug games are great for testing your mouse skills or letting a child familiarize themselves with the computer.
Ladybug Facts
Learn some great facts about ladybugs such as
what they are, what they eat, where to find them and much more!
