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Really easy for pretty spectacular results and buttercream is your friend ...


Bake victoria sponge - if you can do it in slightly smaller diameter than normal cake tins then so much the better - or you could bake it in a large pudding basin (AJ Farmers) or,probably better still one layer of round sponge with the basin sponge on top for height. If not using basin on top you'll need to build layers and trim down to shape - but buttercream is your forgiving friend.


Put cake on board.


Get a cheap doll / barbiealike. Either - wash the legs / wrap in cling film or remove legs! cover cake in a layer of butter icing then decorate all over with swirls of icing and silver balls (or flowers or some such other cake decorations) - doesn't need to be perfect and you can use an icing bag and go abstract or get those little pre filled tubes.


Ta da! You totally win!

I made one for my daughter's 5th birthday...


Did normal sponge but had about six layers in the end for height with thin layer of buttercream between each (note the thinner the layer of filling the less likely the cake is to 'move').


Then I carved it into a skirt shape and thinly buttercreamed the whole outside.


Put in the fridge for approx 20 mins


Used an apple corer to get a hole all the way down the middle (you don't need a much bigger hole than this).


Bought a Barbie/Sindy with a moulded top (ie you can use the their top half as is and remove their lower clothes)


Popped 'Madam Barbie' through the hole - so she's covered to waist height.


Fondant iced the outside and decorated with flowers etc- AND GLITTERED.


Job's a good-un! :)

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