I’ve mentioned on the blog a couple times that I’m a total nerd. You can see examples here and here. So naturally, when I was invited to be a part of this Oscars blog party and we were required to make something inspired by one of the nominated movies, I saw Guardians of the Galaxy on the list and was like YEP. This is it. This is my time to make a raccoon cake.
As a fan of Marvel movies, I went into this one expecting it to be great. I didn’t actually know anything about Guardians of the Galaxy though, and it was so different from what I expected. I don’t know what I expected exactly, but it was different. I didn’t expect the 80s music. Peter Quill, the main hero, is kind of a goofball. This group of misfits doesn’t even really like each other for most of the movie. But they become friends in the process of saving the universe and all fly off into the sunset together at the end.
Guardians of the Galaxy is up for a couple awards in the makeup and visual effects categories. If you’ve seen the movie, you know a majority of the characters are from different planets and very few of them are just regular humans. I think they did a fantastic job with these characters and costumes. Rocket and Groot are probably the most obvious, but I also think they did a great job with all the other minor characters and extras we see during the movie: the people of Knowhere (where they meet The Collector), the prisoners in the intergalactic jail, the Kree, and the people of Xandar.
Rocket Raccoon Cake
Ingredients
chocolate cake
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking pwder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup buttermilk
- vanilla buttercream
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp milk
- 2 cups powdered sugar
chocolate frosting
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
dark chocolate frosting
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup Hershey's special dark cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk
additional ingredients
- fondant or modeling dough for ears nose, and eyes (both can be found at Michael's and similar craft stores)
Instructions
chocolate cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray two 8 inch (or three 6 inch) cake pans with non-stick spray and line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine, then set aside.
- In another large bowl, combine sugar, eggs, yogurt, oil, and vanilla. Using an electric hand-held mixer, mix on medium low speed until fully incorporated. Add half of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk. Mix on low speed until just combined. Then add the rest of the flour and buttermilk and mix until fully combined.
- Divide batter between the prepared pans and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the centers are set and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
vanilla buttercream
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or large bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add vanilla extract, milk, and half of the powdered sugar. Mix on low speed until fully incorporated. Repeat with the second half of the powdered sugar and continue to beat for one minute.
- (Repeat this process for the chocolate and dark chocolate frostings.)
assembly
- Place a cake layer on a cake plate or stand and spread a thin layer of frosting on top. Repeat with the other two cake layers and cover the entire cake in a thin crumb coat. Place the cake in the freezer while you prepare the rest of the decorations.
- Put each frosting in a pastry bag with a grass/fur tip. I used a small star tip to go around the outside of the cake, and two grass tips for the fur on top of the cake. Using the modeling dough to make two ears, two eyes, and a nose. I sort of free handed these and made them proportional to the size of the cake. You may need to use leftover modeling dough to create to flat/ball pieces to place under the ears to make them stick up a bit.
- Remove the cake from the freezer. Cover the sides with dark chocolate frosting. (Orange border around the bottom is optional.) Then cover the tops of the ears and head with chocolate frosting. Next I piped the white frosting, which is used for the muzzle area, the "eyebrows", and the fur on the edges of the cheeks. After that, fill in the rest of the space with chocolate frosting. Place the nose and eyes on the cake. And ta da!
Notes
One lucky reader will win a streaming media player — their choice of an Amazon Fire TV, an Apple TV or a Roku 3. It always seems to be a challenge to catch up on the year’s best films, so I’m thrilled to give you the chance to do so!
Each of the participating bloggers has prepared an Oscar-themed recipe, and they’re up for best recipe! When you participate in the giveaway, be sure to vote for your favorite. The winning blogger will get $50 in cash!
Take a look at all the recipes!
The Oscar Noms Party
Menu & Movies
Appetizers
Pork Tenderloin Sliders – The Judge
Aged Cheddar & Apple Grilled Cheese – Boyhood
Pull-Apart Pepperoni Pizza Bread – Whiplash
Asparagus Rolls – Into the Woods
Texas Quesadilla with Chunky Guacamole – The American Sniper
Magic Garbanzo Beans – Into the Woods
Desserts
Nutella Mochi – Big Hero 6
Rocket Raccoon Cake – Guardians of the Galaxy
Texas Peach Crisp Skillet – American Sniper
Camouflage Mini Cheesecakes – American Sniper
Courtesan au Chocolat – Grand Budapest Hotel
Butterscotch Pudding – Gone Girl
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Granola – Wild
Cocktails
Pink Lady Cocktail – Grand Budapest Hotel
Black(berry) Hole – The Theory of Everything
Oscar Chambord Royale – The Theory of Everything
The Blueberry Wish – Into the Woods
- Enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter widget below. Everyone gets a free entry! You can enter multiple times, up to 35 additional entries by following the giveaway sponsors on social media. (If you’ve followed in the past, that counts! Just enter the info as prompted.) All entries will be verified. No purchase is necessary to win.
- The giveaway is open until Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. EST. One winner will be chosen at random and emailed within 48 hours. Winners must claim prize within 48 hours of initial contact. The retail value of the prize is $100. Prizes shown in the graphic are the only ones available.
- Open to U.S. residents with a valid shipping address only. Must be 18 years of age as of Feb. 16, 2015.
Great decorating work!!! I love it.
Thank you! They make a decorating tip for everything these days. 🙂
Ah! He’s so cute!
Eeek! Thanks! 🙂
Very Cute. That’s a lot of piping.
Thanks, Kathy! It’s a lot of piping, but it goes by quick!
Very, very cute idea! And I bet very delicious too!
Thanks! 😀
I LOVE the cake. You did an Oscar winning job. Lol. I also love the theme that you all are doing. I am smiling as I am typing. FUN!
Haha, thanks Carol! I think I smiled the whole way through making this cake. 🙂
This is too cute!! I love it, and your decorating is gorgeous. Pinned! 🙂
Thanks for pinning, Rachel!
He is utterly the most adorable animal cake I have ever seen!
Thanks, Jamie!
Beth I can’t even handle how in love I am with this cake. <3 I just want to type a giant AAAAHHHH (well I guess I just did) and also dig into his adorable face.
Weird, but true. Gorgeous and festive!
Thanks Jess! I couldn’t make myself cut a slice haha.
Ahhh! This is too cute. Rocket was one of my favorite characters in Guardians of the Galaxy. You did such an awesome job of making this cake look like him. I’m not sure mine would turn out this good…
Thanks, Jenna! I was really afraid it was going to come out looking like a mess, haha.
Such a fun cake and such an awesome idea!
Haha, I obviously don’t know what raccoons look like.. I thought this was a “what does the fox say” cake :p. But regardless, this cake is so cute 🙂
Your cake decorating skills are incredible!! This cake looks seriously professional. I love the tie in to the movie – this is awesome!!
Ha! This cake is so fun! We recently watched Guardians of the Galaxy too! Totally not what I was expecting based off the other Marvel movies but we liked it a lot!
You nailed this party! This cake is amazing!
Wow wow wo! This is so impressive 🙂
I saw this as well!! Hahha I just love Rocket. he is seriously the star of the movie. Still can’t believe he asked for that man’s leg for the plan lol! This cake is just adorable!!