This is the last cake we made yesterday for graduation today.  It was for our awesome, sweet, funny friend Marlene who loves pandas!  The head of the panda is a Devil’s Food cake made in the Pampered Chef batter bowl (recipe on blog under “Barbie Doll Cake”) then covered in vanilla buttercream frosting and finally Buttercream Fondant.  The bottom layer or beginning of the panda’s body is a Poppy Seed Cake (without the poppy seeds as Marlene just wanted yellow cake, which comes from a recipe that my friend Ann gave to me, recipe to follow), covered with vanilla buttercream frosting and then chocolate fondant.  Her little graduation cap is also a chocolate chocolate chip muffin covered in chocolate fondant and her ears are solid chocolate fondant.  Happy Graduation Marlene, we love you!

Ann’s Poppy Seed Cake Recipe

1 yellow cake mix

1 small box vanilla instant pudding mix

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup oil

4 eggs

1/3 jar poppy seeds (left these out for Marlene who wanted yellow cake)

Combine all ingredients and mix until well blended.  Pour into greased bundt pan (I did two 8″ layers) and bake according to cake mix directions.