Polly Pocket Microwave Mug Cakes

Running around snapping pictures of our youth group connecting with the youth team visiting from Oregon yesterday, I somehow misplaced my camera case, with the camera cord.  So, instead of the latest and greatest, I'll share a look back at our last birthday party - a very simple Poly Pocket party for C (age 6) in June.

When she asked for a Poly Pocket theme, I knew right away the old, standby, Barbie-type, bowl/skirt cake done in miniature, with individual cupcake sized cakes would be a perfect fit.  My only problem was the only "pan" I could find in the right shape, and right size, was a non-oven safe, coffee mug.  So, I started experimenting with microwave mug cakes.  They won't win any pastry contests, to be sure, but they are quick and easy.

Once I found a recipe I liked, the rest was so simple.

Mix 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of regular cake mix (we used a "Funfetti" sort), with 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of angel food cake mix, 1 teaspoon of vanilla pudding mix, and 2 tablespoons of milk in a microwave safe mug (our variation of the the Duncan Hines 3-2-1 cake).

Microwave the batter in the mug for one minute, and let the cake cool for another minute before plopping it out, upside down, onto a plate, or in our case...

...a tinfoil covered cookie sheet.

Cut a small slit, with a knife, into the top of each cake, to insert the dolls.  Freeze the cakes, dolls and all, for about an hour, to make them easier to frost...

...and frost, pretty much as you would any cake.  I was in a hurry, getting ready for VBS, so I made do with canned vanilla frosting, a little food coloring, and one can of ready to pipe on purple "frosting".  Imagine what you could do with time, talent and the proper tools.

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, the weird little cakes at the back were supposed to be volcanoes for the boys, with pieces of melted Jolly Rancher lava erupting out of the top.

And, a word of warning -  food coloring does stain the plastic Polly Pocket clothing, so you might want to consider white frosting ribbons and bows for your favorite dolls, or plan to leave a gap between the doll and the colored frosting.

It's great to be a homeschooler.