Peter Rabbit Cake For the International Edible Book Festival

I entrered the International Edible Book Festival event run by Zoe at Playing By the Book.

As both a mother and primary school teacher, I have spent much of my adult life choosing, reading and sharing children's books.  Indeed I studied for an MA in Children's Literature, which I believe,  was far more interesting and satisfying then the Master's degree in Education I could have opted for.  I've always loved the way that food is intrinsic in  much of  children's literature  and when I discovered Zoe's lovely blog and amazing event I just had to enter.

My little girl had a couple of friends coming for tea, and I had left my cake baking to the last possible moment.  As the children are 4, 5 and 6, I thought that they would all be familiar with  Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter.

I decided to suggest the story, rather then try and produce a facsimile of the cover in icing (if you look at my Octonaut cake you'll see why!)

I was making a rabbit themed cake so  I needed to bake a carrot cake, and I used this recipe from Sainsbury's, here.

Rather then make cupcakes I used a square brownie tin and baked one cake. I iced it with the traditional cream cheese/butter icing which is so perfect with carrot cake.

I covered  the cake with green sprinkles and green edible glitter, and using some walnuts I made a 'crazy pave' path.  I 'planted' flowers on one side of the path and carrots on the other.

I then made Peter's blue jacket with some white sugar paste, to which I added blue colouring. Before it set, I put the coat on a cocktail stick, and once it was ready I popped it into the 'garden'.  Peter was simply an unwrapped Lindt mini chocolate rabbit.  You can see from some of the photographs that he was joined by the Flopsy Bunnies.

I took a few photographs of the cake, but later when I looked at them, I felt they weren't quite right .  However, the cake and rabbits  had,  by that time been eaten, so I had to submit one of these photos to the Festival.  Do follow the link to the other cakes.  They are all amazing, and congratulations to the winner and runners up.  Such very talented people.

The cake was delicious, and I think it would  make a lovely child friendly Easter cake,  covered with yellow sprinkles, chocolate chicks and of course, some mini eggs.


I'll be linking my Peter Rabbit Cake to Zoe's round up of Edible Book Festival posts, which you can find if you scroll down  here.

Peter, munching on a carrot

Lots of lovely carrots for my rabbit themed cake

Dry ingredients

And wet

Preparing the icing

Making Peter's Jacket

Inspiring books and blog

An aerial view of the ckae

Peter and his coat

I was really finding it difficult to take a good photograph

This one is closer, but too dark

Each Peach, Pear, Plum
may have been easier!