Recipe: T-Shirt Cake (Dad Cake)

T-SHIRT CAKE

Note from source: Present this cake on Dad's birthday or Father's Day, decorated in the colors of his favorite team or alma mater.

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) carrot cake mix
FOR THE FROSTING:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter or margaine, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
FOR THE DECORATIONS:
1 tube (4.25 ounces) yellow decorating icing
1 tube (4.25 ounces) green decorating icing
SPECIAL AIDS:
serrated tips
medium plain tip
medium star tip

BAKING THE CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.

Prepare cake mix and bake according to package directions. Transfer the pan to a wire rack; cool for 10 minutes. Turn cake onto the rack; cool completely.

MAKING THE FROSTING:
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy, about 1 minute. Add sugar to cream cheese mixture, a little at a time, beating well after each addition; add vanilla. Beat until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes longer.

ASSEMBLING AND DECORATING THE CAKE:
Using a small sharp knife, cut a half-circle, approximately 4 inches wide and 2 inches deep, from top (short side) center of cake; discard. Cut a 2-inch strip from the bottom (short side) of cake. Holding the knife at an angle, cut strip in half diagonally to form sleeves; set aside.

Transfer large portion of cake to a serving platter. Spread a little frosting on the diagonally-cut side of each cake sleeve. Attach diagonally-cut sides of sleeves to the "shoulders" of cake. Spread frosting over entire cake (frost cut surfaces carefully to avoid crumbs).

Attach serrated tips to icing tubes; pipe trim on neck, seams and sleeves. With yellow icing, pipe "1" in center of shirt; attach the plain tip and pipe "#". Attach star tip to green icing; pipe "DAD" below the number.

Servings: 10