Chocolate Modelling Paste Digging Doggy - from Kiwicakes test kitchen

We made these cute (and tasty!) little doggies' backsides for SPCA Cupcake Day.

This little guy sits on top a cupcake in a foil cupcake wrapper and is surrounded by candy bones. He's made out of tasty chocolate modelling paste sold individually or in a handy rainbow pack.

The 'dirt' is made from crushed up Oreo-type chocolate biscuits, with any creme filling removed. 

Pop the biscuits into a snaplock bag and let loose with a rolling pin until you have the desired texture. 

The dog's bottoms are hand-shaped with white and black chocolate modelling paste. The magic of working with this medium is that no glue is needed to stick the components together, they just magically hold their shape nicely.

Begin by portioning your modelling paste, so that your figurines will turn out even. Cut white pieces for the bottoms, feet and tails. Roll mini balls of black for the pads.

To assemble, smear a sticky icing-like buttercream or ganache over the entire surface of your cupcake. Sprinkle liberally with the crushed Oreo dirt. Use a teaspoon to clear a spot in the centre for your digging doggy to be pushed into. The dog won't stick to the crumbs, so it's essential you make a hole in the dirt - this also creates a build up of dirt against the dog's body, which makes it more realistic looking.

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SPCA Cupcake Day Prep Underway - from Kiwicakes test kitchen

As you know Kiwicakes proudly supports the annual SPCA cupcake day and this year we are baking for the cause, too. 

We will have team Kiwicakes' cupcakes for sale on the day in-store. You can support the SPCA's fine work whilst enjoying a cute cupcake! Here are the details to put in your diary now:

Monday 26th August
Cupcakes available in-store from 11am to 2pm (1c Grant Street, Kamo, Whangarei)
$2.50 each
$20 for 1/2 dozen in a presentation box
$35 for 1 dozen in a presentation box

You can pre-order your cupcakes by emailng sandra@kiwicakes.co.nz . All funds go directly to the SPCA, so please remember to bring cash with you.

You can never prepare for these things too early, so we got cracking on some toppers today. With the addition of a magic little powder called Tylose our shapes made from regular will last for weeks. Here is a sneak peek at some pieces coming together so far...

When making cupcakes in large quantities it's worthwhile having a few tools up your sleeve to produce uniform shapes, and quickly. For the cute little dog houses below I used a cookie cutter from the Precious Paws mini cutter set. It's adorned with a Funny  Bone candy and will look great when some green grass is piped at its base.

I achieved the woodgrain look by marbling warm shades together. To make 20+ dog house shapes you will need:

50g Dark Chocolate fondant (this is yummy!)
50g Pastel Yellow fondant
1/2 teaspoon Tylose hardening powder (mix 1/4t into each colour)

You can learn to marble by visiting an earlier Kiwicakes blogpost here. This is my 'wood grain effect' which I rolled out to 3mm thick. Remember to store pre-made decorations in a breathable cardboard-type box as they will sweat and wilt in an air-tight container. I like to keep them in the hot water cupboard, up and out of little fingers way!

Click here if you are interested in registering as a cupcake cook yourself and using your baking prowess to support the SPCA. Remember there are some great prizes to be won.