Step 1

Prepare the cake batter and preheat the oven, according to package directions.

Step 2

Spray an 8- or 9-inch cake pan with nonstick baking spray (such as Pam for Baking) or grease and lightly flour. Place cupcake liners in 12 cups of a standard sized muffin pan.

Step 3

Fill the cake pan with batter approximately half or 3/4 full. Use baking strips to allow the cake to bake evenly. Divide the remaining batter among the wells of the cupcake pan.

Step 4

Bake the cake and cupcakes according to instructions on package. Allow round cake to cool for 10 minutes, then invert on a cooling rack to remove from pan and cool to room temperature.

Step 5

Using a large portion of Easy Vanilla Buttercream or frosting of your choice, tint the frosting with yellow and a small amount of brown gel icing color to achieve the desired color for Daniel's fur.

Step 6

Color a portion of the fur frosting with a small amount of brown for the stripes on Daniel.

Step 7

Color a tiny portion of frosting pink for Daniel's nose and tongue.

Step 8

Place the round cake on a cake plate or platter. Slip small pieces of waxed paper underneath the bottom edges of the cake. Notch out a little bit of cake where you'd like the ears to go on the top of each side of Daniel's head. Remove the wrappers from 2 cupcakes and place them into the notches.

Step 9

Carefully frost the cake and cupcakes with an icing knife using Daniel's fur colored frosting.

Step 10

Using a disposable piping bag, plastic coupler, and round tip, draw the outlines for the stripes and fill in with the stripe colored frosting. Smooth carefully with a small icing knife if desired.

Step 11

Using the black frosting, draw the outlines for the eyes and fill in the black portions. You may need to transfer the store bought black and white frosting to disposable piping bags for more control when piping. Add the eyebrows in black. Fill in the whites of the eyes with white frosting.

Step 12

Using the pink frosting, outline and fill in Daniel's nose.

Step 13

Using the stripe colored frosting, draw the mouth and fill in. Then add the tongue with the pink frosting. Use the black frosting to outline and define the mouth.

Step 14

Use remaining untinted Easy Vanilla Buttercream or white frosting to draw on the whiskers.

Step 15

Carefully remove the waxed paper used to protect the cake plate/platter and discard them.

Step 16

Refrigerate cake until several hours prior to serving. For best results, allow it to come to room temperature before eating.