• HOME
  • SERVICES
  • PORTFOLIO
  • ABOUT
  • Club Crafted

  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • DIY
    • RECIPES
    • SPONSORSHIPS
  • SHOP

Club Crafted

Recipes
/
April 27, 2017

Taco Cake

How to Make a Taco Cake | Club Crafted

How to Make a Taco Cake | Club CraftedRaise your hand if you’ll be pigging out on tacos all week next week in honor of Cinco de Mayo!! You know I’ll be celebrating real hard. 

I’ve been waiting a long time for Cinco de Mayo so that I had a good excuse to FINALLY make this TACO CAKE! For reals, I had this idea almost a year ago and decided I had to save it for the right time, so I’m really excited to have finally made it (and eaten it) and now I finally get to share it with you all, complete with a bunch of fun candy toppings to look like a taco with all the fixings. 

How to Make a Taco Cake | Club Crafted How to Make a Taco Cake | Club CraftedDespite seeming complicated, it’s actually much harder to assemble a layered cake than it is to assemble a taco cake – at least, that’s how I felt since I can never seem to keep my cakes level. To make it look as taco-y as possible, I made “cheese” with orange candy melts, “lettuce” with colored coconut, “beef” with crushed cookies and “tomatoes” with red M&Ms. In addition to the how-to for this taco cake, I’m also sharing my favorite recipe for a classic yellow cake with a classic American buttercream frosting!

Scroll down for the recipe card! ??

You can make this in whatever size you’d like, but I made a 6-inch cake, and it’s best to make sure the layers are very thick for best results. In my case, the layers are about 2 inches thick. 

For frosting the outside part of the cake, I used a classic American buttercream recipe dyed light yellow, which you can also find here. OK, now let’s make a taco cake!

How to Make a Taco Cake | Club Crafted How to Make a Taco Cake | Club CraftedSupplies/Ingredients:

  • One 6 or 8-inch cake, about 2 inches thick (see my recipe below!) 
  • One large batch of vanilla frosting (store bought is OK)
  • Yellow food coloring
  • Green food coloring
  • Shredded coconut
  • Chocolate cookies or Oreos, crushed
  • Red M&Ms
  • Orange candy melts
  • Pastry bag with small round piping tip
  • Angled spatula
  • 6 or 8-inch cake board

How to Assemble a Taco Cake:

*First, prepare cake and frosting according to recipes

Step 1: Once baked cakes have cooled completely, use a knife or cake level to level the top of one 6 or 8-inch round layer. Then cut the cake in half so you have two equal sized half-circles.

Step 2: In one bowl, dye the vanilla frosting yellow. 

Step 3: On a clean surface, such as a pastry board, place one half of the cake (preferably nicer side down). Generously spread frosting on top and then place the second half of the cake on top with the nicer side facing up, lining up the edges. Place a small amount of frosting in the middle of the cake board and place the bottom (flat side) of the cake down onto the frosting. Move to the fridge for about 30 minutes. 

Note, you can certainly use other flavors. Just make sure you can use a yellow frosting on the outside of the cake. 

How to Make a Taco Cake | Club Crafted How to Make a Taco Cake | Club CraftedStep 4: In the meantime, prepare the “toppings.” In a microwave safe bowl, pour about 1/2 cup orange candy melts. Microwave on defrost mode for about 30 seconds, stir and repeat until the candies have completely melted. Then move to a pastry bag fitted with a small round piping tip OR you can use a small plastic Ziplock bag with the corner cut. 

Step 5: Lay out a small piece of parchment and use items to weigh it down flat if needed. Pipe many 1-inch lines with the candy melts to create “shredded cheese” and set aside to dry completely. Don’t worry, these don’t need to be perfect! 

Step 6: In a small container with a lid, add the shredded coconut and a few drops of green food coloring. Shake until color has completely dyed the coconut green. Set aside. 

Step 7: Crush chocolate cookies or Oreos in a plastic bag with the bottom of a cup or with a rolling pin for best results. If you use a food processor, it will reduce the cookies to fine crumbs, and it’s better if they are different sizes. Set aside. 

Step 8: When ready to decorate, remove the cake from the fridge. Use an offset spatula to cover the entire cake with a thin layer of yellow frosting (crumb layer). Return to the fridge for another 30 minutes. Then ice the entire cake once again and smooth with a spatula.

Step 9: Add crushed cookies along the middle seam where the layers meet, mostly adding them to the bottom part of the cake. Then add green coconut “lettuce” and top with “shredded cheese” and red M&M “tomatoes.”

Store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cut it and eat it! Enjoy for a Cinco de Mayo party or honestly just because, and you’ll love it at least as much as you love tacos! Enjoy!

How to Make a Taco Cake | Club Crafted

Classic Yellow Cake + American Buttercream
2017-04-13 14:42:32
This deliciously moist yellow cake with classic American vanilla buttercream is a great birthday cake combo!
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
For the yellow cake
  1. 1/2 cup butter, softened
  2. 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  3. 1 egg + 1 yolks
  4. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  5. 1 1/2 cups flour
  6. 1/2 tbsp baking powder
  7. 1/4 tsp salt
  8. 3/4 cup buttermilk
For the American buttercream frosting
  1. 1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
  2. 3-4 cups powdered sugar
  3. 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (or other flavorings)
For the yellow cake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray three 8-inch round pans with cooking spray, add a cut piece of parchment to the bottoms, spray again and set aside
  2. In one bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, and set aside
  3. In the bowl of your mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until creamy
  4. Add the sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).
  5. Add egg and yolk, beating well between each addition. Then add vanilla and mix until combined
  6. Mix in about 1/3 of the flour mixture and alternate with buttermilk, scraping the bowl as you go, until all ingredients are well-mixed
  7. Distribute the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake for 22-25 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean
  8. Allow the pans to cool on a wire rack, and when cool enough to move, remove the cake from the pans to cool completely before assembling/decorating
For the American vanilla buttercream frosting
  1. Beat the butter with a paddle attachment until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes
  2. Slowly add the powdered sugar in batches, scraping the sides in between
  3. Mix in the vanilla extract or other flavorings and beat until completely smooth
Notes
  1. This is a small recipe designed specifically for the taco cake tutorial, makes one very thick 6 or 8-inch cake
  2. For layer cakes, double the recipe and divide into multiple pans
By Holly Wade
Club Crafted https://www.clubcrafted.com/
TAGS:cakenoveltytaco

You May Also Like...

A Miniature Cake for Club Crafted’s 4th Birthday!

June 17, 2020

A Fondant-Free Knit Beanie Cake for Winter Celebrations

December 23, 2020

Spiced Grapefruit Cocktail

January 10, 2017
1 Comment
  • Luisa
    April 27, 2017

    I love this so much!!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel Comment

Recipe Rating




Previous Post
The Art of Compromise: Our Beach-Inspired Entryway
Next Post
Banana Split Popsicles

Hey there! I'm Holly and I like to make stuff.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

TRY THESE FAVORITES!


RAINBOW PLACEMAT CLUTCH



RAINBOW FRINGE BLANKET



COSMIC BROWNIE FUDGE



IRIDESCENT PARTY HATS


WELL, I was going to post this photo and talk abou WELL, I was going to post this photo and talk about the new pins in the shop...but they SOLD OUT in 12 hours instead πŸ˜­πŸ™ Andrew and I are so overwhelmed with the love of the #FIPWarriors community. Thank you to anyone who's purchased a pin to support Milo's treatment! We're so close to the end now! One more batch of pins coming up soon 😽
What do you mean I have to take down my Christmas What do you mean I have to take down my Christmas decorations?! 😭 Half our neighbors already took down their Christmas lights, so I guess the only goal is to not be the LAST one with lights up. How long do you keep up your decorations?
Maybe next year I'll finally remember to do a holi Maybe next year I'll finally remember to do a holiday card before it's a week til Christmas, so we can actually send one πŸ€ͺ When we get Christmas cards, I always feel like a little kid getting mail again! Do you send a holiday card??⁠
⁠
(Grab this DIY card holder in the blog archives! πŸ‘‰)
More product is coming soon! πŸŽ‰ I'm honestly SHO More product is coming soon! πŸŽ‰ I'm honestly SHOCKED to see Milo's pins sell out so quickly. We made 50 with the expectation that we wouldn't sell very many, but I just put in an order for more inventory! 😭⁠
⁠
This time we'll be selling black and white cat "FIP Warrior" pins to help raise money for Milo's treatment. Stay tuned - a pre-sale is coming! Pins will ship again in early January. In the meantime, there's plenty of other products available in the shop! (Visit my @etsy via the link in my bio)
NEW LAUNCH! 😸 Thank you all so much for your su NEW LAUNCH! 😸 Thank you all so much for your support of Milo while he goes through FIP treatment! I designed a new enamel pin to help us raise the funds to pay for Milo's treatment...THEN we sold almost all of the pins in just in a few hours! I'm so thankful and in shock of the generosity of our FIP community 😭⁠
⁠
There are a few left and more on the way, so you can SHOP NOW on @etsy and here on IG!! If you want a pin and they are sold out, please tag yourself below! Visit the link in my bio to purchase πŸ›β 
⁠
"FIP Warrior" is the name we give to cats fighting FIP and the humans who help them, bringing awareness to the disease and possible treatments. Our Warrior Milo is almost halfway through his treatment and we couldn't be more grateful to see him getting better! Every purchase from my shop helps us to pay for his expensive treatments and is so, so appreciated πŸ™πŸΌ
🍁 I can't beLEAF it's been a whole month since 🍁 I can't beLEAF it's been a whole month since my last post (oops!) but I had to fit in my one obligatory fall photo before I dive straight into Christmas! If you caught my Stories recently, you may have already seen why I've been so absent...⁠
⁠
Last month, our sweet Milo was diagnosed with a disease called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). It's very serious and has required our full attention to give him daily injections that should help him recover. The treatment is 84+ days long and has taken a huge emotional toll on us. You can learn more about Milo's FIP story in my profile Highlights!⁠
⁠
Long story short: I've been too emotionally drained from Milo's treatment, my regular work and the crazy world around us to even think about social media 😣 I truly don't know how you fellow creators do it! Hopefully the cheerfulness of Christmastime gives me the urge to create again! (πŸ“Έ cookies made for a project with @spectrumorganic)
  • ABOUT
  • SERVICES
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG

Copyright Holly Wade Β© 2019 Site Powered by Pix & Hue.