Baking a Lamb Cake

[Cat Lover]

Looking for some advice here ...

My mother has an old cast-iron 2-piece cake mold, in the form of a lamb. It makes a really nice cake, in the form of a resting lamb. The usual decoration is white icing with coconut shavings to simulate the wool.

Well, I'd like to get my own pan. I note that they are also available in stamped steel, stamped aluminum, and cast aluminum - in addition to cast iron. Does anyone have any experience with these other molds? I'm especially wondering how well the cast aluminum ones work.

Next ... for decorative effects, has anyone tried to color the coconut? Will food coloring work? I ask because I'd like to make the cake(s) resemble different cats and dogs for the next Humane Society get-together. I figure if I could air-spray different effects, the cakes would be a real hit!

[Cat Lover]

Though no one chimed in, I thought that just maybe some were curious about this project ....

I got an aluminum mold. Used with a cooking 'spray,' the cakes cood evenly and separated from the mold almost eagerly. Bake with the 'nose down.' Bake time is about 45 min. at 350F.

I used an ordinary white cake mix, completely filling the bottom mold half.

Coconut dyes quite well with powdered food coloring- put in a bag and shake!

The finished cakes don't stand all that well. Bake two and place them back-to-back. You also want to reinforce the neck and ears with some toothpicks.

Apply icing with your finger. You almost have to apply it in layers- warm second coat applied to a chilled first coat.

Colored coconut can only make the most general of patterns. I'll have to experiment with an airbrush for things like stripes.

I made an orange tabby and a calico. I do not yet have the ability to make black or gray colors.

[KarenBC]

Pictures would sure be great!

[cuppajoe]

My mom used to make lamb cakes at Easter...they were cool looking...she did pretty much how you stated to do...hers was a iron mold ...she tried a thick aluminum one but went back to the iron mold. I miss them cakes...she also made sugar eggs that were hollowed out to look into like a viewer...she made scenes in the things....aint seen any since.