It is so fitting that I am posting a knitted hat cake this week because it is super cold outside. Yes… I mean temperature below freezing. Unlike this unpredictable weather, the knit hat cake is an easy cake to make and decorate. Plus, no carving necessary.

If you are like me, you have a bunch of baking pans and gears that are only used every once in a while. I used the Wilton doll pan because, like doll cakes; however, I never used it (gasp). Instead, I carved the doll cakes I made (gasp). Why… because there’s just something so therapeutic about carving cakes. However, if you are not comfortable doing that, this is a great option. Also, it’s perfect if you’re not great with fondant, the mold does all the hard work.

What do you need to make the Knitted Hat Cake?

I know sometimes when a cake decorator says a cake is easy to a beginner, they usually get the side-eye. But, you know I wouldn’t steer you wrong, right? The only difficulty here is making enough strings for the pom-pom.

I suggest making the cake and buttercream or ganache ahead of time before you get ready to decorate the cake. Can you do this all in one day? Sure, you can. It’s just easier this way.

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Materials:

• Wilton Doll Pan
• Marvelous mold cable knit simpress silicone mold
• one 8-inch recipe or one boxed cake mix (2x recipe or box for a taller cake)
• Serrated knife
• Offset spatula
• Flexible cake smoother (I use the ones from Innovative Sugar Works) or acetate.
• Fondant (I used white, but you can use any color).
• Clay extruder
• Fondant smoother (optional)
• Ganache or buttercream (choose from any of these recipes)

Steps for Making the Knit Hat Cake

• Bake the cake using the Wilton doll pan a day before.
• Split the cake into three layers. Use toothpicks to make sure you place the layers back in line.

• Fill each layer with either buttercream or ganache and crumb coat and chill.

• Add the final coat of buttercream or ganache and place it into the refrigerator.
• Roll out the fondant and place the silicone mold on top.  Press with your hands or use the rolling pin.
• Turn the mold over and push the edges in so that they can fit together seamlessly.  Remove from the mold, then cover with plastic and place in the refrigerator.
• Add the fondant one piece at a time.  Push the seams together so that you cannot see the seam. When you get to the top squish the fondant together and smooth it out.

• Then cut out a circle and add to the top of the cake.  This is where the pom-pom is going to be.
• Add a strip of fondant around the hat to make the folded brim.  In hindsight, I should have made the brim larger, but it was too late to change it.

How to make the Pom-Pom

This section of the cake takes up the most time, but it is still the best way to get the look.  Of course, if you don’t have a clay extruder you can use a ball of fondant and snip it with a knife (which will make your life easier).

• Place some fondant sausage into the clay extruder and use the piece with multiple holes to make strings.
• You will need to make a lot of strings. If you do, cover with plastic so that it doesn’t dry out.
• Cut into small pieces, then squish the bottom together and add to the cake.

Add the strings to the outside and then add until the pom-pom is full.