This pin by the very talented Sandra Bernardo of Migalha Doce inspired my woodland cake. I recognized the toys immediately from the Schleich toy rack at Fleet Farm! I snatched up the buck, bear and fox plus a few others I couldn't resist. Keep an eye on whisk + wander for more woodland animal cakes and bakes! This won't be my last.

Why I love this woodland cake

I'm loving the fall craftiness of this woodland cake project. I love a day when I can toss on my flannel jacket and tromp around the woods looking for the perfect twigs for a cake topper. Once my nose starts to get drippy and my fingers a little chilled, I can come in to a warm house that smells like Madeira cake. Then… set up in my little hobby workshop with a hot glue gun and some craft supplies. Ultimately pulling off a project that brings the autumn woodland vibe indoors… to the dining room table. I had a blast making this woodland cake. I hope it inspires you to try one of your own!

Tips, techniques and takeaways

Although I didn't know it when I started, Madeira was the perfect choice for this woodland cake. Madeira cake layers tend to rise in an unpredictable fashion, yielding an uneven top that normally gets sliced off. In this case, by leaving the top layer untouched, I had a hilly forest floor to work with, without any fussy frosting techniques. Just a few dabs to hold my woodland friends in place. I disguised the buttercream with Matcha Moss (see recipe below) and added Valrhona Cacao Nibs to give the illusion of rocky soil. A few sprigs of rosemary make perfect pine trees.

I used leftover fabric scraps cut in diamonds and folded over a string of twine to make an easy rustic pennant. When tied to two delicate twigs it's the easiest woodsy cake topper ever!