Watch how to make a giant chocolate flower cake

Do you need to take a plain cake from drab to fab without heating up the oven? This adorable cake decorating trick is easy and eye-catching. You'll need some basic kitchen tools and colored frosting, and you'll be on your way to the prettiest cake at the party. Let's thank Erin Gardner, from Erin Bakes, for the beautiful design and wonderful tutorial.

Check out the directions below, and make sure to watch Erin's video at the end if you get stuck!

Giant chocolate flower cake Preparation time: 30 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Serves: Depends on the size of your cake

Ingredients
Buttercream iced cake
A little extra buttercream frosting
White chocolate or candy melts.
Sixlets
Small icing spatula
Piping bag
Parchment paper
Small bowls or round plastic containers
Black marker
Scissors
Tape

Directions
1. Draw different-sized triangles on your parchment paper with black marker. (This will help with creating your petals.) You'll need three sets at 2, 3 and 4 inches long. For a smaller cake, just use smaller petals. Cut out your triangles, leaving about a 1/2 inch around each. You can make more as needed.

2. Melt your chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. If you're using just plain white chocolate, you'll need to dye it with food coloring to get the hue you're looking for.

3. Facing the marker side down (you'll still see the outline), use a spatula to spread melted chocolate onto your triangle shape. Start at the tip and work down. When you reach the base (the fat part of your triangle), make the edges a bit uneven for a more natural look.

4. While the frosting is still wet, place the parchment paper and petal into a small bowl (or on the edge of a pan) and tape the paper in place to dry. Repeat the previous steps with the rest of your petals.

5. After the petals have hardened, gently remove the petals from the parchment paper. Place the largest petals in a circle around the cake.

6. Use buttercream frosting in a piping bag to attach another layer of petals. You can layer them any way you want. Continue until you have made your flower as fluffy and pretty as you like it.

7. Use Sixlet candies (or other edible beads) as the center of your flower. If you want to get fancy, you can add a few extra candies to the edges of your cake.

Pro tip: Make a few extra petals just in case you break one or two while you're putting the cake together!