Voodoo Top Hat Cake

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Baked Goods

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12 people

4 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
Nonstick cooking spray
¾ cup butter, softened
6 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 egg whites
One 24-ounce package black fondant
One 4-ounce package white fondant
One 4-ounce package red fondant
1 purple feather

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Prepare the cake.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla; mix on low to combine.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Slowly add the dry mix to the liquids, then beat on medium until smooth.
Spray three 6-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
Divide the batter evenly among the pans.
(If necessary to bake cakes in batches, refrigerate batter until ready to fill pans.)
Bake until a knife inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow cakes to rest, about 10 minutes.
Turn out onto a wire rack to cool before frosting, about 2 hours.
Prepare the frosting.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine all ingredients and beat on medium speed until thoroughly combined, about 3 minutes.
Decorate the cake.
Place one cake on a black serving platter, then apply a generous layer of buttercream.
Repeat with two remaining cakes.
When all three are in place, frost cake with buttercream.
Prepare the fondant.
Knead a softball-size amount of black fondant until pliable.
Roll into a 16-inch circle, then center on top of the cake and drape.
Gently stretch fondant to cover the entire cake.
Knead a golf-ball-size amount of white fondant until pliable.
Roll into a 6-inch circle, then cut out a skull-and-crossbones pattern.
Use a small amount of frosting to attach the shape to the center of the cake.
Knead a tennis-ball-size amount of red fondant until pliable.
Roll to a 2-by-18-inch band, then attach to hat with a small amount of frosting.
Tuck the purple feather into the hatband.