Need to make birthday cake that looks like a doll........

[blossomsmine]

......you know, one of those ones with a doll stuck in the top of the cake. I presume i use a pudding basin for the cake but anyone got any tips or a recipe?
Thanks

use a pudding basin with a normal sponge recipie

make sure its well greased

i'D USE QUITE A FIRM CAKE LIKE A MADERIA (sorry)

I used a pudding basin & cut a whole in it, the iced it before putting the doll in - but I wrapped the doll in icing first - both to get the bodice right & to fix it firmly in the cake

Then I put lots of flowers at the waist but you could use ribbon to hide the join & I put lots of flowers at the base to hide the join between the icing & the board

Oh thanks for all your help Did your doll already have clothes on? I saw dolls in the cake shop which have a pointy bit to stick in the cake but they are naked on the top part!!! Not sure if i am up to icing a top part of the dress!! Did you use butter icing for the skirt?
I suppose you have to use double a normal cake recipe fill the basin? Sorry for all the questions!

You can get a tin in the shape of the skirt which is the easiest way (I made one last week). Tin cost about £11 and was very easy but looked good. Will post pic on my profile.

I used a packet mix as I was panicking it would go wrong to be honest which was a bit of a disaster as I overcooked it. However, the overall effect worked .

I used an ordinary doll

I made a bodice out of icing

here is a good link cake

DH took one barbie apart and I wriggled the top half into the cake and then iced it firmly into place (wrap the barbie in cling film so she doesnt get covered in icing)

Ok - this is from a brilliant book of cake cheats 30 minute kids cakes by Sara Lewis.

Use 2 thin round victoria shop bought sponges and stack them (stick together with jam) Then stick on a ring doughnut. Put your bratz or barbie doll through this ring and into cake.

Now take fondant icing and colour to desired shade. Then cover to make skirt and make a bodice.

I made this with a bratz doll it was beautiful.

Thoroughly recommend this book - have made a tank, construction site, football pitch and this doll - all in less than 1/2 hr each. Brilliant!

I have one of the tins in the shape of a skirt with a doll torso on a spike. The first time I used it I made a moist choc cake and it fell to pieces. I would go for madeira or Nigellas buttermilk birthday cake from domestic goddess. I use ready made fondant icing and cut out a bodice. Just roll out a big circle for the skirt and drape it over.

A friend did one of these and used very fluffy butter icing, and tons of it. Worked really well.

Fantastic ideas! Thank you so much I have got to do this in the next couple of days, wish me luck lol!