If you're looking for a stunning cake and don't want to purchase specialty pans and dolls, then this is your cake.
Use your preferred boxed cake mix and mix according to directions.
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Pour the cake batter into a greased/sprayed large glass/Pyrex bowl that has a dome shape to it. I used a glass 2 quart measuring bowl (Pampered Chef).
Bake according to package directions.
Allow cake to cool in the bowl.
Once cool, invert onto the the plate that you'll be serving the cake on. (I used a white serving plate) Use a serrated knife to shape the cake into a skirt shape.
Find or borrow a spare Barbie doll (or something similar) and remove her legs. Use a scrap of fabric to create the bodice of the dress. I used Fabri-Tac to hold everything together. Style hair into desired fashion.
Spread a very thin layer of icing over entire cake.
Use rolled white fondant for the skirt. (I used Wilton, 1 pound box). Roll the fondant into a thin layer that can be draped over the cake. Trim excess and create the folds of skirt with fondant.
Gently press doll into the top of the cake.
Using royal icing, decorate around the waist of doll, the skirt and around the cake plate, if desired.
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This can be made the night before the party and stored in the fridge until ready to serve.
For my daughter's first birthday, I decorated her highchair with bright pink velour fabric and I bought some pink "tutu" fabric and ribbon and layered the fabric to look like a princess's throne. Her birthday was decorated as Strawberry Shortcake Princess. The whole party was so cute.