The Crazy Simple Life

Next month, my niece turns three years old. Like my almost-three-year-old son, she is in LOVE with Elmo. Maybe it's that shaggy red face, maybe it's that shrill baby voice - I don't know makes him so incredibly enticing, but I do know that she will love an Elmo birthday cake.

Now, I'm no Elmo cake rookie. No, this will  be my third version of that tickle-addicted muppet. But, when I started thinking about all the frosting I'd have to tint bright red and all the "fur" I'd have to pipe by hand - just the thought of it was making my carpal tunnel flare up.

I quickly thought up this clever (if I do say so myself) alternative - a fresh-fruit faced Elmo! Faster and healthier.

Here's what you'll need:

A cooled baked Elmo face cake (This cake pan is widely available at craft and party supply stores. Or order it online from The Sesame Street Store.) Your choice of cake flavor, I baked strawberry.

Fresh strawberries, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes.

Whipped cream or other light frosting. I used this recipe: That the Best Frosting I Ever Had (And yes, this frosting is off the hook.)

Here's what you do:

Wash and dry the fruit. Slice the strawberries and peaches thinly.

Coat Elmo's face with the whipped cream, making sure you preserve the contours of his face.

Arrange the fruit! I used the blueberries for his mouth, raspberries and strawberries for the fur, sliced peaches for the nose, and a grape for each eye.

I think my niece will be thrilled with her Elmo cake and the kids will enjoy picking up the fruit with their fingers. The adults should appreciated having lighter, fresher fare for dessert too.