Introduction: Lemon Totoro Cake (レモントトロケーキ)

Step 1: Lemon Cake

400g / 1 and 3/4 Cups Unsalted Butter

400g / 1 and 3/4 Cups Caster Sugar

6 Eggs

400g / 3 and 1/4 Self-Raising Flour

Zest of 2 Lemons

2-3tbsp Lemon Juice

4tbsp Milk

For the cake, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Slowly add in the eggs one at a time. Add in the flour and mix together. Grater the zest of two lemons and squeeze out the the juice and pour into the batter along with the milk. Place two thirds of the batter into a rectangular baking dish and the other third into a circle cake tin. Bake both at 180degrees celsius for 20-30 minutes.

Step 2: Buttercream Frosting

225g / 1 Cup Unsalted Butter

375g / 3 Cups Icing Sugar

2tbsp Milk

2tsp Vanilla Extract

For the buttercream frosting beat the butter and slowly add in the icing sugar. Mix the frosting on a high speed for 5 minutes until pale and fluffy. To finish add in the milk and vanilla and mix again.

Step 3: Frost the Cake

Once the cakes have cooled, use a template to cut out of Totoro's body. Use the white frosting for Totoro's belly and add black food colouring to create a grey colour for the rest of the body. Make a crumb coat and place into a fridge for one hour before adding another coat of the frosting.

Step 4: Decorate

Put Tototro's belly in place and use frosting to fill in any gaps. Using white fondant create eyes and add details white black icing.

Step 5: Enjoy