by Gran

Ingredients:

23cm Round Cake
3 tbsp Apricot Jam
Little Cornflour
450g Marzipan
900g Fondant Icing
Food Colourings: Yellow, Brown, Black
1 tbsp Icing Sugar

Method:

1. Cut a large cheese-shaped wedge from the cake. Heat and sieve apricot jam. Brush the wedge of cake with the jam and place on a 25cm square board.
2. On a corn-cloured surface, roll out the marzipan until it is 6mm thick, and large enough to cover the whole cake. Gently press the marzipan over the cake, moulding it to fit
3. Take 175g of the fondant icing and colour it dark brown with food colouring. From this mould a mouse for the top of the cake
4. Colour remaining fondant icing in pale yellow. Roll out to a thickness of about 1cm and big enought to cover the cake. Brush marzipan lightly with water. Smooth the surface and trim the edges.
5. Using a cutter or sharp knife, cut holes in the fondant icing, taking care not to go throught the marzipan. Carefull lift fondant icing pieces off the cake, saving one for the mouse to eat!
6. Mix the icing sugar with a few drops of water, pipe eyes onto the mouse and allow to dry
7. Sit the mouse on the cake and place the cheese between his front paws. With a small paint brush and black food colouring, mark a face and claws and eyes onto the mouse
8. Carefully paint paw prints up the side of the cake to meet the mouse. Allow to dry