Just Say No to Cake

But really, how could anyone say no to these eyes?
I somehow found myself in the position of modeling a cake after the still-elusive Wall-E robot from Disney*Pixar's upcoming movie of the same name. As the deadline loomed, I still wasn't sure how I would put together the dirt-covered, rusty creature out of batter and sugar, but where there's a will, there's a ... cake. A 7-inch-high cake.

In the end, my artsy friend Annie helped with the details -- as in, basically, 95 percent of the cake decorating -- and the bane of my existence -- er, cake -- was finished on time. I would not recommend trying this at home. We opted for no appendages because we just didn't want to deal. Hm. Do you see the resemblance?

...What? You don't?

Shortcut German Chocolate Cake

I like taking shortcuts by using things like boxed cake mix because, well, it's easier that way. I will agree that everything tastes better fresher (when a good cook is involved), so feel free to make the cake part of this recipe from scratch by grabbing the original recipe from allrecipes.

But if you want a quick, impressive cake coated in a delicious frosting -- and only want to buy half the ingredients -- try my take.

Shortcut German Chocolate Cake
(based on allrecipes.com German Chocolate Cake III; contains alterations)

1 box German chocolate cake mix

1 cup white sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 bar good quality milk or dark chocolate

Follow directions for cake mix and bake in two round, 9-inch pans. Cool for 10 minutes and turn out onto plate, parchment paper or rack.

Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and egg yolks in saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until bubbling and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla. Cool until thick enough to spread.

Spread cooled frosting between two layers and on top of cake.*

Melt chocolate in a double boiler and drizzle decoratively over frosted cake.

*Double frosting recipe if you would like to also coat the sides of the cake in frosting.