How to Make a Hazel Birthday Cake

A fun Acorn-Putters baking activity for families!

Want to make a birthday cake that looks just like Hazel, our cheerful squirrel from the Snugly Thicket? This guide will show you how to create Hazel’s face using simple decorating steps that work for beginners and kids who want to help.

Perfect for:

• Birthday parties
• Acorn-Putters watch parties
• Classroom celebrations
• Baking activities with kids

🍰 What You’ll Need

Cake & Frosting

• One round cake (8″ or 9″)
• Buttercream frosting (store-bought or homemade)
• Food coloring:
  • Light brown / tan (Hazel’s fur)
  • Darker brown (ears, outline, tail option)
  • Black (eyes, nose, mouth outlines)
  • White (eyes, teeth, highlights)
  • Optional: A little pink (cheeks)

Decorating Supplies

• Piping bags
• Round piping tips (small for outlines, medium for eyes & details)
• Spatula or butter knife
• Small bowls for mixing colors
• Toothpicks (for sketching shapes)
• A printed picture of Hazel as a reference

🎨 Step-by-Step Decorating Instructions

1. Prepare Hazel’s Base Color

Mix a bowl of light tan frosting.
This will be Hazel’s fur color.

Frost the entire cake smoothly with this color.

Tip: Use a warm spatula (dip in warm water, wipe dry) for a silky, cartoon-smooth finish.

2. Lightly Sketch Hazel’s Face

With a toothpick, gently draw Hazel’s main features onto the frosting:

• Big oval eyes
• Rounded cheeks
• Small oval nose
• Smile shape
• Hair tuft
• Ear shapes on top

This doesn’t need to be perfect — frosting will cover it!

3. Frost the Eyes

Fill two small bowls with:

• White frosting
• Black frosting

Pipe Hazel’s large white eye circles.
Add black frosting for:

• Pupils
• Eyelashes (three small flicks)
• Eyebrows

Optional: Add a tiny white dot in each pupil for that friendly sparkle.

4. Add Hazel’s Ears and Cheeks

Use darker brown frosting for inside the ears and the hair tuft.

Use light tan for cheeks, leaving a soft edge so they blend into the face.

Optional: Add a tiny pink swirl on the cheeks.

5. Add the Nose and Smile

Using black frosting, pipe:

• A small rounded nose
• Hazel’s curved smile
• A tiny white tooth if you want it cute & cartoony

6. Add Final Details

Here’s what brings Hazel to life:

• Outline the face gently with dark brown
• Add small fur strokes (optional)
• Add a little lighter frosting to highlight the cheeks
• Add ear outlines
• For extra fun: pipe her yellow dress collar at the bottom of the cake

🧁 Optional: Add Hazel’s Body

If you’re up for even more, you can make Hazel’s entire body on the cake, and have it wrap down the side of the cake for a 3-D effect.

Kids LOVE this option!