If I could go back in time, I would probably have ordered an art palette cake for my birthday every year as a kid. Although, I suppose what’s stopping me from making one this year? Those Pocky and caramel paint brushes are so good, I might even make it sooner. They’d be great on their own as little cookie treats at a place setting or even as cupcake toppers. And if I ever take up painting as a hobby or second career, it’s a safe bet that my alias will be Pocky Paintbrushes.
If you aren’t sculpting on the same level as Michelangelo, don’t fret. This is another one of my low-carve situations. It’s an art cake, so it’s best to not be overly precise anyway. Throw on a caftan and have some fun. 
How to Make an Art Palette Cake
Supplies
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- 8″ round chocolate birthday cake from Erin Bakes Cake (or any size round cake)
- 1/2 batch of your favorite vanilla buttercream from Erin Bakes Cake, about 2 cups
- Icing tip
- Piping bags
- About 1/2 cup each of pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple coating chocolate
- Pocky cookie sticks
- Caramel candies
Shape the Cake
- Cut a thumb-shaped section from the cake. The tip of the “thumb” should stop just before the center of the cake. Cut a small oval just above the opening.
- Use a piping bag that’s been fitted with an icing tip and filled with buttercream to frost the top and sides of the cake. Smooth the buttercream using an icing spatula.
Make the Brushes
- Flatten a chewy caramel candy between your finger tips. Wrap the candy around the exposed end of a Pocky cookie. Shape the caramel to resemble the bristles of a paint brush.
- Melt one of the coating chocolate colors in a small heatproof bowl. Dip the caramel brush into the melted candy. Set aside and allow the chocolate to harden before placing the brush on the cake, about 5 minutes. Repeat to make as many brushes as you like.
Finish the Cake
- Melt the remaining colors of coating chocolate. Fill piping bags or paper cones with each color of melted candy. Pipe puddles on the cake to resemble paint splotches. You can also use a spoon to splatter the melted coating chocolate if you don’t feel like piping.
- Arrange the brushes on the cake.
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