Circus Animal Cookie Cake

• For the cookie
• ready-to-bake cookie dough2 1⁄2 lbs
• For the buttercream
• unsalted butter↗3⁄4 cup
• powdered sugar↗3 cups
• fresh strawberry puree (5 chopped strawberries)↗3 tablespoons
• strawberry jam↗1 tablespoon
• vanilla extract↗1⁄4 teaspoon

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   roll out the ready to bake cookie dough.

2. 2

   place elephant shaped paper template on the flattened dough.

3. 3

   cut out the shape, remove the extra pieces.

4. 4

   repeat until you have 3 elephant cookies.

5. 5

   bake 370F for 10 minutes.

6. 6

   With a hand mixer or stand mixer, fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter for 2 mins, until smooth & creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beater as necessary.

7. 7

   Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beating until combined.

8. 8

   Add puree, vanilla extract, jam and beat on medium speed until fully combined.

9. 9

   Place in a piping bag.

10. 10

    place about 5 chopped strawberries in a food processor and blend until pureed.

11. 11

    placed one baked elephant cookie down.

12. 12

    pipe small circular shapes of strawberry buttercream until the cookie is covered; repeat to the next two cookies.

13. 13

    once the buttercream layers are added, stack the cookies.

14. 14

    sprinkle on candy-coated chocolates on top.