Kitty litter cake is the April Fools’ Day prank your kids will love

Whether you’re looking for a fun dessert for your child’s class or a great office prank, this dessert, disguised as a kitty litter box, is sure to be a big hit for April Fools’ Day.

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This giant cake looks so much like a used kitty litter box, you might have to take the first bite to prove it’s dessert.

Start by baking 2 boxes of cake mix according to the package directions. I really like using Betty Crocker’s SuperMoist Butter Pecan because it’s the perfect sandy color.

Whip up the 2 boxes of instant pudding according to package directions, and refrigerate until soft set.

While the cakes and pudding are cooling and chilling, it’s time to chop your cookies in a food processor.

Related story Martha Stewart Put a New Spin on Pineapple Upside Down Cake & Calls the Recipe 'Foolproof'

You want to process them to coarse crumbs so they look like kitty litter sand. I find it easiest to get the right consistency by doing 1/3 of the package at a time.

Pull out about 1/2 cup of the crumbs, and mix them in a small bowl with several drops of green gel food coloring. These crumbs will be the “crystals” in the kitty litter.

Once your cakes are cool enough to touch, crumble them up into a very large bowl.

Mix in 1/2 the cookie crumbs that aren’t colored green and enough pudding to make the cake moist but not wet. I used about 3/4 of the pudding.

Spread the cake mixture into a new, clean kitty litter box. If the box is too big, you can create a platform with cardboard and aluminum foil to help raise the “litter” level.

Place 10 Tootsie Rolls on a plate, and microwave about 20 seconds, until soft and pliable. Stretch them, and smooth out the blunt ends.

Place the Tootsie Roll “droppings” all over the cake, poking some ends down.

Sprinkle the uncolored cookie crumbs and then the cookie crumbs with green spots all over the cake.

You can use a new, clean kitty litter scoop to serve the cake. Just be warned, this cake looks so realistic you might want to keep your cat away!

Kitty litter cake recipe

This kitty litter cake looks shockingly real and is incredibly easy to make. If you don’t have a food processor, you can place the cookies in a zip-top bag and pulverize them with a rolling pin. You can also swap out cake flavors, but you want to go for a sand color, like a chocolate mix with a white cake mix.

Serves 20

Prep time: 30 minutes | Bake time: 30 minutes | Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients and supplies:

• 2 boxes Betty Crocker SuperMoist Butter Pecan cake mix
• 6 eggs
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 (3.5 ounce) boxes instant vanilla pudding
• 4 cups cold milk
• 1 (12 ounce) package vanilla sandwich cookies
• Green gel food coloring
• 1 new kitty litter pan
• 10 Tootsie Rolls
• 1 new kitty litter scoop

Directions:

1. Bake the cakes (with the eggs, oil and water) according to the package directions.
2. Whip up the 2 boxes of instant pudding (with the milk) according to the package directions, and refrigerate until soft set.
3. While the cakes and pudding are cooling and chilling, chop the cookies in a food processor (this is easiest to do in 3 batches) until they are coarse crumbs.
4. Pull out about 1/2 cup of the crumbs, and mix them in a small bowl with several drops of green gel food coloring. These crumbs will be the “crystals” in the kitty litter.
5. Once your cakes are cool enough to touch, crumble them up into a very large bowl.
6. Mix in 1/2 the cookie crumbs that aren’t colored green and enough pudding to make the cake moist but not wet (I used about 3/4 of the pudding).
7. Spread the cake mixture into a new, clean kitty litter box. If the box is really big, you can create a platform with cardboard and aluminum foil to help raise the “litter” level.
8. Place the Tootsie Rolls on a plate, and microwave about 20 seconds, until soft and pliable. Stretch them, and smooth out the blunt ends.
9. Place the Tootsie Roll “droppings” all over the cake, poking some ends down into the cake.
10. Sprinkle the uncolored cookie crumbs and then the cookie crumbs with green spots all over the cake.
11. Use a new, clean kitty litter scoop to serve the cake.

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