Mini Cactus Brownie Cakes

I made these adorable mini cactus brownie cakes for a party.  Everyone was impressed!  Some people even thought they were real plants! O(∩_∩)O~

I made four different cactus plants.  Maybe next time I can try more other plants.

Ingredients:

For the cactus plants：

1/2 package of fondant
gel food coloring (green, brown, purple, pink and yellow)
fondant adhesive

For the pots：

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 to 1/2 cup coco powder
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cut into small cubes
4 to 5 tablespoons cold water

24 mini brownies
Oreo cookies
chocolate ganache

Directions：

I make cactus plants ahead of time.  Divide the fondant into three parts.  Take two parts and add green food coloring.

Add little by little until you get the color you like.  Don’t add too much at one time.  It is hard to fix it if the color is too dark.

I also add some brown and purple colors to make them look more real.

With small cookie/fondant cutters, cut the fondant into different shapes and then make them into a complete plant.

I add a little more brown coloring to make some of them darker.

I also make some pink, yellow and white flowers.

After the plants are done, I move on to the pots.

Preheat the oven to 400F/ 204C

Add flour, coco powder, butter and salt to a food processor.

Chop them together while adding cold water from the top.

With a large rolling pin, roll the dough into a large thin flat.  Cut into 24 small round pieces. 

Flip a mini cupcake pan over.   Place one dough piece on each cupcake mold.  Smooth them out with a spoon or hand.   

With a fork, poke each of them a couple times on the bottom so that they will not pop up during baking process.

When I take the following pictures, I haven’t poked them yet.  Don’t be mistaken that it can be skipped.

Bake in the oven for 12 to 14 minutes.

Allow them to sit for a couple minutes before unmold them.

Now I have 24 dark “clay” pots.

With the same baking mold, I bake 24 mini brownies.

Transfer the brownies to the pots.   Use a sharp knife to even brownie tops.

Spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons chocolate ganache over each pot

Add Oreo cookies to a food processor, chop Oreo cookies into fine “dirt”

Sprinkle the pot with Oreo “dirt”

Don’t they look like really flower pots?

Top with cactus plants.

Now you have a mini cactus garden in a box!

Ok, time to take them out to fool some friends! O(∩_∩)O~