Two days in advance, make “5” cake topper. Print out “5” pattern. Using fondant roller with purple guide rings, roll out white fondant to 1/8 in. thickness. Using pattern, cut out “5” in fondant. Let dry on cornstarch-dusted board until dry, about 8 to 10 hours.

One day in advance, make animal stencils. Print out animal patterns. Place acetate sheet over pattern; tape down to secure. Using precision knife, cut out the geometric shapes. Repeat with all animal patterns.

Bake and cool cakes. Bake and cool seven 6 in. layer cakes and three 8 in. layer cakes.

• Elephant Cake: Level, fill and stack three 6 in. layers for a 6 in. high cake.
• Giraffe Cake: Level, fill and stack four 6 in. layers for an 8 in. high cake. At 4 in. mark, insert dowel rods and cake board, cut to fit.
• Lion Cake: Level fill and stack three 8 in. layers for 6 in. high cake. Cut off back 2 in. of lion cake so cake is 6 in. deep.

Ice cakes. Cut cake boards to fit each cake. Ice cakes smooth on cake boards. Let icing crust.

Tint icing. Tint ¼ cup icing each yellow, blue and green using color combinations provided. Tint ¼ cup icing black. Reserve for later step.

*Combine Lemon Yellow and Leaf Green icing colors to get yellow color shown. Combine Sky Blue and Lemon Yellow icing colors to get blue color shown. Combine Leaf Green and Sky Blue icing colors to get green color shown.

Stencil animals on cake. Hold stencil to cake. Using angled spatula, spread thin layer of tinted icing over stencil. Carefully remove stencil. Repeat with other cakes.

Prepare decorating bag with tip 2 and reserved black icing. Pipe eyes on giraffe, elephant and lion. Add mouth to lion.

Make fondant borders. Using fondant roller with pink guide rings, roll out white fondant to 1/16 in. thickness. Cut fondant in the following measurements:

• (14) 3/8 in. wide x 8 in. long strips
• (40) 3/8 in. wide x 6 in long strips

Using white icing, attach strips to sides and edges of cakes of the same length.

Stack cakes. Add dowel rods to lion cake where elephant cake will sit. Place elephant cake with cake board on top of lion cake. Place giraffe cake next to stacked cakes.

Insert cake topper. Melt Candy Melts candy following package instructions. Using melted candy, attach lollipop stick to back of fondant “5” cake topper. Let chill until set, about 5 to 10 minutes. Insert into top of giraffe cake.

Makes 24 servings.