Pull-apart cakes are a single cake shape made from cupcakes arranged in the chosen shape and iced as a single image. For a music, rock star or pop star themed birthday party or special event, make a guitar pull-apart cake for an easy-to-serve alternative to a traditional cake. Decorate the cake in colors that coordinate the party’s color scheme and add licorice or icing decorations.

Prepare two store-bought cake mixes and pour the batter into 48 paper cupcake cups in cupcake baking pans. Bake the cake according to the cake mix instructions and then allow the cupcakes to cool for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature.

Remove the cupcakes from the pan and arrange the cupcakes on a plastic cake tray in the shape of a guitar. Use rows of approximately 5 cupcakes for the widest part of the body of the guitar and then make a long, single line of cupcakes to make the neck and the headstock. For guidance when arranging the cupcakes, cut out a picture of a guitar and use it to help arrange the cupcakes into a realistic shape.

Cover the entire arrangement of cupcakes with a thick layer of fluffy icing. Smooth out the icing with an icing spatula.

Roll out a sheet of fondant to a thickness of approximately 1/4 inch. Place the fondant sheet on top of the cake and cut out the shape with a sharp knife or pastry wheel. Roll out another sheet of fondant in a different color and cut out a long rectangular shape to make the guitar’s fingerboard.

Use butter cream icing and a pastry bag with a round icing tip to make the strings on the fingerboard and tuning pegs of the guitar. Alternately, use small pieces of black licorice and insert them on the sides of the headstock to make the tuning pegs.