Made from layers of cake that tapered in towards the bottom, this rocket was something of a challenge to stabilise until the three silvery fins were in place. The flames and heavenly bodies were buttercream in various shades of cream, yellow and orange, with text and trim piped on in purple.
The birthday boy thought his cake was out of this world!
Our home, rendered in cake and chocolate!
Though it’s a little hard to see in the photo, the cake’s roof – “slate” made from runouts of white chocolate tinted grey-green – slopes out from the apex to the front wall, and the front steps stand proud of the house as they do in real life. Windows, ivy and trim were piped in place using coloured royal icing.
I’m sure Mrs. Parrish, our resident ghost, was there in spirit!
Bonfire Night is celebrated on November 5th and commemorates the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, an attempt in 1605 to blow up the Houses of Parliament and, with them, King James I. This cake represents the British tradition of lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks on this night each year.
Layers of sponge were sandwiched together to form the basic shape then decorated with buttercream tinted in various shades of red, orange and yellow. Thin chocolate pretzels were pushed into the base as the fire’s fuel and lit candles placed on top to add real flames.
Built from layers of cake and buttercream, this pirate ship floats in a blue sea as sharks circle, ready to devour the poor Lego character about to walk the plank.
Simple, elegant and to the point – the perfect cake for a little girl’s third birthday celebrations.
Made before I had seen the movie – for my about-to-be-three-year-old who had – the completion of the Mater cake relied on many trips to the local toy store to study his main features. (The Cars movies have since become great favourites of mine.)
He’s constructed from layers of sponge covered with chocolate buttercream, with Galaxy Ripple as struts and cola string for a tow-rope. Coloured buttercream rust and paintwork were added, then fondant teeth, eyes and wheels attached.
To say it went down well would be something of an understatement!
A simple ladybird, inspired by the small child’s toy shown to the side; a dome of Victoria sandwich cake covered in bright red buttercream, with a smaller black dome for the head. Black fondant was used for the spots and edge of the wing cases, and yellow smarties were the eyes. Only the antennae – black pipe-cleaners – were not edible.
Two round cakes made to a traditional heavily fruited recipe were joined in the shape of a snowman, covered in marzipan then iced. The features and scarf were fondant kneaded with food colouring; the buttons were prunes – the first pieces to be picked off and eaten by the children!
A simple chocolate cake, piled high with sweeties, covered with a dome of chocolate and decorated with yet more candy!
All Daddy had to do was smash it with the hammer provided!
