3d Dinosaur Birthday Cake

Two nine-inch round cakes, frosting, decorations, and an unquenchable thirst for adventure are all you need.

Step 1 The Raw Materials

• Two nine-inch round cakes. Cakes made from scratch will be denser and stronger than a cake mix, but you love the Duncan Hines don't you -- just be forewarned that the time you save using a mix will be spent cursing during the frosting crumb coat.
• Two batches of frosting. We did a butter cream with 50/50 butter/vegetable shortening. Die one batch green. Keep 1/2 of the second batch white and die 1/2 blue.
• Rolled fondant. We don't know what this stuff is, but we were darn sure we weren't going to make it. Found some multi-colored fondant at Michael's, a big box craft store. Buy the non-stick mini rolling pin while you are at it.
• Decorations: cinnamon red hot candies for the eyes, candy corn for the tail spikes, chocolate chips for toenails, and toasted coconut for the prehistoric grass.
• One cardboard cake board, half-sheet size.
• Frosting pipe tips and bags. Use a star tip. Yes, this makes a difference, so don't skimp here. Really.
• A partner. Not required, but could speed things up during frosting or at least help pass the time.

Comments

[canida]

Huge thanks to stwbrry for sharing her templates!
Click here and here to access them directly for download.

[slugafc]

Can anyone offer advice on the neck/head?? The head on my "practice" cake crumbled (I made a white cake that was near pound cake density from scratch). What is the extra head piece in the template used for? Also how far in advance should I make the fondant spikes? I want them to be hard enough to use. My son's first birthday party is next weekend!! Thanks!

[linjim830]

Can someone tell me where to get the brown shredded coconut? Also how to you hold the body parts together. Thanks so much!

[msimon3]

- toast the shredded coconut on a sheet pan in the oven at 275F until brown - toothpicks!

[msimon3]

Frost the joints of the head pieces to make them sticky, insert a few toothpicks into the top of the neck, and place the head on top. The fondant spikes can made and left out in the air the day before to make them firm. If you live in a hot or humid climate, you may want to dry the fondant on a sheet pan in the oven at a low temp. like 125-150F.

[linjim830]

Thank you!

[cpope929]

The instructions worked great, the cake was a hit!!! Thanks so much!

[armywife218]

This cake turned out awesome. I made mine with 2 - 12 inch cakes. Thanks for the great step by step instructions. The only thing that was difficult was the head. The extra head base didn't work very well. I ended up putting a doul throught the head into the next to hold seemed to work well. I'm not sure how other people managed to use only toothpicks my cake was to dence for those little things.
I totally recommend using this instructable. Turned out great!!!!!

[bjababy]

I saw this cake forever and ever ago and fell in love so i decided to try and make it, well the first time was a fail because i used a regular boxed cake mix, my bad lol, the second time was super successful and i have gotten so many compliments from it, its ridiculous! I traced the bottom of the pan i was using because i chose and 8 1/2 inch pan ( cause its what i had available) and loosely sketched the pattern and tweaked it until it looked just about right, which really wasn't anywhere near as hard as i thought it would be once i got started, i absolutely loved this cake, kinda time consuming but i believe if everything is prepared before you start cutting it shouldn't take anywhere near as long, i made my spikes after the cake was iced and everything so they were flimsy. I know now to make them ahead of time but great instructable and easy to follow :) Oh and i also flipped the tail around because i cut my cake out on the top side instead of the bottom and didn't want as much trouble icing :)

[harrisonc33]

hi here is m little lads birthday next month so i would love he template and an up to date info on the cake. all our efforts look brilliant i'll and keep up he standard.

kind regards harry.

[e-mail]

[Joyousbaker]

I used toblerone chocolate pieces for my dinosaur scales! Awesome!

[stwbrry]

YAY we did it!!! I KEPT MY TEMPLATE. It only took 2 tries to get it right, not too hard, but I can get a copy out to anyone who might want. [e-mail] GREAT INSTRUCTABLE, THANKS!!!!

[cwisener-james]

I would like a copy of the dinosaur cake template please email [e-mail],, thanks so much

[monitoro]

could you please send me a copy of the 3d dinosaur template
thank u thanku

[SnackFairy]

I tried to download your template but it keeps printing too large for my 8.5 x 11 paper no matter which size I down load.....I aint going to email you for the template I hope you don't mind.

[julesdaniel]

i was wondering if you could send me a copy of the dinosaur template, the cake looks amazing. My email is [e-mail]

[peggysue415]

If you still have a copy of the template I would like a copy. Also, if you made the cake did you have any problems with the head staying attached? Thanks [e-mail]

[msimon3]

Some have mentioned a broken or droopy head, but I think it depends on the cake you use. We reinforced the head just to be sure it would not come apart during transport. To reinforce the head, try sticking 2-3 toothpicks from the top of the head down into the neck, then carefully remove the toothpicks as you serve the cake.

[Nancita]

Hi, My little boy will be 3 years old this saturday, could you please share with me your template, i'll apreciate it!!! Nancy my email [e-mail]

[Loyce]

I would appreciate a copy of the template if you still have it. I am attempting the cake this weekend! Thank you so much! [e-mail]

[Ahda09]

can i have a copy please!

[emmagardner]

Hi I'm looking to make this cake. Can you please send me a copy of the template you used if you still have it. that would be great thanks! [e-mail]

[janetjooste]

Thank you for this lovely instructable. Made this cake for my sons 4rth Birthday, and it was enjoyed by all!

[jgrove1]

Thanks for these instructions. I made this for my (28 year old!) boyfriend and it turned out great, I think!

I couldn't be bothered with the star-tip icing so just roughly iced with loads of butter-cream. The spines were Fry's chocolate turkish delight and iced as well. The 'dirt' is the rest of the cake broken up. Thanks again!

[sosbornva]

One more cake to share. My 2 year old is going to LOVE this tomorrow...

[mmansfield koren]

'wilton.com has a great and easy recipe to make your own marshmallow fondant. Literally took me 5 mins!!!! I am going to try this cake for my son's 5th b-day. Thanks for sharing!

[fokusco]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=162606733769697&set=a.162603177103386.33740.100000611156498

Here is a link to mine... Not quite as nice as the authors but still not a bad cake for being myfirst one. I opted to use cherry preserves to stick the parts together. Also used chocolate cake.

[sroos]

This is the result of my cake ... I realized that the 'base' of the head has to be larger because my head was narrow and 'fell', even insured by large sticks ... I also had a little problem with the cream, because my form was more cake and 1 pint of cream was not enough, just before finalizing the decor and I used the cream blue-green to finish covering the cake ... you would do 'again' would correct these points, then there is the hint ...

[sroos]

forgot to mention, my dinosaur was in the 'ice age' because I was white coconut ... I made the 'scales' EVA beaded ... gave perfect.

But my son was 'refused' to eating your dinosaur buddy... :D

[kpcoller]

is it possible to make this cake bigger just by using a larger cake pan? Will it become unstable if made bigger. Thanks Kate

[Chriscrucified]

Here is what my wife did! http://bit.ly/bBKwu2 It was a great day and a beautiful cake. Thanks for the directions.

[blarsen06]

I was inspired to modify this idea for my son's birthday... I was pretty happy with the result. Thanks!

[kazzamacd]

Hi

Thanks so much for this guide. I would never have tried without it. I think it came out well as Ive only ever made 1 cake before (SPongebob!). Ive gone cake mad now!

[frenzy]

This posting has won today's "I Made It" Challenge. For winning you will receive a 3 month pro membership!

Thanks for using instructables!

http://www.instructables.com/community/I-Made-It-Challenge-Is-Back-Win-A-Pro-Membership/

[moeed]

The above thought is smart and doesn’t require any further addition. It’s perfect thought from my side. ================================= David Auto Parts Thai

[Treasure Tabby]

That's really dino-mite! Would really be great template for an iguana too. :)

[RichardBronosky]

DO NOT USE TOOTHPICKS IN A CHILD'S CAKE! I know we all think, "I would never forget to..." I was at a party where the person who baked the cake was dealing with an injured child while others chose to serve the cake. Not a fun day for anyone! If you need to add structure to a cake, use whole bamboo skewers. They will provide more structure, and are impossible to serve accidentally because of their size. Other than that, great 'ible. I'll be making this.

[triciab1212]

so cute!!!

[Wardy125]

This is most amazing cake i've ever seen! :D It's so cool and cute i want one for my birthday! :P

[sagearbor]

I assuming the cool green coat effect basically came down to a lot of piping that was well done. Ill try sometime but dont doubt the dinasour skin will be much less detailed due to my laziness. How long do you guys spend on the piping?