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This spooky Halloween cake may look diabolical but I can assure you, it tasted heavenly. The entire display is made of various sugar art techniques and recipes or other food products and is completely edible except for a couple of items used for supports and of course, the lighting. It sits on a custom wooden base that measures 18"x18" and the witch measures about 12" tall. The cauldron is chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream icing and the tree trunk is yellow cake with maple buttercream icing.
Let me start by saying, I'm not a professional pastry chef, nor have I had any culinary training. I just happen to love sugar art as a hobby! Because I like to try to do things I haven't seen before (or try to improve upon what I've seen), I learn through trial and error. This cake was no exception! I'll share with you each component of the project and what I think would work better next time. I've included as many details as I possibly can for those who are interested in learning more about the actual sculpting of the witch and execution of the construction process for this cake. I hope that it helps.
That said, this certainly isn't a project for a beginner. You'll need to have worked with fondant and gum paste and of course, be able to bake a cake. ;) If you need help learning to make and/or work with fondant, I have a link to my blog in my profile. In addition, you'll have to be comfortable with using power tools to build the base, else, just have someone build it for you. I did all of the work myself, with the exception of the actual cake assembly. You'll definitely need an extra set of hands for the last steps.
I am entering this cake into the DIY Halloween Contest, so if you like it, your vote is appreciated ;)
Let me start by saying, I'm not a professional pastry chef, nor have I had any culinary training. I just happen to love sugar art as a hobby! Because I like to try to do things I haven't seen before (or try to improve upon what I've seen), I learn through trial and error. This cake was no exception! I'll share with you each component of the project and what I think would work better next time. I've included as many details as I possibly can for those who are interested in learning more about the actual sculpting of the witch and execution of the construction process for this cake. I hope that it helps.
That said, this certainly isn't a project for a beginner. You'll need to have worked with fondant and gum paste and of course, be able to bake a cake. ;) If you need help learning to make and/or work with fondant, I have a link to my blog in my profile. In addition, you'll have to be comfortable with using power tools to build the base, else, just have someone build it for you. I did all of the work myself, with the exception of the actual cake assembly. You'll definitely need an extra set of hands for the last steps.
I am entering this cake into the DIY Halloween Contest, so if you like it, your vote is appreciated ;)
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Signing UpStep 1Building the Cake Board Base
First off, have a well thought out plan. I had a pretty good idea of where everything was going to be placed, how big the cakes were going to be, as well as how the lighting would work in the cake. In addition, I built this base/cake stand with the intention of using it for a couple of future projects.
My "tree hugging" daughter will be glad to hear that almost everything I used, I was recycling and/or already had on hand. (exactly how many strands of Xmas lights does one really need to have on hand?) The only thing I had to buy was the PVC pipe and flanges. You will need:
1 MDF or other wood board cut to size and at least 3/4" thick (really, these cakes were heavy!)
4"x1/2" finished boards of inexpensive light weight wood, I used aspen pine
Velcro (even if you get self adhesive, you'll need to glue it or staple it)
Wood glue, duct tape, electrical tape, nails, screws
3/4" PVC pipe
3 flanges
1 small string of battery operated LED lights (for the witch's eyes)
1 small string of Xmas lights (I used electric because the battery operated ones I had were not bright enough)
Gift wrap or cake board wrap
Drill
Miter saw
Table saw or router (only if you want a removable bottom, but this isn't really necessary)
I started with an 18"x18"x3/4" MDF board for the top. Next, I used 4"x 1/2" aspen pine boards for the base that would house the extra lighting and switch. I used a table saw to cut a groove along the boards so that later I could add a 1/4" thick bottom that I would be able to remove completely if and when I needed to work on the electrical wiring. Next, using a miter saw, I mitered the ends of the aspen board to form a box that measured 13"x13" and set in with about 2 inches all the way around. That way, when it was finished (and turned over), I would have room to hold the sides and safely move the cake stand. I glued 3 sides of the "box" to the bottom with wood glue, and when dry, turned it over and secured them with small finishing nails.
For the "access" panel and for added support, I glued a brace piece across the open end. Then I glued pieces of velcro on the support piece as well as the access panel. You'll want to dry fit this first to make sure that your access panel will shut completely and securely. Hind site, I would have moved the brace support inward and put blocks on each side for the velcro contacts. Even without a bottom, there wasn't much room for my hands to fit underneath to make adjustments after the cake was assembled.
Next, I turned the stand over, upright. I marked where the witch and the cauldron would be placed. At this point, I already had the witch completed and I knew that I my cauldron cake would be at least 9" in diameter and would be at least 5-6 inches tall, from the base of the coal lights. (that's without the candy top) For both the witch and the cauldron, I used 3/4" PVC pipe and plastic plumbing flanges for the supports. Then I drilled holes in the cake board, using a 9/16" hole drill bit, where the wires would be threaded through the pipes. I made 2 smaller holes, using a regular large drill bit for the pumpkin lights. Where the cake base (flange) would sit, I drilled 4 holes in conjunction with the holes on the flange. The holes were just big enough to hold 2 orange lights each for the lighting of the fiery coals. (ok, that wasn't pre-planned, that was just lucky)
Sorry that I didn't get a photo of the top side pre-drilled, but I do have pics of the lighting in the next step.
My "tree hugging" daughter will be glad to hear that almost everything I used, I was recycling and/or already had on hand. (exactly how many strands of Xmas lights does one really need to have on hand?) The only thing I had to buy was the PVC pipe and flanges. You will need:
1 MDF or other wood board cut to size and at least 3/4" thick (really, these cakes were heavy!)
4"x1/2" finished boards of inexpensive light weight wood, I used aspen pine
Velcro (even if you get self adhesive, you'll need to glue it or staple it)
Wood glue, duct tape, electrical tape, nails, screws
3/4" PVC pipe
3 flanges
1 small string of battery operated LED lights (for the witch's eyes)
1 small string of Xmas lights (I used electric because the battery operated ones I had were not bright enough)
Gift wrap or cake board wrap
Drill
Miter saw
Table saw or router (only if you want a removable bottom, but this isn't really necessary)
I started with an 18"x18"x3/4" MDF board for the top. Next, I used 4"x 1/2" aspen pine boards for the base that would house the extra lighting and switch. I used a table saw to cut a groove along the boards so that later I could add a 1/4" thick bottom that I would be able to remove completely if and when I needed to work on the electrical wiring. Next, using a miter saw, I mitered the ends of the aspen board to form a box that measured 13"x13" and set in with about 2 inches all the way around. That way, when it was finished (and turned over), I would have room to hold the sides and safely move the cake stand. I glued 3 sides of the "box" to the bottom with wood glue, and when dry, turned it over and secured them with small finishing nails.
For the "access" panel and for added support, I glued a brace piece across the open end. Then I glued pieces of velcro on the support piece as well as the access panel. You'll want to dry fit this first to make sure that your access panel will shut completely and securely. Hind site, I would have moved the brace support inward and put blocks on each side for the velcro contacts. Even without a bottom, there wasn't much room for my hands to fit underneath to make adjustments after the cake was assembled.
Next, I turned the stand over, upright. I marked where the witch and the cauldron would be placed. At this point, I already had the witch completed and I knew that I my cauldron cake would be at least 9" in diameter and would be at least 5-6 inches tall, from the base of the coal lights. (that's without the candy top) For both the witch and the cauldron, I used 3/4" PVC pipe and plastic plumbing flanges for the supports. Then I drilled holes in the cake board, using a 9/16" hole drill bit, where the wires would be threaded through the pipes. I made 2 smaller holes, using a regular large drill bit for the pumpkin lights. Where the cake base (flange) would sit, I drilled 4 holes in conjunction with the holes on the flange. The holes were just big enough to hold 2 orange lights each for the lighting of the fiery coals. (ok, that wasn't pre-planned, that was just lucky)
Sorry that I didn't get a photo of the top side pre-drilled, but I do have pics of the lighting in the next step.
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-Andrew
A real work of art!
AMAZING!!! Love all the detail!
Every step and all the effort and knowledge you put into the construction is amazing. You must win, girl!
Dajana