Introduction: Doctor Who Themed Galaxy Universe Cosmos Cake

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In this 3-part video tutorial, I'll walk you through the basics of making a dome cake, buttercream frosting, and the beautiful fondant decorations that make this galaxy cake come together.

This cake is perfect for the astronomer or sci-fi space nerd in your life. Have a Doctor Who, Star Trek, Star Wars, or Cosmos themed party without building a TARDIS or Enterprise or Death Star or anything that's guaranteed to be more time consuming and complicated than this [actually quite simple] incredibly elegant and delicious cake.

Step 1: Bake Your Cake!

Cake-tastic!

The recipes in this tutorial come from Rose Levy Beranbaum's The Cake Bible. I'll be using the All-Occasion Downy Yellow Butter Cake on page 39.

This recipe calls for:

3 cups flour (sifted cake flour is best; all-purpose will be fine, too)

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

6 large egg yolks

12 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp + 1 tsp baking powder

2 1/4 tsp vanilla

If you are at altitude, adjust the recipe! Use:

1 cup + 2 Tbsp milk

1 Tbsp scant 1/2 tsp baking powder

Step 2: Make Your Chocolate Buttercream Frosting!

Yay! Chocolate!

This recipe will require a stand mixer or a hand mixer. Buttercream is notoriously finicky, so if you are using a hand mixer, have a friend nearby to lend an extra pair of hands for this to go smoothly. If you don't have either a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer, perhaps try a different kind of frosting recipe.

The recipe for this Neoclassic Chocolate Buttercream also comes from "The Cake Bible" by Rose Levy Beranbaum on page 230. You will need:

6 large egg yolks

3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup lite corn syrup

2 cups butter, chilled but slightly (SLIGHTLY!) soft

6 ounces melted chocolate (semi-sweet, bittersweet, and dark are all delicious with this cake)

Step 3: Decorate With Rolled Fondant!

Ermahgerd! Rerhl'd Ferhndernt!

For this step, you will definitely need some specialty supplies. Your local Joann's or Michael's store probably carries them and the most common brand is Wilton, of course, but I'm sure you can find others.

Basically, you'll need some food grade glycerin, gel paste food coloring, silver cake spray paint, and luster dust.

I am using the Classic Rolled Fondant recipe from The Cake Bible on page 306.

To make the plain fondant:

8 cups (or so) of powdered sugar (AKA 10X, icing sugar)

2 Tbsp vegetable shortening for recipe, plus extra for greasing counters, hands, and utensils

1/2 cup lite corn syrup

1 Tbsp plain gelatin (1 packet - usually found with canning supplies)

3 Tbsp water

1 Tbsp food safe glycerin

To make the decorations on/in the fondant:

gel paste food coloring -- get creative here with whatever colors you like. I'm using:

Black

Royal Blue

Turquoise

Violet

No-Taste Red (to make pink)

Wilton (or comparable brand) silver "Color Mist" (edible spray paint for cake)

Wilton (or comparable brand) "luster dust" (edible cake glitter, basically)

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