Racecar Cake

I saw a tutorial for these adorable racecar toppers, on the Cake Journal site, several weeks ago, and was ecstatic when Elliott decided he wanted a racecar cake for his birthday!  The tutorial is excellent!  I did not, however, have all the supplies, so I improvised a little, but I still think they turned out great.

When looking at tutorials, don’t get overwhelmed with materials you may not have, you can usually cope with the materials you do have on hand (okay, I realize not everyone has fondant in the basement). As a novice cake decorator, I adapted the tutorial by using mostly fondant, instead of gumpaste, since I already had the fondant colored appropriately for the racecars.  I used plain water to adhere the separate pieces, instead of tylo glue (shhh… I truly have no idea what that is).  I only have one fondant smoother, so instead of using a pair of fondant smoothers to shape the car, I used my one fondant smoother and a box of graham crackers!

In addition to the racecar toppers, I was pretty excited with the completed first tier tire!  I’m not sure the parents were as excited about all that black fondant, but I think it was totally worth it!  It might be fun to try and make a giant tire cake sometime!

Confession of a Wannabe Foodie… Sometimes life gets a bit hectic and I may have to get creative to finish everything in time.  After all those years of criticizing my mother for putting baked goods in the freezer, I did the unthinkable… I made homemade chocolate cakes the weekend before the event, let them cool, then immediately wrapped them in clingwrap, foil, and a zip lock bag and tossed them in the freezer for a few days.  And now, for the ultimate confession of all… I will totally do this again!!

Racecar Cake

Isaac's Superhero Cake

I have always loved to bake, and in honor of being a wannabe foodie, I always decorated my desserts using simple and complimentary ingredients to enhance the flavor of the dessert (fruit, chocolate, nuts, herbs, etc).  Although intrigued by serious cake decorating, I quickly judged fondant covered cakes as adult play dough.  I would never subject my taste buds to such mediocrity, when I could cover my cakes in rich butter cream, tangy cream cheese, or dark chocolate fudge!  Who wants a cake that looks good, when you can eat a cake that tastes good?!?

In November, however, my nephew Isaac requested a Super Hero cake for his 4th birthday party.  I had a feeling that a super hero cake, using chocolate chips and raspberries, wasn’t exactly what he had in mind, so I decided to embark on a full out fondant adventure!  I searched the Internet for some general ideas and sketched a design that I thought would be Isaac-approved and Annie-able.

As I started to work with the fondant, I quickly confirmed that it is totally edible adult play dough, but then…  I remembered just how much I love play dough, and I was an instant fondant convert. Fondant cake decorating is like ultimate edible arts and crafts!   I am still a fondant newbie, but I am having a blast as my adventures continue!

Confession of a *wannabe* foodie… I love decorating cakes with fondant! (you can have tasty cake and delicious icing underneath that blanket of sugary goo!)

Isaac's Superhero Cake

Batman eating Batman!

Blues Hockey Cake – Thanks for the tickets, Dave!

Maddie's Princess Cake

Sean's Racecar Cake

Elise's Minnie Mouse Cake

Elise's Minnie Mouse Cake