Friday, June 4, 2010
Story Book Cake
The one thing that I really look forward to doing for my daughter every single day is putting her to sleep at night. No, not just because when she finally sleeps, the house is quiet at last and I get some 'me' time but because reading to her at bedtime is a routine that I simply love and look forward to all day!
A google search led me here and I fell instantly in love with what I saw. Come D-day and I ran out of steam - or maybe had too much of it in the kitchen given the soaring temperatures in our neck of woods - and abandoned all plans of making the chariot and the wand and so the end result is different from the one I saw on Cake Central, but the birthday girl was thrilled with what she saw and that is all that mattered!
To make this cake, I put two 10" square cakes alongside each other and sliced off about 2.5" at an angle to get the book shape. The cake is covered with fondant icing . The flowers used are store-bought, my only contribution to the flower vine are the stalks and the leaves. I used gold dust powder mixed with a few drops of water to get the yellowing pages effect - this is the only bit that I was a tad unhappy about as I failed to get a uniform look - for whatever reason, the 'paint' didn't adhere to the fondant resulting in a patchy look.
If anyone reading this has any suggestions on what I should've done, please do leave me a comment.
This, I know, is a very sketchy post, but do check out these 2 posts - Decorating a birthday cake: step by step tutorial and Cake decoration with fondant icing: a step by step guide - to know more about cake decoration.
If you have any specific questions on making this cake, do drop me a line on aquadaze{@}rediffmail{dot}com
Belated Birthday wishes to Shruti....the cake looks fab..
ReplyDeleteThe cake has come out fantastic, even though it is quite differet from the link u mentioned...but really a good job.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! A, that is a wonderful cake you have baked up! It does look like a open book ready to read. How cute, I bet your girl loved it.
ReplyDeleteHappy 5th to your little girl and wish her many happy returns. My son is 15 now, 10 years older. All he wants is dense double chocolate fudge cake, never mind what shape! :D
Have a fun weekend, hugs.
happy belated birthday to Shruti...the cake looks so beautiful that initially it was hard to belive that it is home made..fab job..i am sure ur little angel loved it..reading storybook to ur child not only helps her build a good habit but also increases the parent child bonding
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your cute Shruti. thats a lovely treat for the daughter. very neat presentation. love every bit of it.
ReplyDeleteVery nice cake you have got
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to Shruti and she is lucky her mom can bake any shape cake she asks for.
ReplyDeleteAs to reading to kids, yep that is my favorite activity at the end of the day when he is put to bed. And like you we go to the library, the book store all the time. Since he sees us reading, he too likes to pretend to read. But yes, I can see he will be a reader too. And that is such a great feeling isn't it, passing on your passion to your kids?
Awesome job, A. Belated b'day wishes to Shruti. I couldnot take my eyes off the screen. I can imagine how happy your daughter would have been
ReplyDeleteWowww wat a beautiful cake, cant take my eyes from those great clicks..Belated birthday wishes to Shruti..
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful...........excellent
ReplyDeleteBelated birth day wishes to shruthi.
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful cake
Belated birthday wishes to Shruti. You made an absolutely creative and beautiful cake!
ReplyDeleteDear Aqua, the cake is so beautiful..I just couldn't take off my eyes from it..lovely cake..
ReplyDeleteWOW!! A ++ ,Thats a really very good and neat cake Aqua and I am sure your daughter loved it like anything.Belated birthday wishes to your daughter:).
ReplyDeleteAnd reading books to kid is really a very good way to build up a lifelong habit of good reading(much better than watching TV etc)..
hugs and smiles
Wow, I can only say wow, that is an amazing looking cake. May be some professional can find faults in the cake as you said about that color not working. But, for me, it is simply perfect !!!
ReplyDeleteLucky Shruti . I can only bow to such an artist - what a cake !
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful cake, Aqua. happy birthday to your little girl!
ReplyDeleteI have no suggestions ... just admiration Aqua! A very happy b'day to your little girl. :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely lovely cake...even I wd love a cake like this for my b'day..I'm sure your daughter loved it...very neat presentation, Aqua..belated b'day wishes to your daughter
ReplyDeleteWhat are you not happy about? The cake is STUNNING!! Loved it!
ReplyDeleteA very happy birthday to Shruti!
Btw do you know how to make fondant at home without using marshmallows?
Cake is awesome. I loved your scripting skills. Since you are asking what went wrong with the paint, luster dust is oil based. It doesn't dissolve in water. If you had used some alcohol like vodka or clear rum or even lemon or almond extract which are clear, it would've stuck to the fondant better. You should be proud of your work. It is indeed a very good cake and for someone who can do this, making those flowers isn't a biggie especially with fondant. All you need is a set of flower shaped cutters. Sorry if too long of a comment.
ReplyDeleteWow...that's a beautiful cake!!! Belated birthday wishes to Shruti!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty cake!! Your daughter no doubt was a happy birthday girl!!
ReplyDeleteCan you get to read some ? Oops sorry can i grab of them ? No difference that would differentiate a book n a cake.Gorgeous cake,belated birthday wishes to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteBelated Birthday wishes. The cake looks too good! I have already decided this will be the cake for my daughter's B'day next year :)
ReplyDeleteBelated wishes to the little princess! Trully amazing ur creativity and baking skills!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much everybody, both for your warm wishes and your appreciation!
ReplyDeleteAsha, I hope my daughter never gets to that stage of being indifferent to the shape etc, else who will I unleash my creativity on?!!
Balaka, yes, you are right, it does strengthen the bonds.
Jaya, wholeheartedly agree with you, reading is a whole lot better than watching TV.
Yup Jaya W, it is really gratifying to see them pick up the reading habit.
Indrani, I will happily bake for you whenever you want!
Parita, do check out www.thecookduke.com
Champa, thanks a ton. I did know about the vodka, couldn't use any as the school does have a list on ingredients that we can't use, alcohol is one of them! Didn't know about the lemon juice, will use some the next time.
Bhagyashri, looking forward to seeing your cake.
The cake is beautiful!!
ReplyDeletelooks exactly like a story book....awesome awesome work dear..hats off to ur creativity...10/10..first time here...following u nad hv send an entry for ur event @ bongmoms cookbook..lovely event
ReplyDeleteBelated wishes to Shruthi..Marvelous cake and looks so tempting...
ReplyDelete