Another cake already!! This one was made for my now 3-year-old-obsessed-with-TMNT-and-that's-awesome. His birthday falls between Xmas and New Year's, so I like to do something extra special for him (cause you know, a whole week of presents isn't enough, hahaha).
| MATERIALS: One 10" x 3" round cake, baked and cooled Two 8" x 3" round cakes, baked and cooled Buttercream frosting White Fondant Gel food colours in green, black and red (or blue, purple or orange depending on which ninja turtle you are making) A sharp non-serrated knife Vegetable shortening Toothpick Butter knife |  |
DIRECTIONS:
1. Slice all 3 cakes in half horizontally to create 6 layers. If you don't have one of those fancy doo-dads to help you make it even and you don't generally have a steady hand when it comes to these things, insert toothpicks along the mid-edge of each cake to serve as your guide.
1. Slice all 3 cakes in half horizontally to create 6 layers. If you don't have one of those fancy doo-dads to help you make it even and you don't generally have a steady hand when it comes to these things, insert toothpicks along the mid-edge of each cake to serve as your guide.
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2. Trim the rounded top of the larger cake and of ONE of the smaller cakes to flatten them out a bit. Leave one of the smaller cake tops rounded to serve at the very top of the turtle head.
3. Place the bottom layer of the larger round cake on the cake board. I like to place pieces of parchment paper under the cake in strips, so that are easily removed without having to lift the cake. This helps with clean-up a little later on.
4. Spread a small amount of buttercream frosting over this first layer of cake, then put the top half of the larger cake on top of it, face-down. Spread a small amount of buttercream on top of that layer (and each subsequent layer).
5. Place the bottom layer of one of the smaller cakes on top of the first two layers. Make it so that it is placed more towards the back of the larger circle, as shown below. Add the top layer of the smaller cake (which was trimmed in step 2) face-down as the 4th layer, then top the whole thing off with the rounded layer of small cake. You'll have one layer of cake that is unused.
6. Trim the very top of the cake, as well as the 2nd layer from the bottom (top section of large cake) so that the edges are rounded out. If any large pieces crumble off here, stick them back to the cake using buttercream frosting.
7. Using some cake you trimmed off, or if there are no pieces big enough, the unused layer of cake, create a bump over the 2nd layer of cake that sticks out, where the nose will be under the mask.
3. Place the bottom layer of the larger round cake on the cake board. I like to place pieces of parchment paper under the cake in strips, so that are easily removed without having to lift the cake. This helps with clean-up a little later on.
4. Spread a small amount of buttercream frosting over this first layer of cake, then put the top half of the larger cake on top of it, face-down. Spread a small amount of buttercream on top of that layer (and each subsequent layer).
5. Place the bottom layer of one of the smaller cakes on top of the first two layers. Make it so that it is placed more towards the back of the larger circle, as shown below. Add the top layer of the smaller cake (which was trimmed in step 2) face-down as the 4th layer, then top the whole thing off with the rounded layer of small cake. You'll have one layer of cake that is unused.
6. Trim the very top of the cake, as well as the 2nd layer from the bottom (top section of large cake) so that the edges are rounded out. If any large pieces crumble off here, stick them back to the cake using buttercream frosting.
7. Using some cake you trimmed off, or if there are no pieces big enough, the unused layer of cake, create a bump over the 2nd layer of cake that sticks out, where the nose will be under the mask.
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8. Spread buttercream over the whole thing.
9. Colour a large piece of fondant green. Roll it out and lay it over the cake. Use shortening to smooth it over the rounded edges, removing air pockets under the surface.
10. Trim off the excess fondant around the bottom and with the blunt end of a butter knife, tuck the edge slighter under the cake.
9. Colour a large piece of fondant green. Roll it out and lay it over the cake. Use shortening to smooth it over the rounded edges, removing air pockets under the surface.
10. Trim off the excess fondant around the bottom and with the blunt end of a butter knife, tuck the edge slighter under the cake.
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11. Colour a small piece of fondant red (or blue, purple or orange) and roll it out to a thin long strip, making sure it is long enough to wrap around the top part of the cake. With the sharp knife, shape the strip as shown in the first picture below. Apply the strip to the cake using either buttercream or shortening (I've found that shortening can sometimes work better).
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12. Combine the trimmings from the red fondant and roll out again. You want to carve a triangle and two short strips with pointed ends to form the knot at the back of the turtle's head. Place the strips over the triangle as shown below and fold in the corners of the triangle to create the "knot". Then with buttercream or shortening, stick the whole piece to the back of the turtle head where the first strip you put overlaps.
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13. Roll out a piece of white fondant over icing sugar so that it is not at all sticky. Fold the fondant over itself so that you have two layers. Carve out a side of the mouth/teeth (below-left) and a shape for the eyes (below-right). By doubling up the fondant, you only have to crave out one of each the mouth and the eye and they will be symmetrical.
14. Apply the mouth and the white of the eyes to the face of the turtle using buttercream or shortening, shaping them to look the way you want.
14. Apply the mouth and the white of the eyes to the face of the turtle using buttercream or shortening, shaping them to look the way you want.
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15. Colour a very small amount of fondant black. Using a small cookie cutter or bottle cap, make two small circles. Trim the top off each circle and apply them to the white of the eyes, shaping them as you want.
16. Use a small amount of the white fondant trimmings to create the small inner circles of the eyes, as shown below, and apply them to the black.
16. Use a small amount of the white fondant trimmings to create the small inner circles of the eyes, as shown below, and apply them to the black.
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17. Using the side of a toothpick, carve indents into the mouth area to create the illusion of teeth.
18. If you want, using a black food decorating pen, or some black gel colour at the end of the toothpick, trace the indents to define the teeth.
18. If you want, using a black food decorating pen, or some black gel colour at the end of the toothpick, trace the indents to define the teeth.
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19. Pinch the headband a little between the eyes, clean it off and you're done!
20. Watch as your toddler gives you a look or horror as you serve him his favourite character's head on a platter and slice into it for all to enjoy!
20. Watch as your toddler gives you a look or horror as you serve him his favourite character's head on a platter and slice into it for all to enjoy!
This cake was pretty quick to make. It may be because I'm gaining experience...it may be because I half-assed it in a crazy awesome way. Either way, this could be a sign of things to come!
