Liv Hansen, Professional Baker and Author Building the Layers of the Castle Cake
1. Chill cake layers in the freezer for 30 minutes. 2. Using serrated knife, cut off the dome of each cake layer to create a flat, even top. 3. Tint white frosting with red food coloring to create a desired shade of pink. 4. Place the first cake layer on a serving platter. Using a spatula, spread about 1/3 cup of pink frosting over the top of the cake layer. Invert the second cake layer and place on top of the frosted cake. 5. Spread another 1/3 cup of pink frosting on top of the cake. 6. Invert the third cake layer and place on top of frosted cake. Push down on the cake to make sure the cake layers are level and stable. 7. Using the serrated knife, cut the fourth layer into four quarters. 8. Spread a small dollop of pink frosting in the middle of the layered cake. Lay one of the quarters on top. Spread frosting on top of the quarter and place a second quarter on that. Again, spread pink frosting on the top and lay the third quarter on top of the second one. 9. Cut the last quarter into quarters again. 10. Make a third tier on the cake. Spread frosting on the top layer. Place one of the small remaining pieces on top. Repeat with another layer of frosting and another small remaining piece of cake. 11. Crumb coat the cake by spreading a thin layer of pink frosting all over the entire cake. 12. Frost the cake with a thick layer of pink frosting. Once cake is frosted, use spatula to remove excess frosting, working from the outside of the cake in, to create a level, even look.
Decorating Your Castle Cakes
1. Decorate the cake. Frost the outside of the sugar cones with pink frosting. Roll them in the sanding sugar to coat evenly. Place four of the cones upside-down on the corners of the bottom tier of the cake, pressing cones slightly to adhere them to the cake. Place the last cone in the center of the top layer. 2. Line the border of the bottom tier between the cones with sugar cubes, leaving a small space between each sugar cube. 3. Use a small dollop of frosting to adhere candy stars to the top of each of the five cones. 4. Place colored gumballs around the cake to decorate. 5. Place two pink wafer cookies on the bottom cake layer for the doors. Cut some wafer cookies into smaller pieces and place around the cake for windows. Using a pastry bag with white frosting, pipe accents onto the windows and doors. 6. Insert candles on the cake.
If you would like to make this castle cake for a boy, you can do so with the following variations:
1. Use chocolate frosting to ice the cake. 2. Leave the ice cream cones unfrosted and instead, pipe accents on the cones with blue frosting. 3. Change the color palette of the decorations, using blue, yellow, red and chocolate candies. 4. Change the wafer cookies to chocolate or vanilla. 5. Create a drawbridge using pretzel sticks.
Note From Grandpa Mike
Liv:
Beautiful cake - and your instructions are so easy to follow.
Now for anyone that wants to put this excellent cake together, you can find matching theme ideas to make your child's party the best ever.
These themes will work so well with the Castle cake Liv is showing us how to make. And your birthday child will really be excited about their special - and yummy looking birthday cake.
