Girls Just Want to have FUN ... Zebra & Leopard Cake (Cake Border Decorations)

Yesterday post showed you how to make the inside of the cake be Zebra and Leopard print.   Now to show how I decorated the outside of the cake.  This is the second time I've made a cake this big, first time all by myself.  It was a very heavy cake and the fondant work needed a little work.  But I must say I was pretty darn happy with how it turned out and the girl's sister that I made the cake wants me to make her 13th birthday cake.  That to me is the biggest compliment I could EVER get!

What you Need:

4 Cakes - Cooled (I did one zebra, one leopard and 2 pain white)

Fondant - Used my Rolled Buttercream Fondant

Safari Leopard Print Edible Cake Border Decoration (on Amazon)

Safari Zebra Print Edible Cake Border Decoration (on Amazon)

Cake Board - Found a pink Leopard one (Michael's)

Wilton Cake Separator (Michael's)

Sturdy Buttercream Frosting (to dirty ice & filling)

Easy Mousse Cake Filling 

Easy Mousse Cake Filling (found on food.com)

Ingredients

• 1 pint heavy whipping cream
• 1 (3 1/2 ounce) boxes instant pudding mix, any flavor

Directions

1. In a chilled metal bowl, beat whipping cream on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken.
2. Gradually add in the instant pudding mix and continue to beat, just until thick.
3. If you'd like to add fruit filling, fold it into the cream after it's thickened.

I made a ring around the top of the cake and put the filling in the middle and topped with a second cake.  I put mine back in the fridge to make sure everything was firm before I started with the fondant.

Next was to put the fondant on and then add the Borders.  I put the mousse in between to cakes, then took a little of the frosting to dirty ice the cake so the fondant will stick.  I did one cake then went to adding the cake border.  I must say this was the easiest part.  A little water and it sticks right on.  NOW they said it would fit a 10" cake, BUT I did have gaps so I suggest making a 8" cake instead.  I used a Wilton cake separator between the cakes since it was a heavy cake.  I say these borders are really easy to use just use the 8" cake and maybe less filling ... lol mine were a little on the full side.

Edible Prints:

1. Make sure your hands are clean and dry before handling the image. You will need to have a plain frosted cake.WHITE butter-cream FROSTING is best but any type of frosting will work, even frozen ice cream cakes! Your frosting should be fresh. If your frosting becomes dry, spray a fine mist of water over the cake (NOT the image) before applying the print. If your product is moist, DO NOT add any extra moisture. Using too much water may cause colors to run and melt your image. It can take quite a few hours for the image to blend in properly. 

2. Edible Prints cannot be moved once applied. Plan where you will place the image, then apply the image face up onto your product. To remove the Edible Print, hold the opposite edges and pull the backing page across the sharp edge of a table. Never pull on the image itself, it can tear. Lay the Edible Print on top of the cake from the middle first and gently lay it out to the ends of the image. If the image bubbles after application, GENTLY TAP (do not rub) the image. After Application add a border or edge decoration of your choice to finish. You can also add words by hand on top of the image. Avoid extensive exposure to ultraviolet lighting. As with any food coloring, the image may fade over time.

 3. If the Edible Prints seem stubborn about releasing, do not try to peel the icing sheet away as this will cause tearing. Place the Edible Prints flat in the freezer for 10 - 15 seconds (NOT LONGER). You should have no problem peeling the backing off. You should remove the image from the backing immediately after taking it out from the freezer. 

 4. Edible Prints should be stored in the packaging it is shipped in a cool, dry location out of direct lighting. DO NOT store in the refrigerator or freezer. 

5. Be careful not to let water drip on to the Edible Prints as it can melt and ruin your print. 

6. If your cake is frozen when you apply the frosting sheet, allow it to thaw slowly in the refrigerator. You’ll also want to avoid storing the finished cake in an airtight cake dome at room temperature. An airtight cake dome can act like a greenhouse.

I'm so excited how the cake came out and can't wait to do more!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE. 

Girls Just Want to have FUN ... Zebra & Leopard Print Cake (On the Inside)

One of my friends hired me to make a cake for her daughter's 13th birthday party.  You know I love love to make themed items, so when I found out she wanted a Zebra and Leopard print cake.  I found some cool Safari Leopard Print Edible Cake Border Decoration and Safari Zebra Print Edible Cake Border Decoration on Amazon.  Which I knew would be cool but I of course wanted to do something more then just on the outside.  On to the Google Search I went and found a cool idea on how to make a Zebra Cake and a Leopard Cake!

I started with the Zebra Cake (which is my FAVORITE), I found this idea on My Cake School.  NOW you can buy a Duff Cake Mix for this, but you know me I rather make my own.  I started with my moist white cake mix, making 2 batches. One batch I left white the other I died black using Wilton Icing Color.

Zebra Cake

What you Need:

Vanilla Cake mix (or homemade White Cake Mix)

Chocolate Cake Mix (or white dyed black)

Black Wilton Icing (if you want to do black)

Start by dropping 1/4 cup of white batter in the middle of a 8" or 10" cake pan.  It will spread a little. Then measure out a 1/4 cup of chocolate batter and pour it in the center of your vanilla batter. Repeat this process, continuing with 1/4 cup scoops of alternating flavors, each flavor of batter dropped into the center of the previous circle of batter. The batter is thin enough that it does not take long at all for the batter to spread out a little bit.  Continue the process until your pans are approx 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

I found using this cake mix was the best it was a bit thicker then using a box mix (which I tried and was just too liquid for me).

Next on my list was to make a Leopard cake, I found a great idea on Artese Cakes how to do Leopard cupcakes and used that for a cake.

Leopard Cake

What you Need:

White Cake Mix

Orange Wilton Icing

Black Wilton Icing

Make 3 different colors of cake batter, I used a white cake mix and dyed 2 parts orange and black.  I put the two colors in 2 different piping bags and left the white in a bowl.  On the bottom of the empty cake pan, draw spots.  I made circles with orange and then black on top to resemble spots.  Carefully top the spots with white cake mix.  I did this 3 times until the cake pan was 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.  It wasn't as cute as I thought but still I thought it was pretty darn cool!

Let the cakes cool and then you can make your cake, I stacked two cakes with a mouse filling then rolled out fondant and added the strips I bought.  Come back tomorrow for the reveal of the cake.

Here are the two cakes done and ready to be frosted and do the fondant work!

Don't forget to see the parties I link up to HERE.