Glow in the dark cake - from Kiwicaker Sonja Bodley

This awesome Ariel The little Mermaid sea themed cake was made by Kiwicaker Sonja Bodley using our fluorescent colouring. Under black light, the cake glows in the dark. I think she did an amazing job.

Have you used Kiwicakes products to make a cake. Send us your pics, From time to time we post them here on the blog.

Tutorial Tuesday - Fish Cupcake toppers

Every Tuesday here on the Kiwicakes blog in conjunction with The Whole Cake & Caboodle we'll be bringing you tutorial Tuesday. Today's tutorial is these gorgeous fish cupcake toppers (see previous tutorial for octopus).

Use the following cutters to make these required shapes (2 hearts) medium dove plunger cutter, 3 prong holly large plunger cutter or single holly leaf, 1 cm heart plunger cutter or similar cutters. 

Cut the three prong holly in this spot to separate the leaves 

Then cut the leaves down the centre, this will give you enough fins for 6 fish

Cut the tail from the dove shape like so

Then gently squeeze into a more fish tail look

Roll a ball of fondant or gumpaste about the size of a large marble. If using plain fondant with no stiffener it can be done but will be very soft. We recommend using tylose to harden your icing.

Squeeze the end drawing it out into a teardrop shape around this shape but not quite as long as the octopus

Use a medium sized ball or dog bone tool to add holes for eyeballs. A paintbrush end or even a clean earbud can make impressions

Use a touch of edible glue to stick the tail under the body

And stick the fin to the top of the body like so

Stick the heart shape fins to the sides like so 

Roll a small ball of fondant for the mouth, stick on and poke a hole in the centre with a toothpick or similar tool

Use a small piece of fondant and roll into a oval shape then halve it. This gets you two eyes the same size. Its easier to half an oval shape than a ball. If the ball is too large start again with a smaller piece. Use a touch of glueto stick the eyeballs in then either dot a pupil with gel. If you use a toothpick you get an even dot instead of trying to paint a circle. Or use a slightly damp paintbrush to pick up small non-pariels and stick with a touch of glue.

Here I have made small holes to help the non-pariels stay in place

Voila...eyeballs can be made on the sides of the head for a different look

Octopus cupcake topper tutorial

Today's fun octopus tutorial comes to Kiwicakes with special thanks to The Whole Cake & Caboodle for creating it for us. (look for the fish tutorial next week.)

Roll a ball of fondant or gumpaste about the size of a large marble. If using plain fondant with no stiffener it can be done but will be very soft. We reccomend adding tylose to your fondant

Squeeze the end drawing it out into a teardrop shape around this shape and length 

Cut the tail of the teardrop straight down the middle about 3-4 cm along 

Open up the cut 

Cut each leg in half again

So it looks like this 

Then cut each of the four legs again in half so there are 8. The knife needs to be clean or legs can stick to it and tear off as you cut these thinner ones.

It will then look like this

Give the top of the cuts a little roll/squeeze to make more of a head/neck

Flick each leg into a nice curl

Or twist and drape them in a direction you are happy with.

Use a smile tool to add a smile...or a frown

Use a medium sized ball or dog bone tool to add holes for eyeballs. A paintbrush end or even a clean earbud can make impressions.

Use a small piece of fondant and roll into a oval shape then halve it. This gets you two eyes the same size. Its easier to half an oval shape than a ball. If the ball is to large start again with a smaller piece.

Use a touch of glue or water to stick the eyeballs in then either dot a pupil with gel. If you use a toothpick you get an even dot instead of trying to paint a circle. 

Or use a slightly damp paintbrush to pick up small non-pariels and stick with a touch of glue.

Pretty shell cake - great for birthdays and weddings

Todays fun post comes from my American friend Autumn Carpenter. Autumn designs and manufacturers a broad range of cake decorating supplies, which I'm proud to stock at Kiwicakes.

This cake would be a sure favourite with Grandma Kiwicakes, she adores shells and corals.

Tools and Ingredients

6", 9" and 12" two layer cakes

14" cake board or drum

light blue rolled fondant

ivory rolled fondant

Hawaiian Texture Sheet Set

seashell chocolate chocolate moulds

white candy coating

milk chocolate

pearllustre dust

mop brush

8mm sugar pearls

pastry brush

piping gel

flexible poly blade

pastry roller

Method

Melt chocolates separately and place in towel lined electric skillet to keep warm and fluid. To add stripes to shells, dip finger in milk chocolate and wipe finger into cavity. 

Flood cavity with white candy coating and place in freezer to set. 

Once set, remove from mould and use mop brush to brush tops of shells with lustre. 

Roll light blue fondant to desired thickness, brush board and cakes with piping gel and cover. Using mop brush, dust cake and board with pearl dust. Prepare cakes for stacking and assemble. 

Roll ivory fondant to 1/8" thickness, roll shell texture sheet over fondant making a strip long enough to go around the cake. Make a straight cut along the bottom of the strip using a pastry roller then use the flexible poly blade to cut shells so that strip is 4" high. 

Brush sides of cake with piping gel then apply shell strip. 

Repeat with each cake layer. 

Attach shells and pearls to cake using piping gel.

A wedding cake to knock your socks off

This stunning wedding cake was created by Alice St. Agathe from Antigua. This wonderful lady requested the coral silicone mould be manufactured specifically for this cake. I'm so glad she did, I just love the mould and it's a welcome addition to the kiwicakes range.

Photo reprinted with permission.

A quick cake for Christine

This is a quick cake I whipped up for the birthday of my friend Christine last week. I only had less than 24 hours notice. I baked the cake after my cake guild committee meeting on Wednesday night at 10pm. Its a chocolate mud cake. Then when I got home with the children at 2pm on Thursday afternoon, I asked if they could be extra good for a couple of hours while I made some shells and decorated it. Thankfully, they were little angels and I was able to make finish it, in 2 hours. This style of cake that relies totally on moulds, lustre & trickery is my fall back plan, when I haven't got time to mould or create something from scratch. This seashell cake is a variation on one I tried once before, it worked so well the first time, I wanted to have a play again and changes things just a little.