Tuesday, June 09, 2009

My Princess and the Pea Cake

It was Lillian's birthday and she requested a princess cake (big surprise there). I suggested Rapunzel but she ended up settling on the Princess and the Pea. I can tell you it was the heaviest cake I have ever made in my life. I swear it weighed 40 pounds. That's one hefty princess.

Princess and the Pea CakePrincess and the Pea Cake
I made two 9 x 13 inch chocolate cakes, cut them both in half then stacked all four layers on top of each other for the mattresses.

I frosted the whole thing then added the fondant bedspread and gingerbread headboard and footboard (if they're too thick and it's humid where you're at they'll end up bending and buckling over several hours so add them toward the end).

The princess herself is marzipan, as is the pea. Her crown is more fondant. I should have decorated the bedspread or at least tinted them but by that time my kitchen was such a disaster and my fingernails were so blue from making the pea that I gave up.

Rapunzel would still be fun to try . . .

***

Congratulations to Anne of Sherman, Texas for winning the Britax Advocate car seat from this weekend's giveaway. That is one sweet car seat.

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

62 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is such a great cake. I recently blogged about my first cake decorating experience. It turned out awful but it was fun because I did it with my DH. We are going to try again and can only hope that one day we will be able to make something half as nice as this.

Mrs. Ohtobe said...

Too cute!

Robin said...

That is one gorgeous cake Michelle. You rock!

One Mom said...

That is one awesome cake! It's a shame to have to cut it! I think you might have a new career unfolding here...

Robin ~ PENSIEVE said...

You've reduced the complicated to doable...quite a feat. You've made something that seems hard look easy {{golf applause}}.

And you frickin' amaze me, Michelle!

Jolanthe said...

Holy Cow. That's amazing. We're going around the princess bush here too...this would be a fun {ahem} cake for me to attempt.

Do I even want to know how long it took for you to make it?

Jolanthe

Anjali said...

My God. You should go into business for yourself. It's beautiful!

Multiple personalities.. said...

Beautiful! Can I ask, did you make the gingerbread headboard and footboard, or did you get them pre-made? If you got them pre-made, can you share where you got them? Thanks!!

chelle said...

Wow that is a fantastic cake!

Blog O' Beth said...

Now that my kids are older I'm starting to get more courageous with my cake decorating. I actually think I might be able to do this one. And Rapunzel - well, couldn't you use a cookie-press to make hair?

Pam D said...

Oh dear... now I REALLY feel guilty for caving in and letting Publix (grocery store bakery) do my son's birthday cake! That is AMAZING...

Jenny P. said...

Oh wow, you are awesome! I've always wanted to try working with fondant, but have never ever done it. Perhaps you've inspired me to venture out a bit!

Shelly Wildman said...

You MADE that?! That is amazing!

threesidesofcrazy said...

You outdid yourself. What an adorable cake!!!! Happy Birthday Lillian.

Unknown said...

Wow, great job! I love the hair!

Cynthia said...

It looks great!

Unknown said...

darling.

Abby said...

Your just the best mommy ever! How fun!

Stephanie said...

Wow creative and adorable. I am tired just thinking of all the work you did.

Scribbit said...

More info on the process: I baked the headboard and footboard myself using this recipe: LINK

I just traced the pieces by hand, measuring it against the cake pan I was going to use. I used a Crayola marker cap to cut out the holes :) I didn't bake it probably as long as I should have, it was still rather soft in the middle and because I'd made the cake the day before the humidity made the gingerbread start to curve and bend a bit.

If you wrapped the edges in aluminum foil it should keep it from browning too much while the rest bakes up firmer.

I'd never worked with fondant before adn just bought a pre-made box of the stuff which you roll into a big rectangle and lay over the top, very easy (and I didn't even tint it).

I should have put a Twinkie under her head as a pillow and under the fondant to make her shape under the "blanket" but forgot. Fondant tastes nasty so I frosted the cake underneath and took off the fondant at serving.

Heart2Heart said...

Michelle,

I love your cake! So beautiful! I especially love your creativity as I have been reading your blog for quite some time and love how you make your kids their own personalized cakes, especially the scorpion!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

CountessLaurie said...

In the immortal words of Darth Vader ~ "Impressive"

Daisy said...

Ooh, Rapunzel. a tower, long flowing hair...might be too cute to eat!

Carinne said...

I saw that cake in Family Fun (I think that's where it was) and thought about making it for all of 2 seconds. I moved on a an easier castle cake for Clara. Very cute....

Reno said...

Wow- that is a great cake!

Leslie M. said...

Beautiful CAKE!!
And Congrats to the winner of the Car seat!!
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

jean said...

Well you answered my question in the comments. I was wondering if the kids ate the fondant. I love the look of it but hate the taste. The cake came out fantastic. Almost makes me wish I had a daughter. Almost.

Lisa said...

What a cake! I've never even attempted to make something like that. Very cute!

Just Mom said...

Wow. And I thought I was a master baker when I frosted my son's Duncan Hines chocolate cake without getting cake bits on the frosting. :-)

Your cake rocks.

J said...

That's the cutest cake I've ever seen! I'm completely impressed and amazed.

luckyzmom said...

Amazingly adorable.

I can't find my blog said...

Unbelievable. You are so talented! Or incredibly patient. I'm impressed!

Kim said...

Wow. I and my Elmo cakes are not worthy . . . GREAT JOB!!

Kim N said...

Oh my goodness, I love it! My girls would probably faint if I ever made something like that. Maybe I will have to try just to witness it. :)

Melissa said...

So cute! I have never used marzipan or fondant. One day I will have to give it a try! I don't think I could make a cake as beautiful as yours, but I am feeling inspired.

ewe are here said...

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

Oh my goodness you are amazing!

Steph

glitzen said...

Adorable!! I am the original princess and the pea, I do believe! That cake takes the cake.

Carrie said...

That is one absolutely beautiful cake! You should be on Ace of Cakes - or at least a Food Network challenge! :)

Maddy said...

Fondant! A convert at last! What a fabulous cake. And yes I fully sympathise about how huge those novelty cakes can grow.
Cheers

Jen at Semantically driven said...

An absolutely lovely cake. Well done. It's my son's birthday soon and after making a cheesecake on the weekend that's what he's requested for his birthday cake. He just wants to jazz it up with smarties. Easy peasy. Now, just to organise the party.

CasualFridayEveryDay said...

What a dream cake. I'm taken aback by how beautiful, and whimsical it is!

Nell

Serena said...

That is ADORABLE! You need to send this into Cake Wrecks for their Sunday Sweets (they feature GOOD cakes on Sundays!)! It is just too cute!

Alison Kelley said...

What a beautiful cake! Your daughter must be so proud of you! I love Rapunzel, maybe next year :)

Madeline said...

That is one cool cake!! You are so darn creative. :)

illahee said...

that is awesome michelle, just awesome.

Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) said...

You are FANTASTIC Michelle! Wonderful work!!! :)

Carina said...

Well, yeah, you're amazing etc. etc. etc.

But Scribbit, the pea was under the bed! You wouldn't have had to have blue fingers at all, just make a lump in the fondant. =) (I know, visual effect, etc.)

cindy said...

i love this cake! i saw a similar on on Food Network recently (the princess and the pea), but I don't think it looked nearly as cute. i love the princesses hair!

good job!

Grace @ Sandier Pastures said...

That cake is the princessest of all princess cakes!! LOL Amazing, super! Awesome - I don't have enough words.
* Forgive me, I tend to get too excited around cakes...*

Your daughter is so lucky!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you made this --- so awesome!!! I want one...

jubilee said...

So adorable! I was thinking of giving up on my cake making/decorating endeavors, but I may have to amend that to try this cake!

Heather said...

Wow! That is a fantastic cake!

daysease said...

Love it.. original, different and oh so fun!!! That is what I love!!!Great job!!

Banteringblonde said...

WOWzers! That is one fabulous cake!

Shelly said...

OMG you made that!! I don't even own a cake pan, so that amazes me!

danno said...

wow awesome work...u really have amazing patience to do that.. great work :)

NYC Single Mom said...

OMG, good for you. That is one impressive cake.

this is one of those things I think I would do but go the typical new york city mom route and have someone make.

www.newyorkcitysinglemom.com

This is my first visit to your site and I love it. From sea to shining sea...

Jennifer said...

I am sure million people have told you so already, but this cake is adorable! Way better than the cakes and cupcakes I've been decorating!

cake photos said...

You have clearly done your research into cake decorating. This is a really good first cake, keep it up and you will get better and better quickly.

Vanessa said...

It looks gorgeous. You are rock and cool.

Gavin said...

That is height of creativity I have ever seen. How can you imagine like that!! So nice of you..... my kids are just overwhelmed!!