A two-tiered Apollo cake based on the first Trials of Apollo book, as my kiddo is a huge fan of all Rick Riordan books. I’ve also done cakes based on Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles.
Below, I detail my steps and provided links to the tools and supplies I used to make this DIY Trials of Apollo cake. I am not a professional baker and this was for home use only (my kiddo’s birthday).
This was a 360 sculptural cake with various story elements handpainted on fondant.
Specialty Molds and Cutters
These are the special molds and cutters that I used to create some of shaped elements of the Trials of Apollo themed cake.
Greek columns mold, Greek/Roman edging molds, Bow & Arrow cutter, Column Cake Tier Set
Fondant
Colors used includes: White, Gold, Yellow, Red and Blue
General Tools
Food Paint, Food Brushes, Fondant Tools & Rollers, Lolli sticks, Edible Glue, Exacto knife, Toothpicks
Apollo Cake – Base Tier
The lower cake was 4 thick layers to get the height for the panels. The overall design include painted fondant panels and shapes from the story..
1st: Draw the Scenes
I sketched three scenes based on key parts of the story series Trials of Apollo (the whole series, not just the first book). I reviewed book covers and fan art. But sketched and hand painted everything from looking.
Main panels were: Apollo becoming Lester, Forest of Dodona, Python Serpent.
Other small items from the story were place in between panels: Bow & Arrow, Meg’s Cat-Eyed glasses, Arrow of Dodona, Golden Ukulele, and Peaches the Karpo spirit.
2nd: Create a Parchment Tracing
Next I traced the outlines onto parchment paper. Once done, overlaid it onto a 1/8″ thick 3″ x 5″ rectangle of fondant. Using a fondant stick tool with a pointed end (looks like stylus) I traced the lines over the parchment pressing into the fondant. I pressed firmly but carefully to not puncture the paper.
3rd: Paint thin outlines
Next, I used a very fine brush and started painting the outlines in a light color food paint. I referenced my original drawings to make sure I got the shapes right. I outlined the areas for the cut out fondant to be as well.
4th: Paint background
Then I started painting, working from the background up toward the foreground images. It is hard to “paint over” food paint until it fully dries. So you can go back and “repaint” areas after letting it dry out for several hours.
5th: Cut Fondant Shapes
For the smaller items, once the outlines of paint was dry I cut around the fondant before it dried. Because the fondant was sticky, I used a sharp exacto-knife.
After cut out, I painted in the detail and went over edges the glasses and bow and arrow to provide some 3D depth.
6th: Let paint and fondant dry
Once panels were done and dried, I stored them in an airtight container, flat so they wouldn’t crack. Looking back, I would not let the fondant fully dry out as it was challenging to place on a round cake (for a rectangular cake it would be fine.) You want the paint to be dry, but having the fondant a bit flexible would have been better.
7th: Build and Cover Cake
I usually make the cakes well ahead and keep them frozen prior to decorating. This was a 4-layer cake with decent amount of frosting between layers to build up the height.
I did a standard even crumb coat and then a basic white fondant overlay. I covered up most of this fondant, so I wasn’t super focused on making everything neat as a pin.
8th: Create Sky Top
I created a sky effect my marbling blue and white fondant together. Take chunks of the color and push together a bit, but do not really blend it. Then roll out and cut into circle the size of the cake top. It works best if almost all the way to the edges but not over.
9th: Edge the Top
Next I used gold fondant in Greek edging molds. I adhered them around the outer rim of the cake to cover the edge of the fondant sky.
10th: Glue Art Panels
Once the cake was covered in fondant, I made sure everything was still firm. This was in August, so I regularly put it back in the fridge.
I “glued” the art panels on with just a bit of water. But you can also use an edible adhesive or royal icing if they are being troublesome. I tried to space them evenly on the cake, so there was the same amount of blank space between each panel. This is where I would glue the other shapes.
11th: Frame Art Panels with Columns
I used Greek edging and column molds to create white trim and columns for the art panels. Because they were hard and flat (not curved), there was gap on the edges. I bent the columns around and sort of into the gaps to cover.
I used small white trim pieces on the top of the panels and tucked them behind the columns. The overall effect was a frame or doorway look.
12th: Finish edging and gild
Using the same Greek edging molds, I placed white edging around the bottom of the cake. Then I used a edible gold paint and lightly washed the white fondant edging and columns to look a bit gilded.
13th: Glue on shapes
Next was gluing on the smaller shapes in the “empty” spaces between panels. I placed a couple of smaller shape together.
14th: Add Cake Supports
To hold up the next layer, I put in 4″ lollipop sticks and then a small square of cake board where the plastic columns would rest. If you don’t, they tend to sink into the bottom cake as the top cake is quite heavy.
Trials of Apollo Cake – Top Tier
1st: Build Cake
The top cake was a 8″ dome cake using a dome cake pan. I sliced it to make layer and had frosting in between each layer. I did a good crumb coating and kept it in the freezer.
2nd: Create Sun Rays
I designed the cake with the idea of having a two-tone pattern of sun rays sticking out. To keep the shapes and sizes consistent, I made paper patterns for each ray type.
Orange triangular rays were make with yellow and red fondant blended together. I brushed on a bit of gold paint at the end but it didn’t show up much. I make about a dozen, but used 10.
Yellow ways rays were make with yellow fondant marbled with the gold fondant. These I had to carefully follow the pattern to ensure I kept the shape right. I made about 7, but only used 4 in the final set up. It’s good to always make a bit more than you need incase of breakage.
Each ray used two fondant cut outs glued together. This not only made them sturdy, but allow me to place toothpicks at the bottom edge to later attach them to the cake. After they were all made I let them air dry until hard.
3rd: Cover Dome with Gold
Using the specialty gold fondant, I covered the entire dome cake to make a half sphere. I then placed it on my cake plate (that later attaches to the column pillar tiers).
4th: Create Apollo Sign
Using the same gold fondant, I created the symbol of Apollo aligned with the book. I first cut out a circle. Then used a slightly smaller circle to make a inset ring. Using a ruler, I marked two lines to create a triangle tip. Then I used a black food pen to darked these lines on the disk.
Then I made an arrow by rolling out a small, short rope of fondant and cutting away to make a spearhead and flethcing. I used the black food pen to put in some details on the fletching. I then carefully glued (using water) the arrow to the disk creating the “A” center line. I let this dry a bit to stablize. Then attached to dome.
5th: Edge the Dome
I picked the larger Greek edging mold the emulates Laurel wreaths. With gold fondant, I created continuous edging attaching all the way around the dome where the cake meets the plate.
6th: Prepare for Assembly
At this stage before final assempbly, it was time to move my Apollo cake to its final destination. Our took car ride to a party place. I carefully load cakes into carry boxes. I also pack the other parts I need to do for final assembly (sun rays, columns) and tools for potential touch ups.
7th: Align and Place Cake Tier
Once at the final table and ready to be place (and not moved again). I place the bottom tier on table and got it centered. I then attached the platic column tiers to the top tier cake plate.
Making sure the columns were aligned with the support on the bottom tier, I carefully place on the top tier so that it was in the center of the bottom tier.
8th: Add Sun Rays
My design included having the orange triangle rays in two even rows mirroring each other arching over the top of the cake, Then I placed yellow wavy rays in between these rows and between the orange rays. There are various options on how you could do sun rays, this was just my design.
Tenth: Add Candles
In the front part, I added a golden birthday candles. And then it was ready for all to enjoy.