A two-tiered birthday cake based on the first Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief book (not the movie). My kiddo is a huge fan of all Rick Riordan books so I’ve done several cakes based on his various series. I’ve also make a Kane Chronicles and Trials of Apollo cake.
Below, I detail my steps and provided links to the tools and supplies I used to make this DIY Percy Jackson themed cake. I am not a professional baker and this was for personal use only.
Greek & Mermaid Specialty Supplies
These are the special molds and cutters (or close proximity) that I used to create some of shaped elements of the Percy Jackson cake.
Fondant
Colors used includes: White (2lb), Blue, Black, Mixed Primary, Mixed Neon
General Tools
Food Paint, Food Brushes, Fondant Tools & Rollers, Lolli sticks, Edible Glue, Exacto knife
Percy Jackson Cake – Base Tier
The lower cake was 3 thick layers to get the height for the panels. The overall design include painted fondant panels for each side and fondant columns.
First: Draw the Scenes
I sketched four scenes based on key parts of the story my daughter wanted. Percy Jackson in NY (based on cover art), Camp Halfblood entrance, Grover fighting Medusa, and Annabeth with Cerberus in Hades.
I planned out which parts I would build up with layers of cut fondant or frosting. I focused on the characters and other key elements.
Second: 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.
Third: 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.
Fourth: 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.
Fifth: Cut Fondant Shapes
While the paint was drying, I did the fondant cut outs of the monsters and characters. I used the same draw, parchment trace, and outline into fondant method. T
Because the fondant was sticky, I used a sharp exacto-knife and wiped it often. Also, I found food glue was helpful to make sure they would really stick to the fondant panel.
For the characters, I painted them after they were glued to the panels. Once everything was glued on, I went back and did any painting touchups or final bits. Like dark outlines and highlights to make thing pop more.
For the lightening bold in the NY panel, I used yellow royal icing to help give it some dimension.
Sixth: Let panels dry
Once panels were done and dried, I stored them in an airtight container, flat so they wouldn’t crack.
Seventh: Build and Cover Cake
I usually make the cakes well ahead and keep them frozen prior to decorating. This was a 3-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.
Eighth: Glue 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 panels on with just a bit of water. But you can also use an edible adhesive or royal icing if they are being troublesome.
Nineth: Add Columns
I used a Greek column mold to create white fondant columns. I work with the fondant still being soft, so the columns are flexible. Then I bent them around corners to cover gap around the edges of the panels. You could use modeling chocolate as well or a blend so it’s not too soft. They do warp a bit if you aren’t careful.
Tenth: 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.
Percy Jaconson Cake – Top Tier
First: Build Cake & Cover
The top cake was a 8″ round cake made of three layers. Like the bottom cake, there is a decent amount of frosting between layers to build up the height. I did a good crumb coating and covered with a dark blue fondant.
Second: Create Fondant Waves
To get a water marbling look, I barely kneaded together white and blue fondant and rolled out. I then cut wavy strips to wrap around the cake in alternating levels. Then I gently bent the high ponts of the wave over to create a curling arc.
Third: Add Sea Foam Frosting
Sea foam was whipped up buttercream frosting dabbed on with a spatula. Pretty much dabbed them on. I did a bit, then added more later once all the other elements were in place.
Fourth: Add Trident & Lightening Bolt
I actually made these well ahead of time out of fondant formed with specialty cookie cutter attached with lollipop sticks. They are painted with metallic food paint. I had to dry these out for a long time. I would recommend to blend with gum paste to help make this really firm. Or make cookies/crispy treats and cover with fondant.
Fifth: Add Top Water Swirl
I made a light blue buttercream frosting for the top of the cake. Then I used a spatula to make a swirling wave pattern to build up near the center to make the bolt and trident look like it is coming up out of the water.
Sixth: Make Mermaid Tails
Mermaid tail molds were easy to use with a mix of neon fondant. I dry painted on edible luster dust to make them shimmery. I then added them into the waves of the cake. The fondant waves were still pliable enough to tuck them in here and there. I let the tails flop over the top of the cake.
Seventh: Clean Up
I went back over the cake to see where I needed to fix any smudged up areas or add more buttercream frosting.
Eighth: Set up colums
The top cake was placed on a plastic plate and columns support. I made sure the columns were well attached. Then carefully placed on top of bottom cake, aligning the columns with the bits of cardboard support.
Nineth: Add Frosting Clouds
Once the cakes were set up, I added in blobs of white buttercream frosting to cover up where the bottom cake and column supports met. And then did a quick boarder around the edges to cover gaps and such.
Tenth: Add Candle
In the front part, I added a golden birthday candle. And then it was ready for all to enjoy. I placed it on my turntable so they could spin and look at all the sides of the cake.
Cake Making Supplies
How to Cake It
Good “firm” cake recipes and tips for make sculpted cakes.
