Based on a book as dictated by my child, below are the tools and supplies I used to make this Percy themed cake from scratch.
Bottom Cake
This is about a 3 layer-cake to get the height for the panels. Story images were a mix of fondant cutouts and hand painting on fondant panels. First, I hand-drew h the scenes out. Then I traced it onto parchment paper. once I had a good outline on parchment, I overlaid it onto a flat rectangle of fondant (about 1/8″ thick) and pressed carefully to form some outlines.
Next, I used a very fine brush and started painting with food paint – working from the background up toward the foreground images.
One the flat parts were painted and dry, I cut out silhouettes of the monsters and characters (using the same draw, parchment trace, and trace on fondant method). These add a nice layered effect (hard to see from the photo). Because the fondant was sticky, I used a sharp exacto-knife and cleaned it often. Also, I found food glue was helpful to make sure they would really stick to the panel.
Once panels were done and dried, I kept them in an airtight container, flat so they wouldn’t crack. To use, I overlaid cake with white fondant, and used a bit of water to glue panels when assembling cake.
Fondant column bent around corners to cover gap around the edges. You could use modeling chocolate as well or a blend so it’s not soft.
To hold up the next layer, I put in about 4″ lollipop sticks and then a small square of cake board where the plastic columns would rest.
Top Cake
White and blue marbled fondant wavy strips wrap around in alternating levels. Bend down the tops of the high points to create the arc of a wave.
Sea foam is whipped up buttercream frosting dabbed on with a spatula.
Fondant mermaid tails from molds using neon fondant and luster dust.
Trident & lightening bolts are 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. A gum paste may be a firmer option (modelling chocolate does not hold the paint). Or make cookies/crispy treats and cover with fondant.
Blue buttercream frosting on top in a swirl effect too create a contrasting water element and movement.
Cake Making Supplies
How to Cake It
Good “firm” cake recipes and tips for make sculpted cakes.
