I have never been a great cake maker let alone making children's birthday cakes, as I think its easier to buy one all cooked and decorated. The favourite the last few years has been Freddo Frog ice-cream cake. Yum oh. A few months ago I found a pull out in a magazine on birthday cakes and one cake really caught my eye. Monster Pinata. My grandson was going to be 6 at the end of March. As the receipe seemed easy enough and didn't have alot of ingredients, I thought that I might make this, emphasis of course on the might, not alot on yes I will or can. Anyway went ahead and bought the basic ingredients just in case I had the urge.
31 March has arrived, and guess who is 6 today? That's ok the family are away at the Coast for the Easter break, until a phone call from my unorganised daughter re birthday cakes.
So there wouldn't be a disappointed 6 year old, I got busy, the packet cake got beaten and cooked just nicely, the butter cream icing was to be pale green- hey presto I am doing really well at this, no hiccups so far.
The white chocolate melts did just that, melted nice and smooth. My husband was in charge of making the monster's head, painting the inside of an enamel basin with 3 layers off chocolate and in between each layer had to go into the freezer for 10 minutes. Everything was on track so time to make the eye, eyebrow and mouth with marispan which had to be coloured. Thank goodness food colouring cleans up ok, as I had red, green and blue fingers. Now I know why they suggested using disposable gloves.
After leaving the head for about 1 hour at room temp, I held my breath while I turned up the bowl and was surprised how easy it came out. Just a few imperfections, birthday boy won't notice that. Next step was to decorate the head with the eye, eyebrow, mouth, antennas and a lolly strap thing for the mouth, and then gently stick the glittery 6 candle on. The butter icing is now on the cake, and as Jackson's birthday was on Easter Sunday, I filled the top of the cake with little easter eggs, then carefully placed the monster head on top to cover. Well look at that, not magnificent but pretty damn good, although the head was square not dome shape as in the picture. I didn't realise until I saw the photos.
After leaving the head for about 1 hour at room temp, I held my breath while I turned up the bowl and was surprised how easy it came out. Just a few imperfections, birthday boy won't notice that. Next step was to decorate the head with the eye, eyebrow, mouth, antennas and a lolly strap thing for the mouth, and then gently stick the glittery 6 candle on. The butter icing is now on the cake, and as Jackson's birthday was on Easter Sunday, I filled the top of the cake with little easter eggs, then carefully placed the monster head on top to cover. Well look at that, not magnificent but pretty damn good, although the head was square not dome shape as in the picture. I didn't realise until I saw the photos.
We headed over to daughter's home and fortunately we only need to go Around a few Corners. What is more important to a 6 year old on his birthday? The large box that Nana has or the cake that Poppa is proudly holding.
Present unwrapped, happy birthday sung, a wish was made now blow out the candle, and then surprise surprise has he cracked the monster's head and saw all the easter eggs.
Present unwrapped, happy birthday sung, a wish was made now blow out the candle, and then surprise surprise has he cracked the monster's head and saw all the easter eggs.
The Monster Pinata Cake
The most excited people were the adults, Poppa explaining how he made everything, my daughter surprised that it actually turned out (no faith in her mother), an impressed son-in-law, older brother and sister and her partner. Cake tasted and chocolate eggs eaten but time now to play with his new, rather noisy (oh good) remote control robot which also turns into a car.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON
Congratulations! A great effort. You were brave to try such a novelty cake. The boy looks very happy with it. Hope your daughter shows a bit more confidence in you from now on. Love your decorated photos too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane. The decorated photos are a function I found on our Lumix camera. The photographer forget turn the function after the 1st shot so we ended up with about 6 -
DeleteHi Alicia
ReplyDeleteThat's a great blog you've got going - and I love the cake. Very adventurous of you to tackle that.
I forgot to ask - will you be in New York on your birthday? I know that's what you wanted to do last year so I hope it happens that you can celebrate this year in NY. Have a wonderful trip and we'll have to get together here for lunch sometime after you get back.
I'll look forward to following you in your blog.
Love, Robyn xx