If you want to throw a baby shower for your friend and are still looking for an original cake recipe, you should try this one. A cake shaped like a baby carriage:
Cake for the baby shower: Baby carriage cake
Any cake batter can be used for the cake; even a Cup cake can be used for this. Bake this in a 26 cm (10 inch) pan and let it cool. Since we organized a 'boy' baby shower, part of the fondant is naturally kept in blue.
Decorating the cake with fondant
We made a simple cup cake for the cake: Recipe for a quick cup cake
What you’ll need:
- approx. 1 kg white fondant
- Powdered sugar
- Food coloring in blue
- Jam (e.g., apricot)
- 1 round cutter of approx. 5 cm
- Rolling pin
- Paintbrush
- Wine glass (for cutting out the wheels) or, if available, a large and tall round cutter
- Fondant smoother
- Knife
Instructions:
Transforming the cake into a baby carriage
Place the cake on a platter where there is still some room for the handlebar and wheels. We used a tray for this, which the cake can also be served on.
Cut a corner (approx. the upper half) out of the cake with a knife and place it on the work surface. From this piece, cut out 2 round circles in the lower area using a cutter (or, for example, a wine glass). These circles will be the wheels. Separate the upper slightly rounded edge, about 2-3 cm wide, with a knife; this will be the baby carriage handle. Set these parts aside for now. Because first, the 'baby carriage' will be covered with fondant.
Covering the cake with fondant
Knead the fondant well so that it becomes softer. Dust the rolling pin and work surface again and again with a little powdered sugar so the fondant doesn't stick as much. For this, roll out a large circle of white fondant until smooth. Possibly hold it over the cake briefly beforehand to see if the size fits; it should also go down a bit on the sides. Then heat the jam slightly in the microwave or over a water bath and brush the lower part of the 'baby carriage' with it. Now you have to work very precisely, because once the fondant is on the jam, you can hardly correct it. Therefore, carefully place the fondant on the 'baby carriage'. Smooth the fondant completely with the smoother so that it lies well, also carefully go over the edge with it. Carefully cut off excess fondant from the edge with a knife.
Now color a part of the fondant with blue food coloring in the desired shade of blue. We decided on light blue. Roll this out well again and roll it out to the size of the 'baby carriage hood'. Brush the cake with jam beforehand and then place the blue fondant on top. Cut off excess fondant at the edge again and smooth the whole thing well and often with the smoother.
Cut out round dots for the baby carriage and 2 for the tires from the blue fondant (set these aside for now). To do this, roll out the fondant smoothly again and cut out the dots with a cutter. These can be attached to the fondant with very little water. For the baby carriage hood, cut out white lines from the white, rolled-out fondant with a knife (and possibly a ruler!). Place these on the baby carriage hood again with a little water. Now, for the transition, roll 1 blue and 1 white fondant into a long roll and braid them together into a strand. Glue this onto the transition from the baby carriage to the baby carriage hood, moistened with a little water. This way, you can no longer see the transition.
Covering accessories with fondant
Now the accessories are covered: first brush the wheels and baby carriage handle with jam and cover them with white rolled-out fondant. Here, too, smooth well and cut off the excess on the sides. For the wheels, cut out 2 long lines from the blue fondant with a ruler and knife and glue them around the side of the wheel with a little water. Attach the 2 dots in the center of the wheels with a little water. For the handlebar, cover the upper piece with a little blue, rolled-out fondant. Cover the transition on the handlebar again with a braided, slightly moistened strand.
Baby accessories made of fondant
If you like, you can now also make beautiful baby accessories out of the fondant. We made baby shoes, a rattle, and a pacifier and placed them next to it.
Conclusion
I worked with fondant for the first time and am thrilled with what you can do with it. In my opinion, the cake looks great and is quite impressive. I just have to say: it takes quite a lot of time. There were three of us and it took us a full 2.5 hours. So don't hesitate to ask friends or guests for help; besides, I found it much more fun and nicer to design the cake together.
When covering, you have to work very precisely, because once the fondant is on the jam, hardly anything can be changed. You also have to be careful not to have blue bits in the white fondant due to the 2 colors. Therefore, it is advisable to either prepare the white one completely first or to always clean the tools. Here, however, you have to be careful that the fondant does not become too hard. Because it becomes hard again after a short time, so it is best to always store it in plastic wrap or a freezer bag.
By the way, the party was a complete success and I had a lot of fun.
Have you ever baked a cake for a baby shower? Then send me your photos and instructions, I'd be happy to publish them!
Also read: Organizing a baby shower
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
