How to Make a Castle Cake: Part 1

A castle cake is what all little girls dream about and I’m going to show you how to make one! Since this castle was relatively small (6″ and 4″), I used only three turrets. If you use a bigger cake or a different shape (ie square) you may wish to add more turrets. It depends on how grand and detailed you would like your cake to be! This tutorial will be divided into three parts and posted over the week.

This is what I used:
6 inch round cake (covered with pink fondant). Approx 12 cm/5 in high

4 inch round cake (buttercream icing). Approx 8cm /3 in high

14 inch cake board covered in fondant. I used the Wilton Impression Mat – graceful vines to create the patterns

Fondant:

Wilton Pink Fondant – I used 510 grams/18 oz to cover the three turrets and trimmings

Wilton White Fondant – I used 510 grams/18 oz to cover the roofs and trimmings

Purple. Wilton Violet food colour mixed with white fondant – for the doors, windows, flowers and flags

Green – Wilton Kelly Green for cake board, leaves and grass

Grey Marble – Satin ice black fondant mixed with wilton white fondant

Skin (pink fondant mixed with yellow and brown colouring)

Hot pink dress – wilton Rosa mixed with white fondant

Turrets:

3 x polystyrofoam cylinders and 3 x cones, Approx 3 inches in diameter

(You can also use PVC pipes, paper towel rolls, cardboard cones from craft shops or ice cream cones)

Equipment:

“The Mat by sweetwise”

FMM Sugarcraft Straight Frill Cutter, 4 cutters included, (Set 3, 9-12)

Wilton straight scallop cutter

Sugar shaper

Tip #233 for grass piping, piping bag

Rolling pin

Plastic Dowel

Turntable

Small knife

Metal scraper

Spatula

Pins

Scissors

Round cookie cutter approx 2 inch & small bowl approx 4 inch (to use as circle template for windows and door)

Small Paintbrush and medium size paintbrush

Flower punch

Ivy leaf punch

Ruler

Black edible marker

Light pink petal dust

Woodgrain impression pad

Tylose powder

Green buttercream or royal icing for the grass

Glue (made with tylose powder and hot water)

Piping Gel – optional for making hair shiny

Cornflour or icing sugar to dust when cutting out shapes

Skewers

Tweezers

Wire cutter to cut skewers or strong scissors

Purchased Decorations:

White flowers and silver balls

Making the turrets

I used 3 x polystyrofoam cylinders and 3 x cones, approx 3 inches in diameter, purchased from an art shop. (You can also use PVC pipes, paper towel rolls, cardboard cones from craft shops or ice cream cones)

Step 1.
Roll out enough fondant to cover a cylinder. Cut straight edges on three sides of the fondant (top and sides). You may wish to cut a little extra and trim excess away later.

Step 2.
Paint some glue around the cylinder (not the top and bottom)

Step 3.
Simply roll the cylinder towards you, aligning the edge at the bottom of the cyliner (left)

Step 4.
Roll until the whole cylinder is covered and then use a sharp knife to mark where the seam will join. Cut off the excess fondant and join the seam. You may wish to soften the join line by gently rubbing a bit of shortening with your fingers into the line, but I don’t do too much and just face the seam towards the back of the cake.

Step 6.
Stand the cylinder upright. At this stage you can use a smoother to make sure the surface of the fondant is all smooth and wrinkle free. Apply a bit of glue to the top.

Step 7.
Place the cone on top.

Step 8.
Cut out scalloped strips to cover the cone using a straight frill cutter. I start by cutting a perfectly straight line with my wilton metal icing smoother. The strips are about half an inch in width – I use another straight frill cutter as a measuring guide to ensure even strips. I just place it next to the scallop cutter as shown in pic above. You can dust a bit of corn flour on the fondant when cutting out shaped to prevent the fondant sticking.

Step 9.
Apply a thin layer of glue to the cone where the first strip will go.

Step 10.
Stick on the first strip, pressing very lightly with your fingers and making sure you don’t stretch the fondant. Start at the back and go around the cone, cutting the strip where the ends will meet. Apply the next rounds in the same way.

Step 11.
Once at the top, use scissors to cut off any excess. Rub the join lines around the top to smooth out join lines.

I made all three turrets using foam cylinders and cones. The middle turret is cut to size with a serrated knife. You may choose to make the third tier out of cake.

Making the flags

Step 12.
Mix some tylose powder into the fondant you are using for the flags. This will make the flags dry harder and prevent them from drooping. Cut out ribbons approximately 3 inches long and half an inch wide, using a knife or scissors.

Step 13.
Using a wire cutter or strong scissors, cut skewers to about 3 inches in length (the pointy end will go into the turret top). Dab a bit of glue at the straight end of the flag, place the skewer on top and roll the fondant to enclose the skewer. Press lightly with your fingers to make sure the fondant is sticking to the skewer.

Step 14.
Place the flags on the dowels as shown to give the flags some shape and an appearance of movement. Allow to dry completely, overnight or longer.

Making the windows and door

Step 15.
Roll out some fondant for each window. I used a woodgrain impression pad to create the patterns on the fondant. With a circle cookie cutter, cut out a circle. Cut three sides of the circle – both sides and the bottom, leaving the arch at the top. Use the side of a knife to soften the edges of the top edges of the window.

Step 16.
To make the rim around the windows, use a sugar shaper to squeeze out thin tubes of fondant.

Step 17.
Place a strip of fondant in the middle of the window, using a tiny bit of glue to hold it down. Paint a small amount of glue around the outside of the window.

Step 18.
Gently press the thin tubes of fondant around the outside of the window. Easiest to start of on the sides and work around the top, other side and last bottom.

Step 19.
Using the same scallop frill cutter from the roofs, cut a short strip to fit the top of the window as shown below.

Step 20.
Use the end of a thin paint brush to make light indents in the fondant where the silver balls (dragees) will go. Apply a little glue in the indents and press in the balls. It may be easier to apply the balls with tweezers.

Step 21.
Roll out a piece of fondant for the middle window. Start by cutting out a circle like the other windows.

Step 22.
Glue the window in place.

Step 23.
For the shutters, roll out a piece of fondant and create the woodgrain impression as before. Cut out a circle.

Step 24.
Cut the shape in half in the centre and glue into place as shown.

Step 25.
Make the rim around the window using the same instruction as Step 16.

This is the end Part 1. Next is Part 2, where I will show you how to make the princess, how to decorate the turrets and how to put the cake tiers together.

Happy Caking!

Wynona