A princess castle cake is what all little girls dream about and I’m going to show you how to make one! This castle was relatively small (6″ and 4″), I used only three turrets.

If you are using a bigger cake or a different shape (i.e. square), you may wish to add more turrets.

It depends on how grand and detailed you would like the birthday cake to be! This castle cake tutorial will be divided into three parts and posted over the week.

What You Need to Make a Castle Cake

In creating a castle cake this complicated, it is extremely important to have all the essentials prepared beforehand. I noted all I used for the different parts of this project.

• 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.

What Fondant I Used:

• 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 coloring 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 coloring);
• Princess’ hot pink dress – Wilton Rosa mixed with white fondant.

What I Used for the Castle’s Turrets:

• 3 x poly styrofoam cylinders and 3 x cones, approx 3 inches in diameter.

Note: Use PVC pipes, paper towel rolls, cardboard cones from craft shops, ice cream, or sugar cones.

The Equipment for Making a Castle Cake

• “The Mat by Sweetwise”
• FMM Sugarcraft Straight Frill Cutter, 4 cutters included
• Wilton straight scallop cutter
• Sugar shaper
• Decorating tip #233 for grass piping
• Piping bag
• Rolling pin
• Plastic Dowel
• Turntable
• Small knife
• Metal scraper
• Spatula

Other Materials

• Pins
• Scissors
• Round cookie cutter approx 2 inches & small bowl approx 4 inches (to use a 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

Added Materials

• 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
• Wirecutter to cut skewers or strong scissors
• Purchased decorations: white flowers and silver balls.

Step-By-Step Tutorial with Images

How to Make the Turrets

I used 3 x poly styrofoam cylinders and 3 x cones, approx 3 inches in diameter, purchased from an art shop.

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

Step 2:

Paint some glue.

Step 3:

Simply roll the cylinder towards you, aligning the edge at the bottom left.

Step 4:

A whole cylinder must be covered and then use a sharp knife to mark where the seam will join. Cut off the excess fondant and join the seam.

You can soften the join line by gently rubbing a bit of shortening with your fingers into the line.

Don’t do too much and just face the seam towards the back of the castle cake.

Step 6: Stand the cylinder upright. At this stage, you can use a smoother to make sure the surface of the fondant is 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. Using another straight frill cutter as a measuring guide to ensure even strips. I just place it next to the scallop cutter as shown in the pic above.

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. Cut the strip where the ends will meet and applying the next rounds in the same way.

Step 11: For 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 the cake.

How to Make 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 drying completely, overnight, or longer.

How to Make the Door and Windows

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, and leave 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 trim 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. The easiest to start off on the sides and work around the top, another 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 paintbrush to make light indents in the fondant where the silver balls (dragees) will go. Apply a little glue to 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 center and glue it into place as shown.

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

This is the end of Part 1.

Next Parts of this Cake Tutorial

For Part 2, where I will show you how to make the Disney princess and guide you through decorating the cake parts like turrets and putting the cake layers together, visit my next article.

For Part 3, where you’ll learn how to make the castle doors and add the finishing touches, click visit my blog.

Happy Caking!