Topsy Turvy Candy Cake

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A year ago this week, I made this Topsy Turvy Candy Cake and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the way it turned out. It was bright and fun and sweet and so cute!

I don’t say that lightly because so often when I finish a cake, I see a dozen things I wish I had done different or better. I critique my cakes to death – never feeling like they’re good enough. But this one? It made me hApPy!! It came out just like I envisioned it and I was so super excited about it!

So let me tell you details… For the top of the cake, I added fondant candy, the cupcake, the number “3” and some fondant lollipops. I am most often asked about the cupcake, so let me tell you about it.

I melted some pink candy melts and poured it into a silicone cupcake mold like these. I used a paint brush to get it up on the sides  – really well coated, then I stuck it in the frig to harden. After several minutes, I took it out and repeated to get the shell really thick and sturdy.

When it was hard after the second coat, I simply pealed away the silicone liner and I had a beautiful candy cupcake liner. Instead of filling the cupcake with any actual cake, I simply took a large roll of homemade marshmallow fondant and swirled it around from bottom to top to get the cupcake look! Fun, huh?

For the “3”, I used a “3” cutter from the Wilton 50 Piece Cookie Cutter set, then added the dots to make it POP! The candy pieces and lollipops were all fondant (with some Tylose added) and I made them a few days ahead so they’d dry and be hard! Some were simple candy pieces – others were on lollipop sticks.

The cherries were just balls of red fondant (with a little pink mixed in) and the stems were floral wire – 26 gauge cloth covered, then painted with brown gel coloring.

I really wanted the colors to be bright and fun and just super happy! I think I accomplished that, huh?

On top of the top tier, I did a wavy overlay (find the tutorial for wavy overlays here) and then a wobbly random border – sort of like frosting?!

I did the reverse wavy on the bottom tier around the bottom in yellow – and then added Sydney’s name using these block white letter cutters. At first I wanted something more girly but they didn’t really stand out on the cake and I wanted her name to be BOLD. I used homemade sugar glue to attach them.

Every time I post a topsy turvy cake, I’m asked about a tutorial but for some reason, I cannot seem to EVER finish a topsy turvy (or wonky cake) tutorial – no matter how many times I start one (and I’ve started at least 3 times – maybe 4!?). BUT… as a teaser, I’ll give you what I’ve got:

This is just the top tier of a wonky cake I did a couple of years ago. The bottom tier didn’t get photographed because … I don’t know why. I probably got too busy – ran short on time – just plain got wrapped up in cake decorating and forgot!? Who knows? OH – and here’s another snippet of how I do them – go see on this Dr. Seuss Cake!

But that’s how I did the top tier. The bottom tier was the same. I actually do this a tiny bit differently now … cutting and adding the wedge back to the bottom of the top tier as well as the top. So the top tier is un-level on the top (as seen) and the bottom. That makes it sit better on the bottom tier – which is only un-level on the top. Are you thoroughly confused yet? I know that’s as clear as mud.

Don’t hate me okay… I know I’m pitiful. You win some, you lose some and I just keep losing on the wonky cake tutorial!

If you don’t want to wait on me to finish a tutorial… which may never happen at the rate I’m going – I highly recommend Colette Peters Craftsy Class: A New Look at the Crooked Cake. I learned SO MUCH from that class and now I do topsy turvy cakes (or wonky cakes or crooked cakes) better than ever!

Wanna see more of my Wonky Cakes? Visit this post!

In the meantime, do you have any questions about this cake? Leave me a comment!!

PS. If you’re not already subscribed to my blog, would you? You can sign up here for my free email updates and then you’ll never miss a cake or dessert or deal or any other quirky thing I choose to post here!

 

More candy cakes…

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice Baby Shower

Gingerbread House Christmas Candy Birthday Cake

Lolliops & Candy Cake (and this one here)

There are more… but it’s after 1am so if you want to see them, search “Candy Cakes” in the search box in the upper left corner and you’ll find them all 🙂  Thank you for reading Rose Bakes!