Tree Stump Birthday Cake
I almost started this post with, “A few weeks ago I got this last minute order…” but then I realized that wouldn’t be true. I actually sent this order out on August 10. Yeah… I’m that far behind on sharing cakes. Oops.
Anyway, so back in August, I got a sort of last minute order for a young man celebrating his 18th birthday. His mom mentioned that he would be joining the family logging business and asked if I had any ideas for a cake.
After a few google searches, I settled on this design. It was relatively easy to put together and with a little detail work, the cake had a nice wow factor (or at least I thought so!).
To make this cake, I baked four 7″ round cakes and stacked three of them up for the main part of the tree stump. I used the extra to fill out the roots near the bottom and give it some natural lumps and bumps (I broke it up, mixed with some frosting sort of like a cake ball texture and used it like dough).
The cake was White Almond Sour Cream (wedding cake flavor) filled and frosted with vanilla buttercream.
For the tree look, I used a tree bark texture mat, then I used a butter knife to add more details and some deeper grooves to really make the tree trunk texture pop. I used my extruder for the grass and vines and I used an ivy leaf cutter from the Wilton Flowers Gum Paste set.
The rings of the tree were done by hand with a tool from the Gum Paste Tools set and I used my Fox Run Alphabet cutters to do the lettering. The brown fondant was Satin Ice Dark Chocolate Brown mixed with a little homeamade marshmallow fondant to lighten it. The leaves and the top of the tree were done with mmf colored green and the tan color.
And I think that’s it!!
Do you have any questions about this cake? Please leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer and help out!
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How cool Rose!!! Looks so very real!!! How big is this texture tree mat?
Thanks Yaneri! I just updated the link to the actual mat that I have – I had linked to the wrong one. Mine is big… about 10″ x 15″ and not at all expensive!
Lolol…I have to chuckle at the sheer genius and simplicity of this cake. It’s so smart the way your mind works to put together something like this. Yet, when you break it down and explain how you got to the end result, you make it sound so obvious. IT”S NOT OBVIOUS!!! You are truly creative, Rose. How do you decide when to use fondant for decorating and when to use gum paste?
Thanks Kim! I only use gum paste when I need a part of a cake to dry hard or really hold a specific shape (this can also be accomplished by adding Tylose to fondant, but pre-made gum paste is more reliable and consistent) – such as a number that needs to stand up on top, bows (here or here), roses, or even for this hot air balloon topper. So generally, if it’s something really detailed or important, I use gum paste because it’s more reliable and it dries really hard.
That’s so helpful and educational. Thanks, Rose!
That’s a great looking tree stump!
Thanks Megan!
Hi just loved the way u made this cake…..did u add any support like dowels in the cake or did u use any cake boards ?
I don’t think I used any cake boards in the cake but I did use at least one dowel because it had to travel about 20 miles!
It looks like you added the top piece of fondant, then the sides. Did you do the sides in sections? It seems like it would be difficult to wrap one large piece around the cake.
Awesome cake BTW!
I think I actually did one large piece… and it was not easy! I wanted to only have one seam in the back, but an easy way to transfer a large piece of fondant like that is to put it on wax paper. Check out my tutorial on the rocketship cake to see what I mean: http://rosebakes.com/how-to-make-a-rocket-ship-cake-step-by-step-picture-tutorial/
Your cakes are absolutely gorgeous…..quick question, did you use the impression mat before putting the fondant on the cake (while rolling out the fondant) or after?
Before, but when I smooth it on, I lose some definition so I usually go back with a gum paste tool and mark some of the lines a little deeper to give it more texture.
Thanks Rose, your tutorials have been really helpful…..God bless you.
Gorgeous cake……my question is how do you cut into after? How do you serve it?
With a knife?! Haha – sorry – I’m just being sassy! I’d cut it into very tall, skinny slices. If they’re too big, cut them in half across the middle… so each tall piece is cut in half into two shorter pieces. Does that make sense?
Hi Rose. Your questions and answers were very helpful to me, especially seeing how you put the fondant on the rocket cake. I can never get that right. I am anxious to try it with the wax paper. You do a beautiful job! I wanted to share with you something I found a bit ironic. My mother used to do cakes for over 30 years and her name is also Rose. I was reading on and saw that you are married to Richy. My fathers name is Richard. And then to top it off, they had 6 children and I read that you too have 6 children. I just thought that was kind of funny. Have a wonderful day and thank you for sharing your tips and tricks with us.
That’s SO incredible Denise!! Thank you for stopping by and reading Rose Bakes!