Help: dinosaur cake

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coffeeandpieohmy

Assistant Cook
Joined
Apr 27, 2009
Messages
7
Location
Melbourne
Hi all
I'm new to the forum so forgive me if this topic has been raised before
I want to make a dinosaur shaped cake for a friend's birthday, and while I'm fine with shaping and putting it together I just wanted some advice on the best cake batter and icing to use.
I am wanting to make a chocolate cake (although I'm open to other suggestions) but I'm not sure how dense the cake should be so that the icing can slide easier over the cut (and often crumbly sides).
And I was also thinking of a white chocolate mousseline buttercream as then i can easily colour it. I've never made mousseline buttercream at home before so I'm not sure of the taste.
Will it need to be flavored with chocolate?
Your comments would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you
 
are you using a mix for your cake or are you doing it from scratch?
if you're wanting to do chocolate you can't really go with devil's food.
use a bread knife for cutting the shape and a pastry brush for brushing off
the crumbs.
as far as the mousseline goes, it depends on the recipe. the recipe I have
tastes great on its own and it isn't too sweet. but if you choose you can
flavor it with just about anything, liquers, extracts, melted chocolate or
cooked and strained fruits like raspberries.
 
thanks for replying =)
yes i am definitely going to make the base from scratch, i think by doing this the cake should be firmer anyway?
I have quite a good recipe for chocolate cake but it is for an 8-inch pan, and i need a 9-inch for the dinosaur so i'm not sure if i should try to adjust it or just find a recipe for a 9-inch
What is your recipe for the mousseline? I found one that was well reviewed at recipe bazaar website
I guess the thing with this cake, is although it will be in the shape of a dinosaur and green I still want it to taste delicious, no compromise on flavor
 
Hi guys

thanks for your help with the cake, it was a big success
I ended up doing a really heavy chocolate mud cake base with a mousseline icing.
I think next time I would use a pound cake base as the I don't think the chocolate married with the mousseline well
The shape was very easy to get as you just cut it out from 2x9inch cakes
The only problem I had really was with the buttercream as I didnt have a candy thermometer and just had to test it by dropping into water but it worked out beautifully



enjoy the photo!
 

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very cute! I'm glad the frosting worked out for you - but I'd be lost
without my candy thermometer! was the recipe a total pain? I'm
always kind of tense when I make it!
 
Thanks for the recipe ellakav!
No the recipe was great, i was scared when it looked curdled but i kept beating and it ended up lovely and smooth.
I did make a mistake by adding too much almond essence but no one really seemed to mind.
It's made me very excited to try my hand at decorating other cakes
 
great! was this your first one? it is so cute - you did a great job!
I have to come up with something for my son's birthday again.
he's going to be 3 in June and I have no clue what to do this year.
last year I did one that looked like a little stack of Lego blocks. I
think I told you that. it was a huge hit - I was so proud of myself!
I hope I can match that this year!
 
Longer neck and bigger pan! LOL Your cake is great. You have more nerve than I do. Great Job! I bet you will make a great pastry chef.
 

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