Hawaiian Birthday Cake

This was a fun cake to make.  The reason being I didn't have to bake it.  I only did the fun stuff (decorating). A friend of mine contacted me and asked if I would help her give a costco cake a makeover.  It was so fun to create.  Her twins were turning five and they were also getting ready to take a family trip to Hawaii.  This was the perfect summer birthday cake.

Shark Cake

Lil' E's 5th Birthday Cake. It is supposed to be a Great White Shark...some thought maybe a nurse shark because it was so big. It is the first time I have covered a cake completely with fondant. The body was easy to cover. The fins and the tail another story. The cake is a red velvet cake with the fins and the tail made out of rice crispie treats. It was also my first attempt at airbrushing. Over all I was happy with the result. To decorated with swedish fish and sea shells that I made from fondant. For a recipe of the cake see below.

Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature

2 eggs

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 ounces red food coloring

2 1/2 cups cake flour (I used all purpose with great results)

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon vinegar

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) round greased and floured pans (or pan size of choice). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely before frosting.