Have you heard of Dude Perfect? They are a group of guys that have built a business around trick shots and sporting challenges. My son loves to watch their videos. One of his favorites, includes some wild bowling trick shots with the world’s best bowler. I have to admit, I almost enjoy it as much as him. It is a cool thing for him to like, and even cooler that he chose it as his birthday theme. We worked together to come up with a cake design, and I enjoyed the challenge. He was super excited when I was done, and even more excited to eat it. 😀 Did I mention he turned 8 years old? I can’t believe it! My daughter’s birthday is next, and her cake will be all about mermaids and unicorns. 😀 Have a fun and safe Memorial Weekend!
The cake is a homemade yellow butter cake, from Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. I doubled the recipe to make a 14 inch round cake. The icing is also homemade, and made with real butter (see recipe below). This type of buttercream can crack easily and is a bit more challenging to work with than the vegetable shortening variety, but I prefer it.
When frosting a cake, frost the top first and then the sides. Place a large amount of icing on top of the cake (you can remove the excess later), to prevent crumbs from mixing with your icing. After icing the top and sides, smooth out with a cake spatula and remove any excess icing. Place the cake under a stove fan and light for about 20 minutes to slightly harden the icing. Smooth the cake by using a smooth paper towel (Viva works well). Place the paper towel on one section at a time, and gently smooth with your hand. Repeat, until the cake is where you want it. I also use the paper towel to smooth the edges, by placing the paper towel on the edge, and smoothing gently from the side to the top. The cake is now ready to decorate. I use a disposable cake box to store the cake in, until it is ready to put the decorations on and time to put on display. I bake the cake 2 days before the party and ice it the day before the party.
I mixed the icing with blue and green gel color. The decorations are made out of fondant, and gum paste.
- The balls and golf club are made out of fondant. I molded them and used food safe markers and color dust for the details.
- I used gum paste for the bowling pins and letters. I used a food safe marker for the pins and color dust for the letters.
- I used a mixture of gum paste and fondant for the bowling lane and gutters. The mixture gives it stability, but also enables it to remain flexible.
- I used a gum paste glue to adhere the decorations to each other and the cake (made with water and gum paste). I placed all the decorations on the cake a few hours before the party, but had everything ready the day before, including icing the cake.
I am excited to bring my cake to Fiesta Friday #225, and to be co-hosting this week!
Ingredients
- 6 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
- 8 cups pure cane confectioners sugar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp real vanilla extract
Instructions
- With the flat beater attachment, beat the butter until smooth (about 45 seconds). Add the sugar (sifted if possible or at least whisked well) and beat for about 30 seconds or until combined. Add the vanilla and beat on high until very fluffy (around 2 minutes). Store in a sealed container and use within a day or 2.
Great job Antonia – never heard of these guys but the cake is perfect for a sports minded young man! I enjoy seeing your cakes as it reminds me of the fun times I had making cakes for all the kids and adults too!
Thank you so much Judi, you are so sweet! I love these memories, and know these times are fleeting. It is wonderful that you make cakes for your kids too, it creates wonderful memories. My mom used to make us cakes when we were little, and when I was in my twenties, she surprised me with a doll cake. It was wonderful. Have a great Memorial weekend! 😀
Good ole Wilton doll cake inserts! I made one too for a grand daughter – one of my easier cakes 🙂 Enjoy your weekend Antonia…
They’re great. My mom gave me her old pan and I made a princess doll cake a few years ago. Great pan! Thank you!
How creative Antonia! Your son is a lucky boy!!
Thank you Linda, you are very kind! Happy Memorial Day!
Thanks! You too – Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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That’s an awesome dude cake! Happy Birthday to your son.
I hope you have a great week-end too!
Thank you Deborah! I can’t believe he is already 8! Thank you, I am ready for the break.
I know time flies! I always say, “let’s have the cake, party, presents, but don’t turn one year older!” My kids, and now #1 Grandson never go for it. 🙁
Oh, I can imagine you’re ready for a break. I remember all to well how much work the kids get this time of year. It’s sometimes overwhelming!
Ha ha, wouldn’t that be nice! 😀 It goes by too fast! It can be, and a long weekend is always welcome! 😀
Clearly a sports fan!! Beautiful cake, Antonia. I can see why he was so excited. Happy 8th birthday to your son. I’m looking forward to the unicorns and mermaids! Have a wonderful weekend!
Yes, he has really started liking sports. Thank you so much Diana! Me too, I can’t wait to see the ideas and design she comes up with. You too! 😀
Wonderful job!
Thank you Lynn! Happy Memorial Day!
Super cute!!!!
Thanks Krystina! 😀 Have a nice weekend!
Episis!!
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Happy birthday to Alex and thank you for co-hosting FF:)
Thank you Monika! It is always fun to co-host! 😀 Have a great holiday weekend!
You truly have a cake decorating talent! This is awesome, I hope he had a wonderful birthday!
You are so kind, thank you! He did! Happy Memorial Day!
Another great birthday cake Antonia!! So fun that you make them so personal and really cute!! I’m sure it was the hit of the birthday! How do you get your ideas?? To you have a fancy cakes cookbook or blog source?? So fun!! Hope his birthday was the best! hugs!
Thank you Rhonda! It is a lot of fun, and they really enjoy it. I learn about the theme they want, talk to them about what they want on their cake, and design it with them. My daughter has started doing a lot of the design herself now, which is cool. I don’t want to look at other cakes, because I want ours to be original. It is a fun creative process for the kids and me. 😀 Happy Memorial Day and thank you again!
So fantastic that it’s a project you all do together! I think these cakes will become legendary in your family over the years!! So glad you post them! You’re amazing Antonia. xox
It is a wonderful experience, and hopefully they will cherish the memories. 😀 You are very kind, thank you! Have a great end to your week Rhonda! 😀
That’s a beautiful cake ! Happy Birthday to your son…Have a wonderful weekend !
Thank you so much Swapna! He is growing up too fast! Have a great weekend too! 😀
Very cleverly executed cake, love all the little details! Fab! What a fantastic collaboration with your son too! 🙂
Thank you for the kind words! It is a fun experience every year. 😀 Happy Memorial Day!
Great job moulding all the decorations with the gum paste. That takes a lot of patience and talent – bravo!
Thank you Lily! You are very kind! Have a wonderful rest of your week! 😀
How fun and I can’t wait to see mermaids and unicorns!! What do you do with all the extra frosting scraped off? I never want to put it back on once I think Ihave the cake where I want it or it will be the same process over and over! Or maybe that’s what little helpers are for, lol!!
I can’t wait to tell my daughter about Dude Perfect for my grandsons and step grandsons, now, too! Happy Birthday to the Birthday boy!!
We usually end up throwing some out, but I usually make cupcakes to use some of it up. So true! They always have to taste it several times, lol 🙂 Thank you so much Mollie! He is growing up way too fast! I hope they like them. Have an awesome Friday! 😀
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You have outdone yourself with this superb cake Antonia! Hats off to your creativity, talent and patience!
You are so sweet, thank you Sandhya! Have an awesome Friday, my friend! 😀
Well done, Mom! That cake could win a Cake Boss challenge 😄 I used to make my kids’ birthday cakes when they were littler, but now that they’re bigger I somehow don’t do it anymore, but I have all the tools. I should try surprising them one of these days. Thanks so much for cohosting! 😘😘
Thanks Angie! You should surprise them. My mom did that for me in my twenties, and I loved it. I felt like a kid again 😀 Thank you for the kind words and Happy Weekend! 😀
OMG! It’s even better than the pros! Wonderful job, Antonia… 🙂 Alex must be super happy…belated birthday wishes to the champ… <3
Thank you so much Maniparna, you are very kind! I have been away from my blog for a few weeks, sorry for the late response! Have an awesome end to your week! 😀
You are welcome… 🙂
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You are a star! What a terrific cake for the young man! 🙂
You are so kind, thank you! He loved it! 😀
Oh who wouldn’t 🙂
Thank you 😀
Antonia, you did a prefect work of art! So cool & amazing!
Thank you so much, Sophie!