Hi everyone!
Today’s cake lesson is an ADORABLE Octopus cake tutorial! Summer always seems to bring adorable beachy patterns on everything from beach towels to baby clothes! I’ve seen some really adorable octopus designs and it has put me in the mood for some octopus cake cuteness!
How to Make a Cute Octopus Cake
This cake design would be perfect for all sorts of summertime occasions, including pool parties, luaus, and beach themed gatherings! This would even be an adorable baby shower cake for summertime.
Let’s get started!
First up, LEGS LEGS LEGS!
I’ve created eight fondant legs (mixed with a bit of tylose powder for faster drying).
You’ll want to flatten the end of the leg that will go on top of the tier, so the head can lie flat. Taper and curl the end of the legs for movement. Any legs that hang over the edge can be propped up with something until dry–I used a clothespin.
You can make the legs fairly thick but keep in mind that you don’t want them to be so heavy that they weigh the cake down.
I also inserted a bubble tea straw into the center of the top tier. Something has to support this big noggin!…
Hello Octopus! This octopus head is a Rice Cereal Treat—actually, about 6 of them. It measures approximately 3 ½″ tall.
Press and shape your rice cereal treats into a ball (flattened on the bottom.) Then, rub a light coating of shortening of the cereal treat shape and cover with a layer of green fondant (rolled to about ⅛ inch.) If the head seems a bit too lumpy after covering, you can apply another layer.
Here’s the underside…
Time to assemble!
You can add a little icing to secure the head to the legs. Isn’t he cute? The little suctions on the legs are piped circles royal icing. (You could also use a crusting buttercream for this.)
Now for some cute little details! I was really excited with how the clam turned out. First, take some rolled gum paste (or fondant mixed with tylose), shape into an oval, and make lines with a toothpick…
Now, for the big secret! ……………..
Ice cream scoops make perfect clam shell molds. Just remember to dust them with corn starch first.
Allow to dry several hours or overnight. Once dry, it’s time to place onto the cake! Secure with a little icing….and don’t forget a fondant pearl!
I made seaweed, sea plants with various piping tips, including the tip 352 leaf tip and a crescent tip 81. Also, my trusty round 4 tip for bubbles and misc. plants. That’s the fun thing making sea plants–anything goes! Reminds me of Dr. Seuss!
Now, time for sand. Sometimes sand is whatever vanilla cookies are around the house. Today, I pulverized Cheerios. To make the sand cooperate, I first spread the board with a little buttercream tinted brown.
Then, press press press…..
And write the birthday boy’s name! I used a dry paintbrush for this….
And here is our finished cake!! So much cuteness!……………………………..
I hope that you enjoyed this cute little tutorial! Come back again soon!
Looking for even more beach themed cakes and cupcakes? Check out these tutorials!
Beach Cupcake Tutorial (featuring Crab Cupcakes and Lollipop Fish!)
Boy Baby Shower Cake Ideas
This sweet octopus cake would work perfectly for baby shower cakes also! If you’re looking for more ideas for baby boy shower cakes, don’t miss our roundup of favorite boy baby shower cakes!
This is so adorable! I may try this for my son’s 1st birthday!
Thanks!! Yes, I think it’s such a sweet cake for little boys (or little girls!) — I was so tempted to make a pink octopus!
So cute!
Thanks for the tutorial…I am loving My Cake School!!
Thanks Becklynn–I’m glad that you are here!
do you do any pictures on cake let me know
excellent..my sons first birthday is coming up.i may give this a try but if u do winnie pooh figurine please please let me know.thank you in anticipation
Excellent..
Love this! How did you make the little hat? Also, would Marshmallow Fondant work instead of regular fondant?
Sooooo cute, Melissa!
love your cakes
What is the board covered with?
Hi Casie, This board was covered in green paper and clear cellophane (fruit baskets are wrapped in this) is over the green paper. If we were doing this today we would use a green plastic tablecloth to cover the cake base. Taping it onto the base or using a stapler to attach it. If you staple it to the cake base, be sure they are fully in the board so as not to scratch someone’s table.
Hi! How far in advance did you make the octopus head? I’m wondering how well it will store if I make it a week before…
Thanks!
Hi Stella, You can definitely make the octopus head one or two weeks before the party. Just keep it out of direct sunlight or fluorescent lighting because the colors will fade. Also, do NOT keep it in an airtight box. A bakery box would be fine or any container that can be loosely covered.
Really cute cakes and cupcakes. I think I could try these. Thank you. ?
Hi amazing cake! I am going to do a version of this for my sons first birthday – how was the hat made and attached to the octopus head?
Hello Rebecca! I’m glad that you are making this! I can’t believe that I don’t explain the hat…so strange! I made this 6 years ago and so it’s been a while…but looking at it I can see that you’ll start with a white ball of fondant or gum paste, slightly flatten it into sort of a pumpkin shape. You can add impressions with a toothpick to create the look of seams if you’d like in a x pattern. A put a tiny ball of fondant on top, slightly flattened. Then I took a strip of fondant (which I added ridges to with a toothpick) and wrapped it around the ball to complete the hat. You can use a little water as your glue…or piping gel if you need something stronger. I hope this helps! ;0)
This is such a cute a fabulous Octopus cake!! Thank you for sharing and well done. I’m going to give it a shot for my daughter’s 9th birthday next week, eeek! I hope it turns out as nice as yours did.
Thanks so much Janet! I’m happy that you are making this!! xoxo
So cute and clever! I love how you made the clam shell!
@Coco in the Kitchen- Thank you!! ;0)