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    Home » Recipes » Cake Decorating Tutorials

    Octopus Cake Tutorial

    June 12, 2010 By Melissa Diamond 21 Comments

    1.5K shares
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    Today, I'm going to show you how to make an ADORABLE Octopus cake!

    Summertime means fun beachy patterns are everywhere- from beach towels to baby clothes.

    I've seen some really cute octopus designs lately and it has put me in the mood for some octopus cake cuteness!

    Cute Octopus Cake Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com! Free cake tutorial. Perfect for pool parties and beach themes! My Cake School Online Cake Tutorials, recipes, videos, and more!

     

     

    How to Make An Octopus Cake  

    This octopus 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!

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    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.

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    I also inserted a bubble tea straw into the center of the top tier.  Something has to support this big noggin!...

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

     

    Creating the Octopus Head

    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...

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    Assembling the Octopus Cake Topper

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    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.)

    Making a Fondant Clam

    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...

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    Now, for the big secret! .................

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    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!

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

     

    Creating the Final Details

    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.

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    Then, press press press.....

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    And write the birthday boy's name!  I used a dry paintbrush for this....

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    And here is our finished cake!! So much cuteness! 

    We hope that you enjoyed the tutorial! If you make an octopus cake, we would love for you to share a comment and photo below! 

    Sweet Octopus Cake Blog Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com!

    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!)

    The cutest beach themed cupcakes! Free cupcake tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com.

    Fish Cupcake Cake!

     

    Adorable Fish Cupcake Cake Tutorial by MyCakeSchool.com! Perfect for beach parties and pool parties! Free tutorial.

     

    Cute, EASY Octopus Cake- Free Video

     

     

     

     

    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! 

     

    CUTE Baby Shower Cake Ideas for Boys

     

     

     

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    1. Stella May 1, 2014 at 5:51 pm

      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!

      Reply
    2. BeBe May 1, 2014 at 9:47 pm

      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.

      Reply
    3. Karen Gianni November 20, 2015 at 1:15 pm

      Really cute cakes and cupcakes. I think I could try these. Thank you. ?

      Reply
    4. Rebecca Booth May 25, 2016 at 11:50 am

      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?

      Reply
    5. Melissa Diamond May 25, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      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)

      Reply
    6. Janet October 18, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      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.

      Reply
    7. Melissa Diamond October 18, 2016 at 2:41 pm

      Thanks so much Janet! I'm happy that you are making this!! xoxo

      Reply
    8. Coco in the Kitchen January 20, 2020 at 4:46 pm

      So cute and clever! I love how you made the clam shell!

      Reply
    9. Melissa Diamond January 20, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      @Coco in the Kitchen- Thank you!! ;0)

      Reply
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