In this two part cake decorating video, you will learn to create an adorable cake topper of an elephant in a wagon, along with a fabulous ruffled buttercream technique!
Whether you’re interested in learning how to create the perfect topper for baby showers and young birthdays, OR how to pipe a unique vintage style buttercream ruffle, this video has something for everyone!
Part One: Learn to create our cake topper!
Part One:
Part Two: Learn to pipe a wonderfully unique ruffled buttercream cake & see how our cake comes together!
Materials:
For the topper:
Rice cereal treat- we used a 22g. size
Fondant with tylose powder kneaded into it (or gum paste)
Templates for the sides of the wagon (optional)
Small circle cutter for wheels (we used a large piping tip)
Coloring Gel: We used Americolor super black, Teal, Deep Pink, Electric Green
Pink Petal Dust (optional) – Watermelon is the shade that we used
Pearl Dust (ours was ultra super pearl)
Americolor Black Coloring Pen (optional) for eyes
Floral wire for balloons in a sturdy gage (20 gauge for example)
Misc.: Sharp knife,
Part Two: Buttercream Effects
Medium consistency buttercream/frosting
Piping tip 70 (this is a leaf tip)
Cake boards to boost the cake while piping (I used 4 stacked and wrapped 8″ cardboards). Optional, but I find that it helps to get a good angle as you make your way to the bottom of the tier.
I really like the looks of this cake…different idea. Great idea and a great job. Perfect cute baby shower cake.
That is the cutest topper ever! Love it!
The tip 70 vertical ruffle on the bottom tier is beautiful! I have an all buttercream wedding cake to do and I just might use that technique. Simple but fancy looking, love it!
The cake all together is beautiful! Very clever as always.
OMG! This is the cutest topper. The ruffle technique is so simple yet so elegant. I can’t wait for someone to order me a baby shower or kids birthday cake so I can make this cake! LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Thanks Melissa for doing this. Your tutorials are EXCELLENT and easy to follow. Take care
Thank you all so much! So happy that you like the tutorial!
This is just precious! Love your style & teaching!! Thanks!
Love it. What buttercream recipe did you use? Did you use Crisco and butter?
This is so cute! I love it!
I love seeing new ways to add texture with BC. The topper is pretty darn cute also! Thanks for yet another learning experience:)
This is absolutely gorgeous love it. Love your tutorials.
I can’t believe how gorgeous that ruffle comes out! Love it, thanks!
This is absolutely precious!!! Can’t wait to make the topper and try those beautiful ruffles!
Hi Melissa fantastic tutorial enjoyed minute of it will have to try this one, love the elephant and the ruffles look amazing thank you so much for this brilliant tutorial.
This cake and topper is so adorable. I just love to learn new ideas from you Melissa! :) Since you put the bottom tier in fridge to chill before moving to pedestal, I am assuming you used a “non crusting” buttercream??? Does it matter what buttercream you use as long as it is medium consistency?? I am anxious to try to make this cake. Thanks!
Thank you all so much!
@Denise, we used our “Fluffy” vanilla buttercream recipe which is part shortening & part butter. This is a crusting recipe. We almost always use crusting buttercreams but still I prefer to chill my cakes before stacking or moving to the pedestal, covering with fondant, etc. While crusting buttercreams do develop a crust, they can still be easily dented when handling the tiers & so I do this to play it safe! ;0) – Any frosting that holds its shape nicely to piping should work well with this technique!
This weekend I just played with some leftover frozen cake, the whipped meringue icing that was used for the fluffy flowers (since it has a long shelf life) and a practice run stacking 6″ and 8″ tiers. I decided to pipe the vertical ruffles on the larger tier just for fun. This is a very easy way to make a stunning cake!
Thanks Melissa for sharing this technique…Can’t wait to make another cake with these pretty ruffles!
Dene, I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for the feedback!
Hi, Melissa. Which brand is your silver turning table?
Hi Joelma, It is an Ateco turntable, here is a link http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-24380/Ateco+Aluminum+Decorating+Stand. I can’t believe that is is $100. now. Melissa has had hers about 10 years, she actually uses her Wilton plastic turntable more frequently than the silver Ateco one.
Hi´
How long in advance can I make the cake topper?
Thank you
BR/Kristina
Hi Kristina, The cake topper can be made months in advance. After if is completed, just keep it out of sunlight or fluorescent lighting as this will fade the colors. Also, if you store it in a box it should NOT be airtight because the topper could soften if it is not dry through and through.
Is this a cake that you would transport and then place on a pedestal? I was thinking for a bridal luncheon but not sure how it would look after transporting and then moving to the pedestal. Any suggestions?
Hi Colleen, I would place the finished cake on a cake base (whether cake drum or a few stacked cardboard cake circles wrapped or prepped however you like)– and then place that onto the pedestal when you arrive. Since you know you’ll be placing on a pedestal later, you can just choose a size cake base that is just a little larger than the size of the cake, but small enough to fit onto the pedestal.
Did you just secure your cake topper with a little buttercream?
Hi Victoria, The wagon with the elephant does not have buttercream under the wheels. There are support straws under each wheel, because it is somewhat heavy. It is just sitting on the top tier. If you were traveling with the cake, it would be placed on top once you are at the party site.
Thank you Bebe ?
Why is it that I can not view the elephant and wagon tutorial? Frustrated trying!
Hi Pauline, We’ve had a few members lately with this issue. For all of them, it was a matter of updating the device that they are using to visit our site (whether iphone, computer, etc.) – Most likely, if you check your device to see if an update is available, there will be one. This should solve things for you but please let me know if you continue to have trouble!
Hola de cuántas pulgadas, cada piso ?
I am new at this whole adventure! I am going to start making a cake or cupcakes every weekend and giving them away to my family/friends for the experience. I would love to make this shower cake or any shower cake for that matter; can the animals be made and frozen or stored ahead of time? Also what would you easiest shower cake be to make for a beginner? Is there a video for it? Thanks for all your help
Hi Lorryn! Your family and friends are so lucky for all of the sweets that will be headed their way ;0) – Gum paste or fondant cake toppers can be made well in advance and just stored at room temperature in a dry place out of the sun (as the colors can fade). I like to store mine in a bakery box or something that can breathe a little. (We still have toppers from old videos that are over a year old!) ;0) –
Some of the easiest in my opinion are the ones with fondant or gum paste cut-outs (for instance a stork or teddy bear, etc.). I also love the baby shoe cake toppers because they can easily be made using the provided templates and they look so cute on top of a cake! Here is the link to the shower cakes in our member section:
https://www.mycakeschool.com/video-tutorials/themes/showers/#baby
We also have some cute and easy baby shower cakes in our “free tutorial section” as well– Here is a link!:
https://www.mycakeschool.com/blog/theme/showers-tutorials/baby-showers/
I hope this helps!