I need help with a Father/son cake contest

angry birds cakeballs = First Place

Good idea but need to follow a beach theme. After much discussion it will be the Krusty Krab

quote:

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need to follow a beach theme

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You are failing as a father if you don't make something similar to this:

Freezing the baked layers or sheet cake can firm it up to allow for heavier handed decorating. You want to crumb coat it with icing before you start to decorate...like a skim coat or primer layer of frosting that seals in the cake crumblies, keeping them out of your nice decorations.

I'd try a cake stencil....have the kiddo trace a Spongebob from a coloring book or similar simple drawing onto baking parchment (or plain white paper, if that's what you have). Frost the cake, then lay the cut paper stencil atop and sprinkle/dust with powdered sugar, colored sugar, or cocoa powder. Google cake stencils to see examples. Or use a coral or seaweed stencil to cover the top of the cake and apply a Spongebob atop the background deco.

Stencils give great visual appeal without requiring many special pastry supplies or much fine motor control. And he can practice the dusting using a sheet of colored paper, reusing the dusting sugar until he feels comfortable with the process. Making and playing with the stencils helps to occupy the baking and freezing time as well.

Good luck! And take a look at cake wrecks.com for a good laugh.