Graduation Cake

I made this cake for my sister not too long ago since she graduated from Indiana University with two degrees in art back in December (i'm so proud of you sis!!). I saved posting it until closer to graduation season (I meant to post a little bit sooner, sorry about that :P) so I could include a short tutorial on how I made the bottom book cake. Of course this isn't the only way or maybe even the best way, lol. Just the way I did it, and hopefully it will help someone who's been wanting to make one.

-I started out by making a chocolate mudcake in a 9x13 straight-sided pan (this is the one i use) and cut it in half so I have 2 books.

-Then i torted and filled the cake, cookies and cream italian meringue buttercream mmmm!

-Crumb coat outside with leftover buttercream that i didn't put the cookies in, and put in the fridge to firm up.

-Now on to the fondant "cover". Here's where a little math is involved. I'm sure you could skip this step and just guess, but I found it was so much easier to take the time to figure it out. First you measure the length, width, and height(after its been iced!). Then add 1/4" to the width and 1/2" to the length. so say the cake is 6 1/2" in width and 2" in height and 9" in length. To be able to make the rectagle you need to cover you book you need to add height + width + 1/4" by length + 1/2" so for the measurements above, it would (just as an example) be 2" + 6 1/2" + 1/4" by 9" + 1/2" so your rectangle would have to be 8 3/4" by 9 1/2". I know it can be a bit confusing but in the long run it will make your life easier.

-The easiest way I found to get the fondant from the counter to the cake without distorting it is to roll it out to the thickness you want it. Then place it on a lightly greased piece of waxed paper and cut out your rectangle. Take the fondant and wax paper together and apply it to the cake carefully keeping the 1/4" overlap at the edges then peel off the waxed paper. Now you can adjust the fondant so that the overlap is even all the way around and go over the fondant with a fondant smoother to smooth out any imperfections that may have occured when applying it.

-Now cut out 3 - 1/4" strips of fondant making sure that they are long enough for each side (they don't have to be exact your going to cut some off in just a bit)

-Place the strips on all three sides overlapping at the corners. Cut diagonally at the corner, removing the excess pieces.

-For the pages you need to measure the height of the gap and then roll out a strip of white fondant long enough to go around the book ( just make sure it's pretty thin or you'll lose a lot of your 1/4" edge of your book) cut the strip to height and length and with a knife or leaf veiner make the lines for the pages (make sure to do this before you put it on the cake its much easier :D. You'll notice mine isn't very defined I tried to do it on the cake ) just paint on a little water on the cake and apply to the book and your finished!