Tabasco Bottle Shaped Cake...help!

Decorating By Chefgirl Updated 9 May 2006 , 10:31pm by AmberCakes

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Chefgirl Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:12pm
post #1 of 22

Hey everyone, I am doing a groom's cake in a couple weeks. He requested that it be a Tabasco bottle. I have never done a sculpted cake before, so I'm a little nervous. I'm going to practice tonight, my layers are in the freezer. I've read that makes them easier to sculpt? I am going to use square cakes, I don't have a half sheet pan. But I've read that some people use 6" rounds and cut them in half. Which is easier, any ideas? Any tips from the expert sculpters out there are much appreciated. I think I can do it, but I have a backup plan just in case. The bride and groom are friends and this is our present to them.

21 replies
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flamingobaker Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:23pm
post #2 of 22

I would do the rounds cut in half, giving you 3D but lying down on the board.
Stacked cakes, maybe smaller, to have a standing up bottle would be too ambitious for me!

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Chefgirl Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:25pm
post #3 of 22

Oh yes, it is definitely going to be laying down. I'm not ready to do one standing up!
Thanks, I'll try the 6" later this week.

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:41pm
post #4 of 22

here's a sketch...

definately the rounds...why make yourself more work

can do 6" for main bottle body

the transition piece for the top to the neck can be half a full size wonder mold (the hatched part in the sketch)

the neck can be either minirounds made in soup cans or cut down cupcakes.
LL

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KittisKakes Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:44pm
post #5 of 22

I like the idea of the half rounds. For the neck, if you can't get the size down right, either use aluminum foil or styrofoam shaped into the neck. Stick a dowel in one end and then into the cake. Then just decorate it with the rest of the cake.

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Chefgirl Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:45pm
post #6 of 22

Doug, that's awesome! Thank you so much! One question though, what is a wonder mold?
So, I could just put all that together with buttercream and then put fondant over it, right? That would be so much easier than trying to carve from square or half sheet cakes. This website really is the best.

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Chefgirl Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:47pm
post #7 of 22

That was another of my questions that I forgot about. Should I put dowels through it to help keep it together? KittisKakes, I guess you answered that one for me, thanks! Do you think one is sufficient?

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:49pm
post #8 of 22

wondermold is that dome shaped pan used to make the dresses for the doll cakes and also to make hills mountains, etc.

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KittisKakes Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:50pm
post #9 of 22

Wondermold is the doll pan, you know with a Barbie doll and a dress. I think if you're covering this with fondant, I'd just go with a dowel through the center lengthwise. The fondant should also help hold it together. I'd suggest using a dense cake so it doesn't fall on you. Good luck with it! Can't wait to see how it comes out!

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KittisKakes Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:57pm
post #10 of 22

Doug, your sketch is great!! Do you use a program for that? I can never seem to get them down on paper!!

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 7:58pm
post #11 of 22

oh and another way to get the mini rounds:

bake regular round or sheet cake..

take large biscuit cutter or even a soup can w/ both ends removed and cut out the rounds..

(and pass me the "swiss cheese" cake that's left!!!)

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JennT Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:01pm
post #12 of 22

Here's one, the only one, I found on a google search...I think it's from someone on That Cake Board, isn't that the one thru sugarcraft.com? It's a standing one, though..but could give you some ideas on the decorating, at least. HTH! icon_smile.gif
LL

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:02pm
post #13 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by KittisKakes

Doug, your sketch is great!! Do you use a program for that? I can never seem to get them down on paper!!




Thanks!

normally I hand sketch in pencil (see all my other sketches scattered around the site)

but when I'm at work (aka teaching school) and wasting time after school or over lunch (as in now while waiting to go to choir practice and avoiding the grading I hate to do)

I use some type of paint or draw program. This one was done in AppleWorks, the draw package and is just a bunch of repeated shapes arranged to get the look.

I've also use MS Paint and MS Publisher.

One of these days I plan to splurge and get PaintShopPro which is what many other decorators on here use.

most often tho', a lowly pencil sketch is good enough for me.

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KittisKakes Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:09pm
post #14 of 22

Thanks Doug! I've seen some of your other sketches, that's why I asked. I can't seem to be able to draw a straight line, but if you give me a bag of icing, I can get a pretty straight line!!! Good idea for cutting out circles for the neck, hadn't thought of that.

Chefgirl, I'm glad you asked this question. I was just toying with the idea for doing a bottle of wine out of cake for my mom - you know - "you're like a bottle of fine wine, the older you get, the better you are" - or something like that. Anyway, I'm definitely gonna do it now!

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AmberCakes Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:37pm
post #15 of 22

Doug-PSP is awesome. I have the PSP 7, but I tried before to make an outline of a cake for sketching and I could not do it. I have made themes, backgrounds and such but can't do the outline of the cake. Do you have a side view of a round cake. All I have is this below but I don't think that will work. LOL.

Thanks!

~Josie icon_smile.gif
LL

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Chefgirl Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:42pm
post #16 of 22

Yes, I had read that a dense cake should be used so it doesn't fall apart.
Thanks, everyone for all the advice. I was getting a little worried, but i have renewed hope thanks to all y'all!
JennT, I had the hardest time finding one online. I saw the one you posted and then came across this one by accident.
http://www.justfab.com/listings/products.asp?cat=19&page=4
It's the second one down on the right.
Couldn't get the file to attach, something's corrupt with the file or something.
I am also going to make fondant chili peppers and lay around it on the board.
Do you think that that will be enough cake for a groom's cake?
Am also making the wedding cake, I think there will be plenty, but you never know!
LL

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:48pm
post #17 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by ttowndiva

Doug-PSP is awesome. I have the PSP 7, but I tried before to make an outline of a cake for sketching and I could not do it. I have made themes, backgrounds and such but can't do the outline of the cake. Do you have a side view of a round cake. All I have is this below but I don't think that will work. LOL.

Thanks!

~Josie icon_smile.gif




do you mean like this?

I just did that in MS Publisher.

1) draw a large oval (fill set to white)
2) copy & then paste it so have two
3) align then as far apart as you want top and bottom of cake
4) draw two vertical lines to attach top oval to bottom oval at sides
5) draw rectangle -- fill set to white, line set to none -- and place it over bottom oval so it "erases" the top half of oval (ie the backside of cake)
6) select all and group into one object.
7) copy and paste
8 ) select pasted object and scale down to make the smaller top tier and move on top of bottom tier.
9) repeat 6, 7, 8 to add more tiers.

works best if draw largest tier first and then scale down.

be sure each new paste is the top layer so it hides the cake below it.
LL

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:53pm
post #18 of 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chefgirl

I saw the one you posted and then came across this one by accident.
http://www.justfab.com/listings/products.asp?cat=19&page=4
It's the second one down on the right.
Couldn't get the file to attach, something's corrupt with the file or something.
I am also going to make fondant chili peppers and lay around it on the board.
Do you think that that will be enough cake for a groom's cake?
Am also making the wedding cake, I think there will be plenty, but you never know!




looks like they used a countour pan or just carved one round to get the transition from bottle to neck (that and a lot of frosting I bet)

if you make that size cake, will easily be enough. after all the grooms cake is more for grins and giggles than serious serving...that's what the bride's cake is for.

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Chefgirl Posted 8 May 2006 , 8:57pm
post #19 of 22

Yes, probably lots of frosting on that one. It is so smooth and looks so good!
I hope this goes well, I'm so nervous!
You make MS Publisher sound so easy! I've never tried it, I usually just use pencil and paper.
Thanks again for all the help and advice!

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Doug Posted 8 May 2006 , 9:18pm
post #20 of 22

ok..and just for grins and giggles (and yes to be a bit of a show off)...

here's another using the same method as for the stacked round tiers.
LL

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YouTakeTheCake Posted 8 May 2006 , 11:06pm
post #21 of 22

Hi chefgirl, if you are interested you can check my photos, just a couple of weeks ago I made a stand up wine bottle cake. P.M. me if you are interested in directions. Hope it helps.
Jackie

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AmberCakes Posted 9 May 2006 , 10:31pm
post #22 of 22

Awesome Doug! That is What I wanted, exactly. I will see if I can do it, but I have to see if I have MS Publisher. I don't see it. You are so nice for doing that. Thanks again. I will definitely use them for sketching.

~Josie icon_smile.gif

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