American Flag Memorial Cake

[christinc21]

Here is the cake in my first cake competition. It was for our local paper and had to be patriotic theme.



When I think patriotic I think of the military and their sacrifices so I decided to make a memorial american flag case.




Those are the 2 layers, I used a sheet cake and cut them down and froze the remaining pieces for a cake later. I poured all of the batter into the cake pan except about a cup. I then added coloring to that cup and poured it over the top of the cake and swirled it with a butter knife then baked it.



This is my test cake I made at home. I had to ice the competition cake and decorate it totally at the contest site. I iced the layers with butter cream and then covered it with white fondant. I cut out a small piece of white fondant and painted it with silver pearl dust and vodka mixed. I piped on "In Memory of Our Fallen Soldiers" and set it aside to dry while I decorated the rest of the cake. I painted the blue on with Wilton's Gel coloring mixed with Vodka (the alcohol evaporates) I cut out strips on top of the cake for the "wood" strips and stars for the flag. Then I painted the "wood" also with Wilton's brown Gel coloring mixed with Vodka. It gave it a nice "wood" effect.



I won first place!!! This is only like the 6th cake I have ever decorated.

[creatively_clumsy]

Very touching entry.  Much deserved win!

[savage pixie]

it's beautiful! wonderful work.

[MandaRenee]

Very nice, congrats on your win.

[Belladune]

great job!  Gratz on your win! 
question though, why did you mix your food coloring with vodka instead of water?  Does it give a special effect or does it dry more quickly?  Whats the reason?  i've just always used water if I want to paint my cakes..... let me know!  if it works better I'll be using that instead!

[christinc21]

Id you mix it with water and paint on fondant the fondant melts and becomes sticky and it can ruin your fondant. The vodka will dry to a less shiny finish and won't be as tacky to the touch.

[Belladune]

ah!!  I've only painted once.... and yeah it stayed pretty sticky.... But now I will forever use vodka!  thank you!

[christinc21]

It still takes a little while to dry, but water never dries on fondant and can actually melt the fondant, since it is made mostly of sugar.

[Haylie]

It's beautiful.

[kjlutz]

Great job.  I love how you swirled the layers.

Congrats on the prize.