Snowblower

This was my first cake competition. I had so much trouble choosing from the threadless images...There were sooo many amazing designs to choose from. I really wanted the challenge of carving a 3D cake, and my children absolutely loved the snowblower design...and so began my journey! This cake took 2 weeks and too many hours to count. The elephant is made out of 5 layers of chocolate and vanilla marbled pound cake and rice krispie treats. I filled and covered the layers with dark chocolate frosting. The snow hill is 2 layers of blueberry pound cake and 1 layer lemon pound cake. I filled the cake with vanilla buttercream. Then I carved the shape of the body and added a final coat of white chocolate ganache. I did the same thing with the snow hill. The arms and legs were carved out of rice krispie treats and covered in white chocolate ganache. The trunk was also carved out of rice krispie treats, but then I coated it with melted chocolate for additional support. I modeled the mouse and skis out of fondant fortified with tylose powder. The ski pole is a strand of raw spaghetti painted with black food color and the end is a flattened ball of gumpaste. I assembled the elephant in two stages. I covered the back of the head, mouth and rest of the body in 2 big pieces of light blue fondant. Then I covered the front of the head and trunk in fondant and attached it to the body with additional melted chocolate. I used additional fondant to smooth the join. Then I textured the entire elephant with a crumpled up paper towel to make it look more like elephant skin and brushed on silver luster dust. The box of ice and handful of ice is made from gumpaste and mini marshmallows. The ice in the elephant's mouth is mini marshmallows. The snowflakes coming out of the trunk is fondant cut from a snowflake cutter and star cutter. I attached them to floral wire. This cake had its fair share of challenges! The trunk wanted to succomb to gravity and in the end needed 2 skewers to stay upright. My girls were so thrilled with the final cake! When the cake was completed it stood approximately 2 feet tall and weighed close to 25 pounds! Everybody enjoyed the cake, the blueberry and lemon combo received rave reviews! Thank you threadless for providing cake enthusiasts like me such an awesome opportunity to make delicious and creative cakes!!!