Tutorial: How to make a closed book cake "Diary of a Wimpy Kid cake"

Hi My lovely cake fellows!!! It is this time of the month when I have a little chance to come with some nice information on How to make a cake and turn it out simple and easy to do. Most of the time when I am making a cake I realize how to proceed with execution while I am working on it; I must say few years ago when I was just on the "beginners" stage (I am still on that stage BTW) , it was really difficult to realized how to make something I was requested to make. For days and days I used to browse all google searching for the right information, and let me tell you sometimes we can't find much or it is way too complicated to make or way too expensive if you would like to buy tutorials or videos etc!!! 

I was requested to make this cake by my Friend Deyse, her son turned 9th and is an avid reader of all stories form "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" , since he is a straight "A's" student, his  Mon wanted to celebrate his birthday with a cake that represents what he loves the most : on of his books. 

Here is some really basic information on how to make this cake, Let's Start!

First most important step: chocolate ganached cake no other cake, no buttercream, no nothing, only ganache to cover this cake. Why? it is the only way to achieve perfectly straight sides, better for  smoothing, better for covering and the best: it will make your life easier!!! trust me on this one. 

Tip: when ever you are making either a squared or sheet cake that will be covered with fondant, your best option always will be ganaching your cake.

Once your cake is completely covered in ganache, now proceed to measure high of your cake and also measure 3 sides of your sheet cake. Those 3 sides will be the actual pages of your book cake. Roll the fondant, I used MMF on this part, once roll and measured (remember we'll need enough fondant to cover 3 sides of your cake) The best and easy way to proceed is to roll your fondant strip on your rolling pin and on your brushed wet cake (3 sides only) then you strat from one side and "unroll" the fondant strip. One hand holds and unroll the rolling pin, other hand smooths fondant on cake. 

Tip: I always, ALWAYS, measure everything at least twice. I got a small measure tape that rolls inside. I got mine from the sewing section on my local craft store, $1.00

Once 3 sides are cover now proceed to cut all excess, I used an extremely sharp x-acto knife. Smooth several times, get rid of bubbles, marks, wrinkles etc. Now it is time to mark pages, i used my son's ruler that it happen to has a metal strip all over the edge , really handy BTW because It allows me to make thinner lines imprinted on the fondant (make sure your ruler is clean of any "sharpie" previous use)

Tip: If you want to make your pages lines to pop, brush them with some shimmer dust (dry)

This book's design (If you have seen it before) has some stripes on one side. On this step I used the most clever and magnificent technique,  lovely created by Jessicakes  (She is about to launch a video for this technique). Update:One of the cleaver techniques I have learned in many years!!!
All the class class can be found here:

  Clean & Simple Birthday Cakes, with Jessica Harris 

 

 
  I simply cut some stripes using 2 colors fondant.  Then I placed them on a long piece of parchment paper brushed with some shortening so the stripes can stick to the paper. Remember to measure the side of the cake we are about to cover, I used a sheet pan 9x13, but remember to measure twice, cakes turn larger once they are covered in ganache or buttercream. You should leave 1/8 " on each side, can you imagine a hard cover book? must of the time the cover is larger then the pages. 

Tip: use your ruler to get even stripes, to measure, to mark etc. Really useful!!

Now is the time to place our design onto the cake, but you can avoid this part if you are not making this specific book, just take a look of your book design and see if you need this step. Brush wet your side of the cake that still needs decoration, lift your parchment paper from  your work table and making sure wher you need to place the stripes, now stick the stripes with the paper to the side of the cake, smooth paper to make sure stripes are really stick to cake. Once is completely stick, just peel of paper and VOILA!!! your design will be on your cake perfectly place, I love this transfer technique !!!

Now again you need to measure twice the top of the cake we still need to cover and where letters and design will be placed, don't forget to leave 1/8" on each sides, if your design should look like a hard cover book. Once you cut it, let it dry for a bit on a board or flat pan that is dry and you have shaken some cornstarch (this one is from  IKEA) , around 10 min. Then wet cake surface where the cover should be place, slowly slide the cover and place it on top of the cake. This is the cover of your cake. 

I hand panted the drawing from the cover and hand cut the letters from the title.

Cakey Hugs, Joly