I'd like to make a chessboard cake for my husband's birthday next month and would like to know if anyone has any ideas how I can do it?!
I've ordered some chocolate moulds for the chess pieces but the board has me confused!
Should I cut squares of white and black fondant and then lay them one by one onto the prepared cake or should I try to create a sheet of squares (somehow 'glued' together) then lay the whole thing on top?

Any helpful ideas gratefully received!
Emma

i'd do squares put on one by one.

the key will be to get them all the same size so they fit well together.

if you can find a small cutter that is a perfect square that should make the task easy.

Thanks Doug. I was thinking that would be my preferred method but I'm worried about fondant shrinkage. I'd hate to end up with gaps between the squares. Is there anything I can do to avoid this?

I'd start in the middle and tile out to the edge (just like doing a floor). then any gap is on the outside where a decorative border can hide it.

I would never have though of starting in the middle. Thanks !

I made one with candy clay and what I learned is that after I placed a full row of blocks, I would use a ruler next time to press against the row to straighten it. 'Course you can roll over the top some too. Mine was ok. It's shabby chic. I'll see if I can find a picture. I liked the candy clay for the less stretch factor in it.



It's a giant cookie.

It's not perfect--it was for a silent auction.

It should pop open if you click on it--in a perfect world.

Thanks very much for that Kate. It really helps.

Emma