Hi! I have been getting quite a few requests for instruction for the Zebra cake I recently posted, so I thought I would post them here.

I basically designed this cake by looking at my baby boy's Gund giraffe (Tip Top). I really like how cuddly and cute they are when they are sitting. My Sister-in-law wanted a zebra cake this year, so this is what I came up with.

The body of the cake is basically just a dome shape. I used 2 8" and 2 6" cakes and just carved a little away to get the shape I wanted. I did seperate, and dowel about halfway up because I didn't want to serve 8" tall slices! =0)

The head, arms, and legs are all made out of rice krispy treats. I made a homemade batch because I imagine it would have taken about 2 boxes of the kellogs premade ones. It helps to have the cake covered and ready before you start sculpting these so you can get the proportions right. I made the head in 2 peices (a big ball and a smaller flattened ball for the snout) and then I stuck them together with a cookie stick. Spread a bit of Royal Icing to smooth out the RKT's and then attach fondant.

Other than that, I just made it up as I went. The stripes are painted on with black airbrush coloring. The head was covered in white and then I added a black peice and used my ball tool to make the nostrils. It helps to make a big bow too to cover the joint where the head and body meet. I just realized that I forgot to give her a tail! Oops!

I hope that helps a little. Sorry I am not better at explaining how I do things. I am a very visual decorator so instructions are difficult for me, but set a stuffed animal beside me and I can figure it out in cake. =0)

(Oh, and if you noticed that the cake said "Happy Birthday Nikki and Kevin" let me just tell you that my Father-in-law was real excited about his cake this year! haha- he was actually a good sport about it seeing as how I just made this for our family to take to dinner)

OH YEAH! The absolute best part of this cake is not even in the picture! It is inside!!!! It has zebra stripes inside as well! If you goodle zebra cake you will find out that it is a european style black and white cake (similar to marble) where you layer the cake in the pan by using a scoop (ice cream for me) and alternating between white and dark chocolate batter. SO NEAT!

That cake is AMAZING. I love it!!!!!!!!!

Did you use any support between the head and body? You make it sound so easy and i know it is not that easy for me yet lol I would love to try one someday! But it likely won't look as good as yours.

Thanks so much for sharing this, I love it so much, I can't wait for a chance to try it and the idea of the stripey cake on the inside is amazing!!!! You are soooo talented!

Thanks again

Your cake is just darling!!! It looks so much more difficult to make, you made it sound effortless. Great Job!

what an adorable cake!! your zebra stripes are painted on so perfect and i love the eye's ! thanks for the instructions,would love to try this one day!

You are very welcome! I forgot to mention that I did use a wooden dowel through the cake and then pushed the head onto it for support.

Fantastic!!! You did an amazing job!!!

Holy crap that is AMAZING!!!!!! im in love, will be a long time before i have the guts to try this!

I LOVE your zebra! It's just too cute!!

While I certainly tend to admire tiered cakes more than sculpted ones, this zebra is AWESOME. May I have the courage one day to even attempt something like this.
BRAVA

Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing ---

I'm so glad you posted instructions for your wonderfully fun cake! I want to try to make this some day. I think it's really neat that you made the inside striped as well. What a great cake!

P.S. I love your Cat in the Hat cake, too!

Save

so glad this got bumped! i need to make a horse cake this summer, and this is perfect!