Hi Everyone! talk about biting off more than you can chew... Fresh out of my Wilton decorating classes, I agreed to make the cake for my friend's daughter's 1st birthday.

She said she wanted a crown, and I suggested rather than do a "sheet" cake, let's make it a vertical crown instead (I think I had just finished watching one of those cake shows on tv, like Amazing Wedding Cakes or something...)! I even found the picture of the theme for her!

Well, she loved the idea, and now I'm stuck trying to figure this out. To practice, I carved a rocket cake (used a 46oz metal food can to bake it, carved one end into a cone, and covered the whole thing in fondant) using pound cake per my instructor for my son's birthday and that was an experience, let me tell you!

Here's what I need to know:

1. To make this a vertical crown, I was thinking - (2) 3" round layers for the base. For 60 ppl what size would you suggest?

2. To make the top of the crown, I was thinking a 3rd 3" layer carved...how would I get those steep sloping edges??

3. Would you recommend using fondant to cover it? I was told in no uncertain terms not to cover in more BC than I would need to adhere fondant. My other option is whipped cream, but I don't have a large enough fridge to refrigerate it... so i guess that's not going to be a real option unless there's a wc that can stand at room temp for a bit. If there is such an aminal, which would you recommend for covering the cake? I have to attach the little red balls (no clue yet what to use for those!), and pipe a message on the front so whic would be better for that?

I really appreciate any and all suggestions. I was riding high from the sale of my first ever commisioned cake this past weekend, and this project has definitely brought me back to Earth!

Hi and Welcome to CC, ernesta.

Decoding CC acronyms:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-2926-.html

Another option might be to make a r/i tiara topper for a tiered cake or even a pillow cake. (Would even work for a sheet cake.)

How to Make a Royal Icing Tiara:

http://www.cakecentral.com/article113-How-To-Make-A-Royal-Icing-Tiara.html

More tiara/crown templates:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&aid=121
(Will have to search for one you like.)

How to Make a Pillow Cake:
(Has R/I tiara topper.)

http://www.cakecentral.com/article66-How-To-Make-A-Pillow-Cake.html

Covering w/fondant (b/c underneath) is a much better choice than decorating with whipping cream.

Everything you need to know to bake, assemble and decorate a tiered/stacked/layer cake:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-605188-.html

Above thread has popular doctored cake mix recipes, Crisco and hi-ratio b/c recipes as well as fondant recipes - and so much more!

Duplicate post, please also see:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-620054-.html

HTH

check out these cakes, they look similar to what you described.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1266881
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1225121
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1163197

Hope this helps out.

This information is phenomenal! i think I like the idea of a tira on a pillow cake even better. I can trace the design from the partyware in r/i so she still has that continuity, and save myself the headache and make the pillow for the cake! Thank you all SO much!