Tips On Building A Roman Coliseum Cake?
Decorating By allissweets Updated 3 Oct 2007 , 7:43pm by allissweets
I've gotten a request for a Coliseum groom's cake. The couple said that the number of servings isn't a priority, but getting the Coliseum is. I really want to take on this challenge, and figure out a way to construct a 3D Coliseum. I've attached a picture that the couple sent to me.
Here's what I'm thinking: stack round cakes (maybe 14"/12"/10" etc), freeze them, and carve into the present-day shape of the Coliseum ruins. The cover in buttcream, cut out the arches, fill back in with darker buttercream, and pipe the columns between the arches. I'd support the stacked cakes with wooden dowels. Anyone have any other ideas, tips, etc.?
Thanks in advance!
Alli 
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Roman_Colosseum.html
There are number of photos of the Coliseum, including interior and aerial views at this site. Do you have a large oval pan?
The Coliseum is oval not round. Also the external walls are straight up not tiered. The interior is tiered. Most of the floor of the Coliseum is gone so what you see are the basement room walls. I think I would just pretend that the floor is still there. The sand on the floor was originally red to mask the blood. But that may be too authentic. I think I would use black fondant for the arches. Cutting out the arches might weaken the walls. Piped columns sounds like a good idea. There were originally statues in the arches, but I think they are all gone now.
If you carve out the interior you are going to have a lot of cake scraps. Good Luck!
Might give you some ideas:
Sugarbean did a Minas Tirith cake which is in her gallery.
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-109171-.html
Stadium cake made using Nordicware pan:
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=59396
HTH
If I've understood your post right you don't mean to carve out the interior do you? I think that would make a pretty unstable cake and I don't think it would be necessary if you, as you I think you're saying, cut out the line of the building it will look great!
oops I meant to add that I saw a tower of pisa cake on another website (sugarbuzz I think), I know its not the same but it could give you some idea on building a structure.
Thanks to everyone for your advice so far. I meant to say I'd use oval pans - I'll have to get some! I did plan to carve the cake, to some extent. I'm thinking about price, as well. The couple isn't too concerned about how many the cake will feed - they'd just really like to see some representation of the Coliseum. I've never done a grooms cake before, so I don't know how much they typically feed, or how much people charge. The couple said they'd like to stay in the $75 range. Hmmm...
I'm still thinking that I could stack the cake layers, and carve them so that they're thick enough to not fall apart! Do you think the uneven distribution of weight would cause it to fall over? Here's a link to a Coliseum-shaped tube pan. http://eternallycool.net/?p=284. That is the general shape I'm going for. Even if I baked in a tube pan, cut it in half, and carved it, I think I could go from there, right? I will dowel the heck out of this thing, so that it won't fall over!
With regards to detail: The outside shouldn't be a problem; I can ice the arches in BC or MMF, and pipe the columns. I think for the inside I'll just keep the (currently nonexistent) floor flat, and leave out all the interior details.
So the real question is: how can I carve, without wasting A LOT of cake?
What if I made the bottom two tiers out of cake, and then carved foamcore into the smaller shape of the top two eroded levels? Then the whole thing could be covered in buttercream with fondant arches.
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