Hello!

The Mudkip cake was a challenge - it took several sheet cakes stacked on one another, chilled, and then carefully carved. The cake recipe can’t just be a normal cake mix: it needs to be denser, more like pound cake, in order to stand up to the weight and carving. The filling can’t be anything too slippery or the layers might slide.

I covered it in fondant, but it would be much easier and less expensive to use colored frosting. Fondant takes some practice and can be more stressful than it’s worth (since its not particularly tasty). When I made the fins, I used fondant, but learned too late that fondant doesn’t stiffen enough for it. I had to use sticks (those white lines) to make them stand up, but it was a hassle. Next time I would use something like plastic sheeting or cardboard, or if it had to be edible, I’d use Gumpaste. It’s moldable, you just knead in some food dye, roll it out like dough and cut it to the shape, and you would make it a week earlier so it has time to dry flat and stiff. Because of the size, it may still be tricky, so have cardboard or something as a backup.

Another idea is to do something like Ceciles’ Custom Cakes: http://flickr.com/photos/ceciles-custom-cakes/2382281881/

It’s a sheet cakes with the outline carved into the image and frosted. It’s still really cute and it’s easier, and you don’t have as much cake waste (carved cakes waste quite a bit). Then you can use whatever cake recipe or box mix you like. You can have fun with the mudkip’s pose and have more freedom… and probably way less stress, lol. I love making cakes but I probably cry about mistakes or having to rework my plans (after several tries late into the night) almost every month. My husband can attest to this - I am his crazy cake lady.

You boyfriend will probably be thrilled you made the effort, so don’t worry about perfection. It’s only the first cake.

Good luck! Send me a photo if you do it, I’d love to see what you accomplish!

my email is xbeyondxdriven@aol.com
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