Unleash Your DIY Skills: Crochet Theme Buttercream Cake

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Baking the Layers
3. Stacking and Coating the Cake
4. Making the Yarn Balls
5. Coloring the Frosting
6. Practicing the Piping Work
7. Creating the Crochet Hook
8. Piping the Yarn Balls
9. Piping the Scarf Pattern
10. Finishing Touches

She's Making Something: A Crochet Themed Birthday Cake for Mom

Hello there! Today is my mother's birthday, which gives me an excellent excuse to bake another cake. I had some ambitious plans for this cake involving piping work, which is not my strong suit, and went a little beyond my current skill level. But I wanted to give it my best shot, so follow along and watch me learn a lesson or two.

1. Introduction

I am making a crochet-themed birthday cake for my mom. She asked for a classic yellow butter cake with chocolate frosting, so that's what she got. I bake the layers a few days ahead of time and store them in the freezer. After unwrapping them, I level them out and they're ready to stack and coat with chocolate buttercream.

2. Baking the Layers

As usual, I bake the layers a few days ahead of time, wrap them in plastic, and store them in the freezer. Once unwrapped, I level them out with a serrated knife. The layers are now ready to be stacked and coated with chocolate buttercream.

3. Stacking and Coating the Cake

After stacking the cake layers, I coat them with chocolate buttercream. While the chocolate frosting is delicious, the brown color doesn't fit into my design idea. So, I make a batch of white vanilla frosting to use for decoration. I put a thin layer of the white frosting on the cake to act as a blank canvas for the design. The cake then goes into the fridge to chill.

4. Making the Yarn Balls

I don't throw away the cut-off domes from leveling the cake layers because I'm going to use them later to make the little yarn balls that go on top of the cake. I thoroughly wash my hands and then use my fingers to break the cake scraps into crumbs. I add a small amount of discarded frosting to act as a binder. The cake crumbs stick together, forming a dough that can be rolled into small cake pop balls. These yarn balls chill in the fridge to harden up.

5. Coloring the Frosting

I knew I wanted to use purple for my cake, but I wanted different shades of purple. I split the rest of my white frosting into three bowls and used gel food coloring to make a pinkish purple, a bluish purple, and a darker purple. While the chocolate frosting is chilling, I also make a batch of white vanilla frosting to use for decoration.

6. Practicing the Piping Work

The piping work on this cake had me super nervous, so I took some time while everything chilled to practice. I had studied pictures and watched other videos to figure out how to make my buttercream look like crocheted yarn. I thought I had a plan, but during my practice session, I realized I needed to run to the store to grab a cheap piping tip since I lost my small round one.

7. Creating the Crochet Hook

Before heading to the store, I make a crochet hook from white gum paste to give it some extra time to harden. Using my own hooks as a guide, I roll a thin snake, flatten out a section for the grip, and cut and shape the hook at the end. Once back from the store, I use shiny yellow luster dust and a food-safe brush to give my hook some color and shine.

8. Piping the Yarn Balls

To ensure I don't run out of colored frosting, I decide to pipe the yarn balls first. I struggled a bit at first, but I figured out the easiest way was to pipe one continuous stream going back and forth on parchment paper. I then transfer the piped yarn balls to the fridge to harden up.

9. Piping the Scarf Pattern

My original plan was to make a scarf that wraps all the way around the cake. Unfortunately, I realize I have no idea how to make it curve without looking weird. So, I change my plan and pipe scarf sections randomly, making them look like they connect and loop around somehow. I pipe circles or loops with different colors and cover up the spots where rows meet with squiggly lines. The pattern looks decently like crochet, and I'm proud of my improvisation.

10. Finishing Touches

Once I finish piping the scarf pattern, I position the yarn balls on the cake using an offset spatula. I pipe a few more lines of frosting over the crochet hook to make it look like the yarn is wrapped around it. Finally, I pipe a little bubble border around the bottom edge to give the cake a finishing touch. It may be messy and imperfect, but it's made with love.

Pros

• Creatively incorporates crochet theme into a birthday cake
• Utilizes different techniques such as piping and making gum paste decorations
• Provides step-by-step instructions for recreating the cake

Cons

• Lack of detailed measurements and specific instructions for frosting and cake baking
• Piping work may require some practice and skill

Highlights

• A crochet-themed birthday cake that combines creativity and baking skills
• Step-by-step instructions on how to bake and decorate the cake
• Tips for practicing piping work and creating gum paste decorations
• Personalized touch with handcrafted yarn balls and crochet hook

FAQ

Q: Can I use a different cake flavor for this crochet-themed cake? A: Absolutely! While the author's mom requested a classic yellow butter cake, you can use any flavor that you prefer or that suits the occasion.

Q: How long does it take to make this cake? A: The process of baking, cooling, and decorating the cake may take a few hours, depending on your baking and decorating skills.

Q: Can I use store-bought frosting instead of making it from scratch? A: Yes, you can use store-bought frosting if you prefer a quicker and more convenient option. However, making your own frosting allows for customization and flavor control.