Hunting Birdies Cake

Step 1

A few hours in advance: Make fondant trees and flags for cake sides. For trees, add 1/2 teaspoon Gum-Tex to primary green fondant. Roll out 1/8 in. thick and cut 22 triangles in various heights from 1 in. to 1 1/2 in. high and from 1 in. to 1 1/4 in. wide.

Step 2

Cut slits for branches; let dry until firm on cornstarch-dusted surface. For flags on cake sides, add 1/2 teaspoon Gum-Tex to primary yellow, blue and red. Cut 15 flags using pattern; let dry until firm on cornstarch-dusted surface.

Prepare 24 oz. pastel green fondant and 72 oz. pastel blue fondant. Prepare 2-layer cakes for stacked construction. Prepare cakes for rolled fondant; cover cakes with pastel blue fondant and smooth with Easy-Glide Smoother.

Step 3

Roll out pastel green fondant 1/8 in. thick; cut wavy strips for hills in various heights from 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 in. and lengths from 10 to 12 in. Attach 1 group of hills for background with damp brush; attach 2nd group for foreground. Add more strips as needed.

Step 4

Attach side flags and trees to cake with damp brush; trim flag poles as needed. Draw holes with black FoodWriter. Trace Cake Top Flag pattern on construction paper; cut out flags and write message with black FoodWriter. Tape flags to sticks and insert in cake top. Position topper.

*For Pastel Blue use Royal Blue with a touch of Black. For Pastel Green, use Moss Green with a touch of Leaf Green.