Pillows to Dream On Cake

Step 1

Several days in advance: Make royal icing puddle dots. Pipe 160 dots 3/16 in. diameter for top tier. Pipe 50 each 3/16, 3/8 and 1/2 in. diameter for middle tier. Pipe 130 dots 1/2 in. diameter for bottom tier. Make extras to allow for breakage and let dry. Paint all dots with Pearl Dust/vanilla mixture.

Step 2

Make fondant initial. Make pattern for initial, up to 5 in. wide, 5 1/2 in. high. Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons Gum-Tex into 12 oz. fondant. Roll out 1/4 in. thick. Using pattern, cut out initial. Paint with Pearl Dust/vanilla mixture. Let dry 2 to 3 days. Use melted candy to attach 2 Lollipop Sticks to back, trimming as needed to leave 2 in. exposed at bottom to insert into cake.

Step 3

Bake and cool 2-layer cakes using firm-textured batter such as pound cake.

Step 4

Assemble cake layers on a cut-to-fit cake board. Ice cake smooth and cover top layer with fondant; smooth with Fondant Smoother and trim at seam. Place cake board on top of cake and carefully flip to position covered layer at bottom. Cover top layer with fondant; smooth with Fondant Smoother. Prepare cakes for Stacked Construction.

Step 5

Decorate cake tops. For top tier: Using a damp brush, attach 1/8 in. wide strips 1 1/2 in. apart to create latticework top. Cut 1/4 in. wide strips and attach over center seam using fondant adhesive. Using royal icing, attach 3/16 in. puddle dots at each latticework intersection.

Step 6

For middle tier: Use royal icing to attach various puddle dots to top, leaving a 4 in. square section open for top tier. Roll fondant into 3/16 in. thick ropes. Twist 2 together and attach over center seam using fondant adhesive.

Step 7

For bottom tier: Leave a 5 in. square section open in top center where middle tier will rest. Use large rose cutter to imprint roses. Outline imprint with tip 2 zigzags in royal icing; immediately brush lines inward using Brush Embroidery technique. Repeat for center petals, outlining 3 free-hand petals. Use smallest leaf cutter to imprint leaves. Repeat as above. Pipe tip 2 vines. Use royal icing to attach 1/2 in. puddle dots over center seam. Paint Brush Embroidery details with Pearl Dust/vanilla mixture.

At reception: Stack cakes. Insert initial.