The Big Wheel Arrives! Cake

Step 1

Begin about 1 week in advance: Make fondant wagon.

Tint fondant: 60 oz. light brown (add 2 tablespoons Gum-Tex) and 24 oz. dark brown (add 1 tablespoon Gum-Tex) for wagon. Roll out light brown 1/4 in. thick. For sides, cut two 18 x 3 in. and two 11 1/2 x 3 in. panels. For side trims, cut four strips each 18 1/2 x 3/4 in. and 12 x 3/4 in. Let dry for 5 days on cornstarch-dusted board. Reserve excess fondant.

For base, lightly mark a 12 x 18 in. rectangle on foamcore board; position Base Hitch pattern at center point of 1 end and mark outline. Cut foamcore and wrap with Fanci-Foil. Roll out fondant ? in. thick. Cut 4 x 5 in. rectangle to cover Base Hitch area only. Attach upright side panels and trims using fondant adhesive; let dry. Reserve remaining light brown for bear trims.

Roll out half of dark brown 3/16 in. thick. Cut 4 wheels using largest round cutter from 101 Cutters Set. Roll out reserved white fondant; cut 4 wheel centers using smallest round cutter from set. Roll out remaining dark brown fondant. Use pattern to cut out handle. Use knife to cut a 1/4 x 1/2 in. deep slot into 1 end of Plastic Dowel Rod to hold handle. Brush rod with Piping Gel; cover with 3 x 12 in. fondant rectangle, smoothing with hands and keeping slot clear. Let all pieces dry for 3-4 days on cornstarch-dusted boards. Attach handle to rod using fondant adhesive. Let dry. Attach handle and wheels to wagon at reception.

Step 2

Make fondant bear. Tint fondant: 20 oz. dark brown (add 2 teaspoons Gum-Tex) for bear; plus 1/2 oz. black for trims, use reserved light brown fondant from wagon. Use small ball of fondant to close off top hole of 1 globe for head. Roll out dark brown fondant 1/8 in. thick. Cut 2 circles, 8 in. diameter. Brush head and body globes with Piping Gel, cover with fondant and smooth with hands. Brush neck area with damp brush and stack globes. Let dry overnight.

Roll 1 x 3 in. logs for legs with feet, 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. logs for arms with hands. Flatten and taper ends; score edges for fingers and toes. Attach to body; support with tissue and let dry completely. Roll 5/8 in. balls for ears; flatten, trim bottom edge and attach. Roll 1 in. ball for muzzle; flatten, shape and attach. Roll 1/4 in. balls for inner ears; flatten, trim bottom edge and attach. Roll 3/16 in. balls for eyes and nose; attach. Draw mouth with FoodWriter. Position on cake top at reception.

Step 3

Prepare wagon support base. Use hot glue gun to attach Grecian Pillars to bottom of 10 x 14 in. cake board, about 1 in. from corners.

Step 4

Bake and cool 3-layer cakes. Trim one 6 in. and one 8 in. layer to make 5 in. high squares in yellow and blue. Bake five 10 x 2 in. cakes; use 3 for rose cake, cut two lengthwise in half and stack three halves to make 5 x 10 x 6 in. high green rectangle.

Step 5

Tint fondant: 36 oz. light yellow, 36 oz. light green, 48 oz. light blue, 72 oz. light rose to cover cakes; 8 oz. dark rose, 6 oz. each dark yellow and dark green and 4 oz. dark blue. Prepare cakes and cover with rolled fondant; reserve excess fondant for trims. Prepare for Stacked Construction.

Step 6

Make cake trims. Use reserved fondant to cut fondant ribbons using Ribbon Cutter/Embosser. Cut stars, rounds and hearts using smallest Cut-Outs; attach using damp brush. Reserve remaining fondant. For yellow: Cut 8 in. lengths for 4 flat ribbons and 4 loops using 2 wavy wheels with 1/4 in. spacer; use narrow end of tip 6 to cut and remove center dots. Attach flat ribbons to cake. Form loops, pinch slightly and secure ends with damp brush; support with tissue and let dry on cornstarch-dusted board.

Cut and attach about 60 stars. For blue: Cut 2 strips, 14 in. long, using 2 beaded wheels and no spacer; attach. Cut and attach about 45 rounds. For pink: Cut 10 in. lengths for flat ribbons and 8 1/2 in. lengths for loops. Cut pink base using 2 zigzag wheels with 3/4 in. spacer; cut light pink center strip using 2 straight wheels with 1/2 in. spacer. Attach layers. Attach flat ribbons to cake. Form loops, pinch slightly and secure ends with damp brush; support with tissue and let dry on cornstarch-dusted board. Cut and attach about 70 hearts. For green: Cut strips using 2 wavy wheels and no spacer. Cut six 10 in. lengths and six 7 1/2 in. lengths for flat ribbons; attach. Cut 10 strips, 4 to 6 in. long, for curls. Wrap loosely around Cookie Sticks dusted with cornstarch; let set 15 minutes then slide off and let dry on cornstarch-dusted board.

Make letters. Roll out small amount of reserved dark blue, pink, green and yellow. Cut letters using cutters from set; attach to wagon using damp brush.

Step 7

At reception: Position wagon on base. Use fondant adhesive to attach wheels to sides of wagon to hide pillars. Position cakes. Attach loops and curls with icing dots. Position bear. Attach wagon handle, trimming bottom if needed to create angle..