A rock 'n' roll-themed birthday party, office party or other event sets the mood for a creative dessert option such as an electric-guitar-shaped cake. Instead of having a professional bakery do it, make the cake yourself to save money and lend a creative touch to the item. Knowing decorate an electric-guitar cake gives you an opportunity to put looks of awe on guests' faces as they view your rockin' homemade creation.
Instructions
Creating Fondant
1. Fill the bottom reservoir of your double boiler with water. Insert the top basket of the double boiler. Set the stove to "Medium-Low" heat.
2. Add 2 cups of mini marshmallows to the double boiler. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar and 1 tsp. of warm water. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 15 minutes. The marshmallows and sugar will melt to form a fluffy cream base.
3. Shake about a cup of powdered sugar over a clean counter-top surface.
4. Stir in 40 drops of food coloring to the marshmallow cream. This will be the base color of your guitar. Any color is suitable, such as red, purple or blue.
5. Smear a handful of shortening over your hands as if it were lotion. This coats your hands, so the marshmallow doesn't stick to them while you make fondant. Pour the melted marshmallow cream directly onto the powdered counter top. Turn off the stove.
6. Knead the stiff marshmallow cream lump into the sugar to create a delicate clay-like consistency.
Coating the Cake
7. Place the guitar-shaped cake on a platter in front of you. Guitar-shaped cakes are easy to obtain; buy the molds from bakery-supply stores or online. Prepare the cake an hour in advance so that it can cool completely before you decorate it.
8. Roll the marshmallow fondant out into a flat sheet with a rolling pin. Roll it out to double the size of the cake.
9. Layer the sheet of rolled fondant evenly over the cake, assuring that an equal amount of excess fondant hangs off of each side of the cake.
10. Press along the edges of the cake, folding the fondant over the edges. Do this while it is still warm and easy to mold with your fingers.
11. Tuck the folded fondant edges close to the base of the plate on which the guitar-shaped cake is resting. Use the scissors to snip away excess fondant. Discard excess fondant or save it for another dessert craft.
Decorating
12. Layer licorice candy strings along the guitar to simulate strings. Use four or seven strips of licorice candy of any flavor to create either a base or rhythm guitar.
13. Use round candies to create the tuning knobs at the top of the guitar's neck. Gum drops, chocolate Kisses or other similar candies are suitable.
14. Create frets horizontally across the strings with pieces of licorice or similar strip-like candies. Or use strips of fondant.
Tags: double boiler, excess fondant, marshmallow cream, guitar-shaped cake, licorice candy, powdered sugar
