Go for it!

This is an achievement cake! Both for the recipient and for the maker. This delightfully fun and abstract architecture cake was designed and created for my brother who recently passed his architecture exams making him a fully licensed architect! Way to go bro!!!

Front view.

At the same time this is a cake that I had a lot of doubts about creating. It was a surprise and that took a bit of the pressure off. If I broke a large decoration, then would anyone every really know? I am happy to announce that nothing major broke, although a few things had to be rearranged due to structure, after all this is a massive cake (serves 30-40 people with a bit left to enjoy the next day)

Back view.

So, let's break this beauty down to its core. There are multiple levels of decorations created out of fondant, dark chocolate, white chocolate, luster dust, sprinkles, and even edible pen. All of these amazing things are on top of luscious, salted caramel buttercream.

Let's start at the beginning, I have learned my baking and decorating skills from family, books, and videos all at home. I test out ideas and see how they work. I have found fondant to be difficult and chocolate to be just as difficult to work with. However, they are both incredibly fun to play around with and I had a wonderful time creating unique pieces. I made about 50 fondant shapes to possibly place on the cake and at least 50 chocolate pieces as well.

When it came to deciding what would be on the final cake, I aimed for fun and abstract building shapes. Window forms in black, white, and brown (my brothers favorite color scheme). Chocolate pieces could only be so large for stability and weight, however I knew I wanted the top structures to be chocolate, because it would look epic, and I knew I could paint and draw on it to create this artistic effect. I added the various rounded shapes as if they were giant windows/moons that allowed you to look into an art gallery hosting a modern exhibit. When some areas looked unfinished the various sized black sprinkles added an almost star like effect as if you were looking into this beautiful city at night.

Now let's talk about the fact that everything on and in this cake is edible. Beyond the decorations of a cake, it should always taste incredible, and every bite should be delicious. This beast of a chocolate cake is light and has a strong chocolate flavor. Each layer is filled with dark chocolate ganache and the entire cake is frosted in salted caramel buttercream. In all forms this was the most epic cake I have created yet and I am honored to have made it for my brother.

Here is to a wonderful future in his career.