Ben 10 is a very popular cartoon character these days and lots of kids want a Ben 10 cake for their birthday. You make the cake yourself, without much cake decorating experience, by using an easy technique to copy a picture you select.
If you're confident in your artistic skills, obviously you can draw your image directly on top of the cake by piping either buttercream icing, royal icing or piping gel. For those of you who would like a more foolproof method to recreate the image, there are a few different things you can do.
The internet is a great place to find a Ben 10 picture. Just search for an image you like and save it to your computer. Open up the picture file with your photo editing software. Turn the picture into a mirror image. You can also resize the picture to print however big or small you need it. Remember to leave room for the birthday message and the top border of the cake.
Tape the picture down to either the back of a cookie sheet, on top of sturdy cardboard or on a cutting board. On top of the picture, you will tape down a sheet of plastic wrap. Tape it at the corners and in between so there are no wrinkles in the wrap and it won't move when you start applying the icing.
Royal Icing Image: Outline the picture in either white or black thick consistency royal icing using the number 2 cake decorating tip. Allow to set for 30 minutes. To the remainder of the royal icing, add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the icing is the consistency of cream. Use food color pastes to create the different colors you need in separate cups or bowls. Place each color in its own decorating bag with a number 4 cake decorating tip attached. Use one color at a time to fill in each area to match the picture. First pipe within the outlined area, going all the way around. Then pipe in a zig zag motion back and forth until the area is filled. Pop any air bubbles with a toothpick. When done, you can place the runout design under a heat lamp to set it quickly. Or, just put it aside to dry. It may need 24 hours or more. When completely dry, carefully remove the cling wrap from the image and invert the image onto the cake.
Ben 10 in Buttercream Icing: You will prepare the same way as above up to the point of placing the cling wrap over your picture. Use the buttercream icing color of your choice to outline the picture with a #2 tip. Make the rest of your colors in buttercream icing and place them each in their own cake decorating bag. Fill in each section of the picture with a number 4 tip. Begin with the smallest details and end with the larger ones. When the whole picture is filled in, use a spatula to spread a nice thick coat of buttercream icing over the entire image. This icing should be the same color as the one on top of your cake. You should also outline the picture with the same color. This way, when you put the buttercream transfer on the cake, it will look like it was decorated directly on to the cake. Set the buttercream transfer in the freezer. When it's solid, flip it over where you want it on the cake. Peel back the cling wrap.
Both methods are sure to produce a great Ben 10 cake and a happy birthday child.
If you're confident in your artistic skills, obviously you can draw your image directly on top of the cake by piping either buttercream icing, royal icing or piping gel. For those of you who would like a more foolproof method to recreate the image, there are a few different things you can do.
The internet is a great place to find a Ben 10 picture. Just search for an image you like and save it to your computer. Open up the picture file with your photo editing software. Turn the picture into a mirror image. You can also resize the picture to print however big or small you need it. Remember to leave room for the birthday message and the top border of the cake.
Tape the picture down to either the back of a cookie sheet, on top of sturdy cardboard or on a cutting board. On top of the picture, you will tape down a sheet of plastic wrap. Tape it at the corners and in between so there are no wrinkles in the wrap and it won't move when you start applying the icing.
Royal Icing Image: Outline the picture in either white or black thick consistency royal icing using the number 2 cake decorating tip. Allow to set for 30 minutes. To the remainder of the royal icing, add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the icing is the consistency of cream. Use food color pastes to create the different colors you need in separate cups or bowls. Place each color in its own decorating bag with a number 4 cake decorating tip attached. Use one color at a time to fill in each area to match the picture. First pipe within the outlined area, going all the way around. Then pipe in a zig zag motion back and forth until the area is filled. Pop any air bubbles with a toothpick. When done, you can place the runout design under a heat lamp to set it quickly. Or, just put it aside to dry. It may need 24 hours or more. When completely dry, carefully remove the cling wrap from the image and invert the image onto the cake.
Ben 10 in Buttercream Icing: You will prepare the same way as above up to the point of placing the cling wrap over your picture. Use the buttercream icing color of your choice to outline the picture with a #2 tip. Make the rest of your colors in buttercream icing and place them each in their own cake decorating bag. Fill in each section of the picture with a number 4 tip. Begin with the smallest details and end with the larger ones. When the whole picture is filled in, use a spatula to spread a nice thick coat of buttercream icing over the entire image. This icing should be the same color as the one on top of your cake. You should also outline the picture with the same color. This way, when you put the buttercream transfer on the cake, it will look like it was decorated directly on to the cake. Set the buttercream transfer in the freezer. When it's solid, flip it over where you want it on the cake. Peel back the cling wrap.
Both methods are sure to produce a great Ben 10 cake and a happy birthday child.
About the Author:
Theresa Happe is a baker, cake decorator and author of CakesWeBake.com, where you will find Ben 10 cake pictures and an entire cake decorating community.
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