Aircraft Carrier Birthday Cake

[barbszy]

My soon-to-be-5 year old son wants an aircraft carrier birthday cake. I've done decorated cakes before (football, football jersey, SpongeBob, Blue's Clues pawprints, train, volcano, Barbie, Game Boy) but this is going to be more difficult.

I figure I will bake the cake in 2 9X13 pans and lay the cakes end to end. (I WILL need that much cake).

Little planes, I should be able to get at the dollar store.

What I really have to figure out is how to make the icing "battleship gray" but still have it taste like vanilla.

I also need suggestions for what kind of board I should use, to hold a cake that is 26 inches long. I'll cover it with blue Saran Wrap for the "ocean."

Any good ideas on the icing & the board--or anything else about this--would be much appreciated!

[ajrsmom]

You can buy cake boards at cake and candy supply stores. If you can buy them from your bakery, you could even tape them together if had to.

Would you get battleship grey if you used black paste food coloring--starting up with a little amount and working your way up to the color that you wanted?

I cant wait to see pics of this!


I found this thread about a lady's mishap. Maybe you could benefit from it? http://www0.epinions.com/content_136843005572

[barbszy]

I have never used paste food coloring....will it make the icing taste any different?

[debknechtel]

Barb I think the only one that changes the taste is red...it becomes very bitter...my kids dislike the red icing for this reason made with a paste....with food coloring it is okay. You can also buy cake sprays that will go over what you have iced..I believe they are made by Wilton to......Just spray the color on..they work well. Not sure what colors they have...Our Michaels store has a huge cake/candy decorating aisle.

Hugs Debbie

[ellenmelon]

Barbszy, I would use a wooden board like some plywood sheeting for the base. and the paste colors are very easy to work with but they do stain so wear gloves and cover your countertop. Don't forget the 'rivets.' Maybe those silver dragees embedded deep would work? And what about necco wafers for portholes (do battleships have them?. Have you see the show Ace of Cakes? I think we should have an award for you. You have made some pretty creative cakes!

[barbszy]

Ellen, I love the show Ace of Cakes!!

Thanks for the embellishment ideas. I do like to use other stuff instead of just frosting--easier in the long run.

Luke has a toy aircraft carrier so I will have to check for portholes I do have to make some kind of little thing to go on top for the "control tower" or whatever it is....maybe a mini loaf cake will work. I am basically going to use his toy as a model.

This is a little scary because of the hugeness of it....it will be hard to store during the party

Tami, thanks for the link! Maybe I could shortcut right to that icing color that made the lady's blue icing gray I know I can get the paste colors, no problem.

[RobertaD]

Barb would HoHos, Twinkies, or DingDongs work for any out croppings you need to make covered in icing? Though unless you had them on hand making cupcakes or mini loafs would be cheaper.

Roberta

[ajrsmom]

I don't have any other tips to offer, I just can't wait to see how it turns out!

I think that we are as excited as Luke is going to be with this cake!

[barbszy]

Good idea, Roberta! I will check out the toy I am "copying" and see what would work best. I'm sure it would KILL my kids to have to eat the rest of those in their lunches

[ellenmelon]

Barbszy, if you want even more ideas from everyone, maybe post a picture of the toy...