Shaped Cakes For Special Occasions

Almost any occasion, and many times no occasion at all, is marked by the baking of a cake. Occasions like weddings and birthdays, are often celebrated with cakes that are more elaborate or shaped differently to signify that the event is special.

Weddings

When one thinks of a wedding cake, the picture that most likely comes to mind is of a cake made with several round tiers. The cakes are iced and decorated with white flowers and ribbons. But, of course, wedding cakes don't have to be round and they don't have to be white. They are often made with square or rectangular layers iced in a veritable rainbow of colors. And, the tiers aren't always stacked on top of each other. Often times they are spread out and decorated in such ways as to convey the look of expansive fountains or gardens. Some brides even opt for unusual "cakes" that are nothing more than individual cupcakes on tiers.

Birthdays

A birthday is a significant event that is often celebrated with a cake that is either a simple round single- or double-layer or rectangular sheet cake. It can be iced in the recipient's favorite color(s) with the words "Happy Birthday" and his/her name inscribed in contrasting icing. But, like wedding cakes, they don't have to be made like that. A cake made in the shape of a number to signify the recipient's age is a popular choice. So are cakes decorated with the recipient's favorite cartoon or super-hero character. The list of possibilities is virtually endless.

Character Cakes

Character cakes are cakes that are baked in the shape of some type of character, be it a cartoon or super-hero or simply an animal or flower. They are then decorated in colors appropriate for that particular character. The cakes are usually used for children's birthdays.

3-Dimensional Cakes

Three-dimensional cakes are similar to character cakes but, like the name implies, they are three-dimensional in nature. Instead of the cake being baked in a particular shape but lying flat on a serving tray, when they are fully assembled, the three-dimensional cakes can stand up on their own. One popular version of the three-dimensional cake is a cake made to look like a doll. The bottom half, which represents the doll's skirt, is made from a solid half moon shape. Then, the top half of a plastic doll's body is inserted into the top of the cake, where the waist would meet the legs. The doll's "skirt" is elaborately decorated to look like fancy material, and the doll's upper torso is hidden under icing that joins the skirt to make it appear as the whole doll's dress is part of the cake. The results can be very beautiful and life-like when done professionally.