DIY Network

Special-Occasion Cake From "Ask DIY" episode ADI-511

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Host Jeanne Benedict shows how flowers and chocolate can come together spectacularly to decorate a special-occasion cake. Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Think your cake-frosting skills aren't what they should be? Sprinkle rose petals on the cake to hide any frosting flaws!

Q: I want to make a special cake for an anniversary party. Do you have any simple but grand ideas?

A: Since you usually can't go wrong with sweets and flowers for special occasions, how about combining the two in a really elegant cake. You'll need the cake of your choice (we used chocolate with chocolate frosting), in three layers of varying sizes -- in this case, 6", 8" and 10".

1. First you have to build a structure that can support all three layers. You can do this by going to a cake-decorating or party-supply store and get a dowel that's 1 centimeter in diameter. You'll need to cut it into five shorter pieces, each no longer than the height of a cake layer. Our dowel pieces are 3" long.
   
   
   
   
2. Insert a dowel piece in the center of the largest layer (figure A); then add the others, making an X with the dowels in the center of the layer. The tops of the dowels should be just even with the top of the cake.
   
   
   
   
3. Cut out a 6"-diameter cardboard circle and set it atop the dowels. Then spread frosting on the cardboard (figure B).
   
   
   
   
4. For our columns we used four slender cordial glasses with tiny blossoms inside. Put the flowers in the glasses upside down -- the glasses will be turned on their heads, so when they are in place, the flowers will then be right side up. Set the four columns on the iced cardboard, evenly spaced, dab a bit of icing on the top (actually the bottom) of each glass and set the 8" cake on the four columns (figure C).

   Tip: Don't assemble the layers of the cake until you've arrived at the party venue -- you don't want to have to rebuild a squashed cake once you get there.
   
   
   
   

5. Use a small piece of floral foam or a bouquet holder for the cake topper. If you use foam, be sure to cover the bottom of it in foil so the cake doesn't get wet. Begin filling in the foam or holder with flowers, leaves, ferns -- whatever you choose for your decorations (figure D).
   
   
   
   
6. Place the 6" layer on the 8" layer and top with the floral arrangement, using more flowers to mask any foil that shows.