Bryce's Last Two Birthday Cakes

I see a pattern forming.  The top pic is the cake Bryce asked for last year.  The lower pic is what he asked for this year.  I don't recall the type of cake I used in the first one, but I do remember having fun melting and forming the chocolate shards I put on as primary decoration.  Both cakes are topped with generous dollops of decorative whipped cream and strawberries.  The cake I made for him this year was three layer, as requested, a Neapolitan cake with one layer of strawberry, one of chocolate, and one of vanilla.  The filling was strawberry jam and the exterior was frosted with a simple chocolate buttercream.  It's strange to think this is the same kid who used to demand superheroes on every cake.

Wolfner Library 80th Anniversary Cake

Fun stuff.  This cake was made in honor of 80 years of Wolfner Library history.  Since the first audiobook medium we circulated was in record form, I made a version of the portable record player that was at one time issued to Wolfner Library patrons.  This three layer cake ( carved from three half sheet cakes) features a simple American style vanilla buttercream filling and crumb coat.  The sides and top are covered in marshmallow fondant.  For the wood grain look, two batches of fondant were flavored and colored with varying amounts of sifted cocoa powder, then marbled together.  Metal details are fondant brushed with gold dust.  The knobs are Rolo candies.  The record is one bag of 12 oz dark chocolate candy melts molded in a 10 in round cake pan.  The pin in the center of the record is a small slice of soft black licorice.  The tone arm is a pretzel rod with chocolate marshmallow fondant details and propped up on a black soft licorice piece.  The lid is made of chocolate plastic--dark chocolate candy melts and light corn syrup.  My husband Michael designed the vintage record label and had it printed and laminated at Kinkos.