How to Cut a Cake Into a Bowling Ball Pin & Cover With Fondant

Chances are that you love to bowl or you know someone who loves to bowl. After all, according to the Billiards and Bowling Institute of America, bowling is the most popular group sport in the United States. So when your favorite bowler has a birthday or your team wins a big tournament, you can celebrate in style with this bowling pin cake. It's not as tricky as you might think to create it -- and your friends and family are sure to think you scored a 300.

Things You'll Need

• Favorite cake recipe
• Sheet cake pan
• Bowling pin image
• Scissors
• Brand new, clean cardboard
• X-Acto knife
• Sharp knife
• Corn starch
• Rolling pin
• Pre-packaged rolled white fondant
• 1 can buttercream frosting
• Red or black food coloring

Instructions

The Cake

1. Prepare a sheet cake using your favorite cake recipe.

2. Cover your fully cooled cake and place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours. This will condense the crumbs and solidify the cake, making it easier to decorate.

3. Find a good picture of bowling pin. The picture should provide a clearly defined outline the bowling pin shape.

4. Enlarge the picture until it is as big as you envision your cake. You may want to have two or three extra copies made in case the first one is damaged.

5. Cut out the bowling pin shape very carefully with scissors. Paste the image, using non-toxic glue, to a piece of brand new, clean cardboard.

6. Trim the cardboard around the edges of the bowling pin image with an X-Acto knife.

7. Position the cardboard/bowling pin image on top of your sheet cake.

8. Hold the bowling pin image in place with one hand. With the other hand, cut the cake, using a very sharp knife, around the bowling pin shape. Cut slowly and carefully to ensure that you create a distinct bowling pin shape.

The Fondant

1. Dust your work surface and your hands with corn starch.

2. Place a large piece of pre-packaged, rolled white fondant on your work surface. Knead the fondant until it is smooth and satiny.

3. Roll the fondant out with a rolling pin to about 1/8-inch thick. You need to carefully estimate the size of your fondant sheet; be reasonably certain that it is large enough to cover your entire cake.

4. Spread a thin layer of buttercream frosting over your entire cake. This will act as the glue for your fondant cover.

5. Lift the fondant sheet carefully and lay it on top of your cake. Using your hands, press the fondant onto the cake. Smooth it down securely over the top and sides of the bowling pin.

6. Cut away excess fondant around the base of the cake.

7. Create the bands for the neck of your bowling pin. Knead a few drops of red or black food coloring into a small ball of fondant. Continue to add drops of color until the desired tint is achieved.

8. Roll out the red or black fondant with your rolling pin. Cut the fondant into two long ribbons and place them over the neck of your bowling pin.

9. Cover your cake securely or place it in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to three days prior to serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Be mindful that you may need to double your favorite cake recipe to create a sheet cake.

• Do not prepare your cake more than three days ahead of time. After three days, the fondant may begin to dry out. Do not refrigerate your cake. Fondant does not keep well in the refrigerator.

References

• Bowling Pin Cake
• Bowling Cake

Resources

• Bowling Themed Party Ideas & Supplies
• Cake Recipes
• Decorating With Fondant