How to Shape a Groom's Cake into a Fish
Grooms' cakes are often seen as an opportunity to break away from the more traditional design of the main wedding cake. The groom's cake concept grew out of the need to provide cake servings in addition to the main cake to accommodate a large wedding crowd. Many grooms choose a cake theme that represents their prior single life or a favorite hobby. You can shape a groom's cake into a generic or species-specific fish form. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Fish-shaped cake pan
- Vegetable shortening
- Sifter
- Cake flour
- Toothpicks
- Cooling rack
- Serrated cake-carving knife
- Pastry brush
- Scissors
- Extra-large, zip-top plastic freezer bags
- Freezer
Instructions
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Fish Pan
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Purchase a fish pan to shape the groom's cake into a standard tropical fish or jumping bass form. Metal and silicone fish-shaped cake pans are available at most department and gourmet cooking stores. The limited varieties of fish pans and sizes may cause some to choose instead to carve a fish from a standard cake form.
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Coat the interior of the fish-shaped cake pan with a thin layer of vegetable shortening. Surfaces not covered with shortening have an increased chance of sticking and changing the look of the fish. Sift a layer of cake flour onto the shortening, and dump out the excess.
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Pour the cake batter into the prepared fish-shaped pan. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until the edges are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the pan to a cooling rack for 10 minutes with the cake side up.
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Level the exposed side of the cake while it is still in the pan with a serrated cake-carving knife. Place the side of the knife blade on the edge of the fish-shaped pan, and slowly move the knife back and forth to remove the over-risen portion of the cake.
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Place a cooling rack on the exposed side of the cake. Hold the rack and cake pan firmly, and invert the pan to slide the fish-shaped cake out of the pan. Dust off loose crumbs with a pastry brush.
Carved Fish
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Wrapped a fully baked rectangular or round cake in heavy-duty aluminum foil once it has completely cooled. Standard 9- by 13-inch rectangular cakes are ideal for most fish shapes. You can also use a 10-inch round cake.
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Slide the wrapped cake into a large plastic freezer bag. Seal the bag, and place it on a flat surface in the freezer. Freeze the cake for four hours or overnight.
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Search for a picture or silhouette of the desired fish shape for the cake online or in marine biology books. Print or photocopy the fish image to the size of the cake. Cut out the fish form with a pair of scissors.
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Unwrap the frozen cake. Lay the paper fish cutout on top of the cake. Press toothpicks into the cutout to hold it in place.
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Carve around the perimeter of the paper fish form with a serrated cake-carving knife. Remove the paper and toothpicks once the basic form is complete. Carve small details into the cake freehand, and dust the loose crumbs from the surface with a pastry brush to make the fish shape more recognizable.
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Tips & Warnings
Work quickly or in a cold room when carving the frozen cake.
Layer small flat cookies into the frosting to look like fish scales.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
