Bridal Shower Hat Box Cake

by Paula J.
(Winter Springs, FL)

This was my first attempt at making a hat box cake. The customer asked for green and ivory, and only asked for a big bow on top. I wanted to surprise her with flowers coming out of the box, and found out that the bride was to carry white calla lilies on her wedding day.

I made with sugar paste the flowers, leaves, pearl cross necklace, bow and decor items a week before. I then made three 12" round cakes and filled and lightly iced them with buttercreme frosting.

The top of the hatbox was made with rice krispie treat made in the same cake pan for size. Once the rice krispie was cool, I coated with with buttercreme frosting.

I had to place the cakes on a heavy duty base, and also put the rice krp on a cardboard base. When the buttercreme was dry to touch, I covered with fondant. I decorated the box and top, and placed two dowel sticks on one edge of the cake to support the "top," and two longer dowels in the middle of the cake to allow the "top" to angle up.

When placing the flowers and leaves and necklace, I had to constantly place the "top" on to make sure I had the room for the arrangement. Space between the top and flowers were filled with fondant "tissue paper." I did not place the top on the cake until I delivered it. Once the top was on, I secured the top with royal icing.

Editor's Note: Fantastic cake, Paula! Thank you for sending in a pciture as well as providing detailed instructions on how you created it.