# Help me with ideas for a cake!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784 "2008-02-15T19:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/1 "2008-02-15T19:12:26Z")
I work as a baker(surprise) in a cafe located in our public library. In April there will be a “literary cake display”. I want to enter, it’s a public contest. The cake is to be decorated to illustrate a book. Not necessarily a reproduction of cover art, but something that will depict the story. Last year was the first annual event, and it’s gonna be kind of hard to top the winner. It was quite simple, a heart shaped cake with chocolate icing. In the center was a molded pink candy image of the female genetalia, for The Vagina Monologues of course. I asked the gal where she got the mold, and she told me it came from a gay pride store in Kansas City. Everything on the cake has to be edible. Last year someone did Dune, using brown sugar for sand, and gummi worms for the sandworms. You get the idea. But I’m all in a “so many choices” sort of dither, trying to decide on a design. So where do I turn for suggestions? My fellow Dopers, of course. I’m a pretty good decorator, but not so brilliant in the imagination department. Tell you what, if I use a Doper suggestion I’ll send you a couple dozen cookies, (it’s kind of hard to mail a cake). So, any ideas for me? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/2 "2008-02-15T19:30:45Z")
What are other past entries? I’m surprised a public library choose last years winner. Is this basically an adult event? ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/3 "2008-02-15T20:00:04Z")
The Book of Kells… if you want something colorful & artsy - melt different hard candies for a stained-glass effect. or a cake that looks like an ocean w/ beach (using blue jello for the water, gummie fish in the water, vanilla cookie crumbs for the beach), a row boat w/an old man (made out of fondant) fishing… recognize the scene? It’s a Hemmingway classic. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/4 "2008-02-15T20:05:43Z")
[http://www.charmcitycakes.com/index2.html](http://www.charmcitycakes.com/index2.html) Chech the Ace of Cakes out. Heres imagination. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/5 "2008-02-15T20:19:54Z")
Stephen King has a new book out…maybe you can do a cake with some images from his books…a clown, a man with no face, a vampire, etc? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/6 "2008-02-15T20:26:22Z")
Of course [the Discworld cake](http://homepages.tesco.net/~janefisk/discworld/discworld.htm) has been done. Maybe you could do the luggage. I’d like to see that one. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/7 "2008-02-15T20:58:21Z")
I’ve been thinking this over. I guess if I understood the point of the contest, or if it had a theme, I would try to choose something to fit that. I was surprised at last year’s winner, too! Anyway, I’ve been looking around some book sites and trying to think about popular books. It would seem that something like Harry Potter must be done to death. And I seem to recall that you’ve done a Narnia cake in the past? As I looked, I kept finding myself drawn to books with an animal theme for some reason. These are my choices so far, because they’re good books and there seems to be some scope for the imagination: [Life of Pi, by Yann Martel.](http://www.amazon.com/Life-Pi-Yann-Martel/dp/184195425X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203108368&sr=1-1) Ocean cake, with boat, boy, and tiger. [Flowers for Algernon](http://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Algernon-Daniel-Keyes/dp/0156030306/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203108446&sr=1-1), by Daniel Keyes. My favorite. I’m seeing a maze cake with a mouse, and some floral accents to tie in with the title. [Animal Farm](http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451526341/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203108560&sr=1-2), by George Orwell. Buildings, farm critters. [Watership Down](http://www.amazon.com/Watership-Down-Novel-Richard-Adams/dp/0743277708/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203108629&sr=1-1), by Richard Adams. Bunnies, yum! Other ideas were The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Dark Tower by Stephen King. I wasn’t sure if these were good suggestions because basically it would be just a cake with a building on it, but the Dark Tower in a field of roses might be very striking. ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/8 "2008-02-15T20:59:55Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] Of course [the Discworld cake](http://homepages.tesco.net/~janefisk/discworld/discworld.htm) has been done. [/QUOTE] Coolest. Food item. Ever. Amazing. JRB ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/9 "2008-02-15T22:07:25Z")
1984 You could build a Ministry of Truth with a clock tower. The clock could have a dial with thirteen numbers on it and the building would have “Big Brother is Watching You” on the side. Maybe you could put a sign over one of the doors “Room 101”. And a map of the UK labelled “Airstrip One” and a toy (candy) aeroplane on it. And so on. Not very cheery but a lot of fun to get as much detail in as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/10 "2008-02-15T22:19:39Z")
Thanks for the ideas so far!!! **Dung Beetle** , I really liked your Flowers for Algernon idea, that will go on a “first choices” list! But everybody else had good ideas too. I haven’t done cake contests before, what I’ve competed in has been gingerbread structures. That may be what you were remembering **Dung Beetle** , because I did do one I titled “Pavilions of Rivendell.” And **ivylass** , Stephen King _would_ be a gold mine of ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Ludy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Ludy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/11 "2008-02-15T22:28:26Z")
I think a Alice in Wonderland theme tea party cake would be very fun. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/12 "2008-02-15T23:35:50Z")
If it’s a Stephen King cake, does it have to refer to his fiction? I read his book on writing and have never been able to shake one image in it. While he was writing the Tower series, someone sent him a photo of a teddy bear, tied and gagged. A note with the picture said, “write the next book or the bear gets it.” It tickled him and he posted it by his desk. I think a bound and gagged teddy bear cake would be cool. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/13 "2008-02-16T00:51:33Z")
Can you do something that depicts a literary character? A deerstalker cap, a magnifying glass and a calabash pipe would be fun to do for Sherlock Holmes. I guess since there are only a couple actual novels, your cake could represent a collection of stories and thus Sherlock Holmes. Or, you could paint a creepy hound (Baskerville hound!) into the magnifying glass. How about a big beautiful A for the Scarlett Letter? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/14 "2008-02-16T03:17:14Z")
[QUOTE=Yllaria] If it’s a Stephen King cake, does it have to refer to his fiction? I read his book on writing and have never been able to shake one image in it. While he was writing the Tower series, someone sent him a photo of a teddy bear, tied and gagged. A note with the picture said, “write the next book or the bear gets it.” It tickled him and he posted it by his desk. I think a bound and gagged teddy bear cake would be cool. [/QUOTE] The teddy bear idea would be funny, if I could figure out how to reference SK. [QUOTE=ZipperJJ] Can you do something that depicts a literary character? A deerstalker cap, a magnifying glass and a calabash pipe would be fun to do for Sherlock Holmes. I guess since there are only a couple actual novels, your cake could represent a collection of stories and thus Sherlock Holmes. Or, you could paint a creepy hound (Baskerville hound!) into the magnifying glass. How about a big beautiful A for the Scarlett Letter? [/QUOTE] Ooo, I could get some fondant and edible metallic glaze and do a really fancy A!! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/15 "2008-02-21T21:13:29Z")
Have you decided yet? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/16 "2008-02-21T22:14:52Z")
Pretty much, unless something else turns up before April. I really liked your Flowers for Algernon idea, so for now that’s what I’m planning on. Of course many other ideas were good, but I liked that story too, although it was so very sad. I can I can do the mouse in fondant, make him three-dimensional, and the same for the flowers. Then I can mold chocolate panels for the maze. So, what kind of cookies do you like? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/17 "2008-02-22T12:39:52Z")
Oh my gosh, I’m thrilled that you can use the idea! Post a picture if you can. I can’t recall that I’ve ever met a cookie I didn’t like. I’d be honored to gobble up anything you’d like to send. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/18 "2008-02-22T14:47:54Z")
If there was only some way to animate the mouse. Or use a real one. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/19 "2008-02-28T17:55:54Z")
**Dung Beetle** , the cookies went in the mail yesterday evening! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784/20 "2008-02-28T18:02:29Z")
We will, of course, require pictures of the cake AND the cookies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-ideas-for-a-cake/437784.md?page=2)