It feels good to be creating and writing for The Cake Decoration and Sugarcraft magazine again. My first project, this time around, falls under the heading of ‘Quintessential British summer’. Now, I could have easily chosen rural thatched cottages, cream teas, majestic oak trees in country parks, red letterboxes etc but I decided to opt for a game of cricket – as played on village greens all around Britain during the summer months.
Cricket – a traditional British sport
Cricket has a rich history in the UK, one that can be traced back hundreds of years. I found this summary on the ICC website: History of Cricket particularly interesting.
Designing a cricket celebration cake
Designing a cricket cake is like opening the batting – you have an idea of how you want it to go but it doesn’t always pan out that way. My aim, when designing, is to create something unique and different. A cake you haven’t already seen. Cricket themed cakes pepper the internet and social media and include large cricket balls, lifesized bats and cricket greens with modelled figures. I needed something a little different…
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One-shot a batsman plays is called the ‘square cut’, which, I’m told, is always one of the most glorious sights in the game. Could portraying this on a cake be possible? Why not?
The painted background
Luckily I’ve been recently teaching my hands-on cake decorating classes at my local cricket club here in Shropshire. The ground is set in typical rural countryside with beautiful 360-degree views across the landscape. For this cake, I chose to use the view from the clubhouse, one my students will be familiar with. A view of the Wrekin (hill) with his forestry clad sides plus nearby fields and that very important boundary fence.
The technique I chose to use was cocoa butter painting. A technique that I love and can’t get enough of. It simply works so well!
The cricket ball
Of course, there must be a ball. For me, it’s the most important part of this cake design. I created it by making a modelling chocolate outer layer, which I painted, and giving it a Krispie treat core. I trust I have captured the dynamism of the shot and the realism of the ball.
The batsman
“50 not out”, “Howzat?” “Cut for four” are all familiar cricketing terms, however, it’s the latter I decided to portray. I created my batsman using a template and the very traditional bas-relief technique. Detailed steps are included in the magazine, so you’ll be able to see exactly how to approach this technique. Perhaps you’d like to create a bowler or wicket-keeper? No problem the technique is the same, however, you will need to make your own template. These days it isn’t that difficult, as computers can easily resize suitable images for you.
Full Step-by-step Instructions
Full step-by-step instructions for my cricket cake are available in the magazine. It is on sale during the month of August and thereafter as a download from the publishers.
Lindy’s Previous blogs talking about cake design
Read more about my design process by taking a look at the following blogs:
Cake Design – a beautiful transient art form
Colourful Mandala Cake Design Project for Cake Decoration & Sugarcraft Magazine
Traditional Christmas carol inspires Lindy’s colourful Christmas cake design
Sweet wishes
Lindy Smith
Bringing world-class sugarcraft into your kitchen