Elmo Birthday Cake Ideas
Making Elmo birthday cakes the perfect centerpiece for most children's parties. Since Elmo is a licensed character, it is best to make an Elmo cake yourself. Bakeries must be licensed to sell his likeness -- you can simply buy Elmo cake decorations.
Shaped Cake
1. A cake pan in the shape of Elmo's head is available for purchase for about $15. It even has the indentations for the details of his face so you can fill them with colored icing.
After baking your cake, letting it cool, and turning it out onto a platter, you will need red, orange, white, and black colored icing. The red icing is for Elmo's fur (use a star tip to make the "fur" more realistic), the orange is for his nose, the white is for his eyes, and the black is to make his pupils and mouth. Do not use food coloring dye for this; use food coloring paste -- it will produce more vivid colors and will not thin out your icing.
After baking your cake, letting it cool, and turning it out onto a platter, you will need red, orange, white, and black colored icing. The red icing is for Elmo's fur (use a star tip to make the "fur" more realistic), the orange is for his nose, the white is for his eyes, and the black is to make his pupils and mouth. Do not use food coloring dye for this; use food coloring paste -- it will produce more vivid colors and will not thin out your icing.
Photo Cake
2. Another option is to use an edible photo of Elmo on your cake. You can either buy these pre-made from an online bakery retailer, party supply store, craft or hobby retailer or make your own from printable rice paper or edible photo paper.
These are very easy to use and inexpensive. Just place a smooth layer of frosting on the top of your cake, remove the backing from the photo transfer, and apply it to the cake. Sheet cakes work best for photo transfers, but you can cut them to fit a round cake if necessary. For a decorative touch, place sprinkles on the outer edges of the cake.
These are very easy to use and inexpensive. Just place a smooth layer of frosting on the top of your cake, remove the backing from the photo transfer, and apply it to the cake. Sheet cakes work best for photo transfers, but you can cut them to fit a round cake if necessary. For a decorative touch, place sprinkles on the outer edges of the cake.
Sugar Decorations
3. One of the easiest ways to make an Elmo birthday cake is by applying Elmo-shaped sugar icing decorations on a layered cake. This is very easy because you don't have to make your own cake, you can buy a plain one from a bakery. Elmo sugar icing decorations can be found in grocery stores, party stores, craft and hobby shops, and online specialty retailers.
The most difficult part about using these decorations is opening the package- if you're too forceful, you could end up breaking some of the decorations. Once the package is opened, take a dab of frosting, apply it to the back of the decoration, and then affix the decoration on the top or sides of your cake.
The most difficult part about using these decorations is opening the package- if you're too forceful, you could end up breaking some of the decorations. Once the package is opened, take a dab of frosting, apply it to the back of the decoration, and then affix the decoration on the top or sides of your cake.
