SO excited to share with you how easy it is to make the rose cake.
Seriously, once you see you are going to run right out, buy a 1M tip, and make one.
That or go back to work. Or bed. Or whatever it was you were doing before I interrupted you.
Ok, here we go!
There were two main components to this cake.
The vertical layer interior and the frosting rose exterior.
I am going to do a vertical layer tutorial at a different time, (updated: you can see it HERE) as I did not get any pictures of it this go around and it is IMPOSSIBLE to explain without pictures. What I can tell you is, I did not make a sponge cake that I simple rolled up. I actually made two separate cakes and assembled them into the vertical layer pattern.
Now for the frosting rose tutorial!
I promise you, this could NOT be easier. Bakers have been putting frosting roses on cupcakes forever by simply using a 1M decorators tip. That is all I did!!
(I need to mention... before I froze my cake I poured a simple syrup over it. This helped to retain moisture as well as assist in binding the layers together... just be careful to not use to much!)
Start with your cake. I put a good crumb coat on... as in, a crumb coat that conceals the cake underneath. It can be sloppy and uneven, but you should not be able to see what color the cake is.
Put your 1M tip (or any large open star tip) into the pastry bag then fill it up with buttercream frosting.
If you have an appropriately sized coupler you can use that, or you can just insert the tip into the bag and cut off the excess.
To make your rose, start in the center, then slowly move your tip in a circle around the center point. I wanted a single rose to span the side of the cake so I looped around my center point twice.
Try to end in the same place each time.
Go all the way around the cake and complete with one last rose!
This is how it looks after completing the circumference of the cake.
Then go back and add the roses to the top using the same method.
When making flowers that big, you are bound to have some 'dead' space in there. Can you see that big empty spot up there?
My first instinct was to go back in and add dollops of stars... but I think I found a better way!
Instead go in and make a swoop with your tip. (try and go in the same direction as the rose right next to it)
In the overall design it seems to fit in better then the star dollop!
At least, I hope so anyway. :)
Now... if you are really adventurous and want to add some color to your cake...
You can pick up some of these.
I did a light dusting of yellow then went back over it with the pink. I have to admit, all white is still my favorite, but I love the flexibility of being able to add some color.
I think a deep red would be stunning on a Valentines Day cake! If you try that, be sure to send pictures! Or just add it to my flickr group!
Here are my tips to finding success:
1. Use a good crusting buttercream recipe. I used my new favorite and loved how it worked. You will want to make sure the frosting is not creamy though... for the tutorial cake I used a creamier version and the roses did not hold their shape as well.
2. Make sure you have enough frosting! Those roses use a lot... I would make the whole batch of the above recipe.
3. Put your cake in the fridge after you are done with decorating to help them set up and retain their shape.
4. Have FUN with it! Those roses are so forgiving. But if you find that you really dislike how they are turning out, just scrape them off and start over!
Cant wait to see what you do!
And of course, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know.
***
You can also see this on Project Weddings!
Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for the how-to!
Posted by: HolleyV | Mar 17, 2011 at 08:11 PM
I love it! I will be purchasing my 1M tip right away! Thank you, you have inspired me. Please visit me anytime at http://twogingerprinces.blogspot.com
Posted by: Corinne | Mar 17, 2011 at 08:16 PM
I love you for this.
Posted by: michele | Mar 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM
This is amazing! I was going to make a stacked cake with fondant for my daughter's Christening next week, but now you've totally changed my mind. The vertical layer looks so cool! I'm toying with the idea of using one red velvet cake and one carrot cake and make the roses out of cream cheese frosting, but I don't know if it would make as pretty stripes as yours.
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: The Swedish Cupcake | Mar 19, 2011 at 01:39 AM
Really nice. Looks like it would go quickly, once you get the hang of it. I suppose I could figure this out by a little practice, but will ask anyway. I see the approximate angle of your tip when you start & end (at the 9 o'clock position on your rose, as shown here), but how is the tip positioned when you reach the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock & 6 o'clock points of the circle. Does the tip always point, roughly, toward the center of the rose? I'm anxious to try this. My various infirmities made me give up making real roses, plus I'm now way out of practice. Thanks for sharing this great technique.
Posted by: David | Mar 21, 2011 at 09:10 PM
My jaw dropped when I saw the image of the white rose cake. It is fabulous! Thank you for sharing your talents with us and bigger thanks for sharing the tutorials for creating these beauties. :)
Posted by: Veronica | Mar 23, 2011 at 10:58 PM
This is such a beautiful technique, with or without the added color. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Posted by: Jeanne | Mar 24, 2011 at 12:27 PM
What a great cake! I will definitely be trying it in the near future!
Posted by: Melissa | Mar 26, 2011 at 11:15 PM
That is the most beautifull rose cake I´ve seen, congrats!!
Posted by: Paloma | Mar 27, 2011 at 10:42 AM
Hello Amanda, I have been itching to make this for a long time now and finally got to make it today to give to my Mom and Dad for their anniversary. I love how my cake turned out!!! :) Thank you for the idea and the inspiration!
Posted by: Jvrandolph06 | Mar 27, 2011 at 06:07 PM
My fiance and I are preparing for a budget-friendly, DIY wedding this August. You have solidified our final plan. This cake is absolutely gorgeous and will fit our special day just right. Thank you so very much for sharing this tutorial!
Posted by: Jessica | Mar 29, 2011 at 08:04 PM
this is beautiful. I bet it taste as good at it looks!
Posted by: Monica | Apr 05, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Beautiful, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Donna | Apr 05, 2011 at 11:24 AM
I just frosted a cake per your instructions and lo and behold it turned out! That never happens. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Posted by: Karen | Apr 05, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Am I in heaven or what? Seriously, those cakes are heavenly!
Posted by: Sarah | Apr 05, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Wow!!! Thanks so much for the tutorial! You made it look so easy. I'll send a pic of what I do.
Posted by: Malie S. | Apr 05, 2011 at 01:00 PM
Oh My God!! I want to take a bite so badly but then I want to just stare it for a week, hehe.
Thanks for the tutorial!!
Posted by: Dexie | Apr 05, 2011 at 01:07 PM
I just died a little bit.
Posted by: TexasChicGeek | Apr 05, 2011 at 01:35 PM
how pretty! thanks for the tutorial
Posted by: lori | Apr 05, 2011 at 01:42 PM
This is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to use it for my daughter's birthday this year... The first year none of the girls can fight over who gets the slices with a rose!
Posted by: Rannith2003 | Apr 05, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Yep awesome! I am going to attempt to make this for a friends wedding ;)
Posted by: Catrina072001 | Apr 05, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Stunning! Absolutely stunning!
Posted by: I Live in Antbed | Apr 05, 2011 at 04:04 PM
This is the coolest cake ever!!!!
Posted by: LollyChops | Apr 05, 2011 at 04:15 PM
wow this is unbelievable! i have a slight obsession with roses and this just made my day! thanks :)
Posted by: Stephanie Rose | Apr 05, 2011 at 04:22 PM
This is amazing i decorate cakes and i love this one
Posted by: Marian | Apr 05, 2011 at 05:14 PM
oh my good gracious! i just came over from pw & OH MY! that is THE most beautiful cake i've EVER seen!!! WOW!!!
Posted by: kelly harp | Apr 05, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Beautiful! I never been into making US cakes because they are too sweet for my taste. But I just have to make this one. Roses are my favorite flower you know :) Thanks for the tut.
Posted by: arrisje | Apr 05, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Che Bella!
Posted by: Ida Bear | Apr 05, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Charo Washer | Apr 05, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Stunning!
Posted by: LaJuana Dunn | Apr 06, 2011 at 09:03 AM
WOW!!! Love your stuff! A big thank you to PW for sending me over!
Posted by: MB | Apr 06, 2011 at 09:45 AM
Wow those roses look amazing ! Do you think i could use a firm ganache instead of buttercream ? :)
Posted by: Amanda | Apr 06, 2011 at 11:38 AM
Absolutely gorgeous! Just discovered you through Pioneer Woman. Would love to have been able to make this for my grandmother, her name was Rosemary and she loved roses. Beautiful!
Posted by: Sarah from 20somethingcupcakes | Apr 06, 2011 at 12:07 PM
This is INCREDIBLE! I cannot wait to attempt. Sigh.
Posted by: Dixie Caviar | Apr 06, 2011 at 01:41 PM
So beautiful!
When you said you looped around the center twice, do you mean only the first center loop you did twice?
Thanks so much
Posted by: kandy smith | Apr 06, 2011 at 01:56 PM
For the Rose Cake: if you put in two different colors of frosting in a frosting bag side by side, you can get a two tone rose. And you can always put in three or four strips of frosting for an even more beautiful one.
Posted by: Patricia Calef | Apr 06, 2011 at 02:44 PM
oh my gosh! i love love love this! soooo flipping pretty! thanks for sharing the how to's!
Posted by: terri | Apr 07, 2011 at 02:57 PM
What a beautiful cake! It is elegant, and feminine and oh so unique. And I am bowled over by your generosity in sharing everything one needs to know about how to make it. Your tutorial is superb. Brava!
Posted by: AdriBarr | Apr 07, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Thanks to your tutorial I was able to make this cake for my grandma's 88th birthday http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207089_10150155037779125_561584124_6663818_5650301_n.jpg Thanks again!
Posted by: Account Deleted | Apr 08, 2011 at 04:19 AM
They make this look so easy....I think I need to try it!
Posted by: Jen Pallas | Apr 08, 2011 at 11:46 AM
I made your gorgeous cake yesterday and you were right, it is easy! Thanks for your inspiration!
Posted by: Lori R | Apr 08, 2011 at 01:43 PM
How beautiful! I'm bookmarking this for the next time I need a fancy desert--or maybe just a brunch. http://southernbluestocking.com/
Posted by: Beth at SouthernBluestocking | Apr 09, 2011 at 11:33 AM
I made it :) I tried making it red, but after using half a thing of my red gel coloring, it still wasn't a pretty, deep red. Any suggestions for a deeper red?
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i114/shanawoodman/Crafty%20Examples/Cooking/IMG_6926.jpg
Posted by: Shana | Apr 10, 2011 at 08:33 AM
Wow....I think I just found my future wedding cake...=) This is GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS!!!!!!
Posted by: Elesha East | Apr 10, 2011 at 11:41 AM
I can't wait to try this cake for our daughter's first birthday. She is named Theresa after St. Therese of Liseaux, who is know for sending a "shower of roses" when you ask for her intercession. So a rose cake would be the PERFECT thing to make. Lord knows I am not a cake decorator, but I do have a 1M tip already!
Posted by: Kimberly | Apr 13, 2011 at 05:12 PM
Thanks ever so much for your beautiful design. I made it my self but with a Wilton 2D tip :),since I could not buy the 1M tip at my local store...but it was sooo pretty and lovely...I love how it turned out...thanks a lot for the free inspiration and all the trouble you took to do this blog step by step...good luck in all your future work..3 cheers!!!!
Posted by: Ganga | Apr 14, 2011 at 09:28 AM
Thanks so much for all the trouble you took to make this blog and sharing it with us freely. I made it and it was soo lovely.But I used the Wilton 2D tip becoz I couldnt buy the 1M tip at the local store..but I love how it turned out :)...good luck in all your future work..3 cheers!!!!
Posted by: Ganga | Apr 14, 2011 at 09:46 AM
Love this. Such a great idea! The more I look through your site the more I like.
Posted by: Hypnotherapy London | Apr 14, 2011 at 11:21 AM
You make this look so easy!! It's absolutely beautiful. I've included a link to your tutorial in our roundup of beautiful foods for a floral themed party. I hope you'll check it out! Floral Themed Food Finds
Posted by: Heather | Apr 15, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your beautiful cake! I took your idea and used it on my daughter's wedding cake this week. The craftsmanship is not as beautiful as yours but no one was looking close enough. Except in the photos. Here is a link
http://www.bbitesized.com/2/post/2011/04/rose-wedding-cake-finished-430-am-the-day-of-the-wedding-phewf.html
Posted by: shannon christensen | Apr 16, 2011 at 02:10 PM