Need a great luau cake idea?
Capture the vintage aloha spirit with a fabulous frangipani Luau Cake.
Say aloha to the charm of old Hawaii with this beautiful frangipani flower cake.
Inspired by vintage bark cloth designs, the simple, textured background makes these gorgeous blooms the star attraction.
Perfect for a Luau party or a Summer beach party. Why just wear your frangipanis when you can eat them too?
techniques used
luau cake - flower cake
To complete your luau party theme...
Check out these great, co-ordinating party supplies:
what you'll need:
luau cake - flower cake
- one complete 8" round cake - this one's spiced carrot cake
- #10 round tip
- buttercream frosting - this one's Chai Spice
- cocoa powder, to tint the frosting brown for the branches
- 7 or so fondant frangipanis
- cake plate or board
here's how to do it...
luau cake - flower cake
1. Bake your cake using your favorite recipe. Tort and fill the cake. Crumb coat and fefrigerate for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
2. Mix a little cocoa powder into about one cup of frosting, until you have a nice dark, choclate brown. With the #10 tip, pipe the frangipani branches. Make the knots in the branches by using a pull-stop-up-down motion with the tip. Start at the top of each branch, pulling the tip toward you about 1", stop without lifting the tip off the cake surface and pull slightly up, then down in the same spot. This creates a knot. Continue pulling toward you, stop, up and down, and so on, until you have reached the bottom of the branch.
3. Repeat for each branch in the tree. Make as many groups of branches as you have frangipanis, seven in this case.
4. Use the same tip to pipe a bead border around the bottom edge of the cake. Hold the piping bag at a 45 degree angle to the cake plate, with the tip resting lightly on the bottom edge of the cake. While keeping the bag still, apply heavy pressure to the bag to allow a bead of frosting to form, raising the tip a little as the bead forms. Once you have the size you want, decrease the pressure on the bag while moving the tip to the right (or left, if you'r left-handed). Begin the next bead overlapping the first. Continue all the way around the edge of the cake.
5. To secure the franpianis, choose a place on each branch that makes sense visually and gently push into the frosting. Place a leaf immediately behind the frangipani. Repeat for remaining blooms, placing them quite randomly to give a more natural look.
You're done! Now go get a well deserved cup of coffee and sit back for a few minutes to admire your handiwork. Remember to take a picture while your masterpiece still looks perfect.
how to host the perfect summer party
Got a great Luau Cake? Check. Now all you need to complete your party theme is co-ordinating party supplies.
You can find everything you need right here. Check it out:
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