Blanche The Sea Turtle Cake

by Dani Startt
(Cumming, GA, USA)

Blanche's Face : Detail

Blanche's Face : Detail

Intro To The Birthday Girl


Laurel, our friend's little girl, is quite an amazing person. Each year I'm excited to see what theme she chooses for her birthday party.

She never picks typical girly ones, like princesses. No, she's a fun, kind, science-minded genius and I adore her for it. Her dad is an amateur astronomer, and she has her own telescopes, along with other exploratory tools.

We visited a museum with her family recently, and in the gems minerals exhibit she pointed out a large chunk of amethyst, saying she thought it would make a good subject for a cake. (OK, I'm game! Lets do that next!)

A Swimming / Sea Turtle Rescue Party


For Laurel's 7th birthday, she hosted a swimming party, and requested that her guests bring donations to a Sea Turtle Rescue organization instead of bringing her gifts. I wanted to show my appreciation for her selflessness and generosity by making her cake EXTRA special that year.

No Cartoonish Cakes Please


My favorite sort of cakes are cones that don't look like cake. In the past I've made many of them, an alligator, Jabba The Hutt, a corset, a machine with a fly all governor, the Stanley Cup, a fire helmet, a wooden trunk, a Brachiosaurus, buildings, Curious George, Winnie The Pooh, and Slimer from Ghostbusters.

So, when Laurel asked if I could do a turtle, and further clarified that she'd prefer a realistic version, rather than a cartoonish one, I became very excited and inspired. I surprised myself with the final product, and it made the birthday girl very happy. Lauren's sea turtle might be my favorite cake that doesn't look
like one.

It's Edible


The party guests weren't sure what to think of this creature from the deep. Nobody seemed to realize it was a edible. People thought it was a sculpture. The best part of the entire event, for me, was the picture that Laurel's mom snapped of her holding a plate with a chunk of turtle on it. The expression on her face is priceless. It made me smile for days.

Tantalizing Flavors For Kids Cakes


The body/shell of the turtle is all made with my "Gimmie S'More" flavor made from my chocolate recipe, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate ganache, and chocolate buttercream. The flippers, neck, and head were made from Rice Krispy Treat covered in modeling chocolate. The turtle is surrounded by graham cracker "sand."

A Little Behind The Scenes


This creation was both airbrushed in yellows and browns, and dry dusted with various petal dusts, primarily Moss Green, Forrest Green, Cocoa, and Charcoal Black.

The shell is hand painted, and shows the streaky fans of color in each section of the turtle's shell. The texture of the turtle's skin was both molded using a cobblestone impression mat, and hand sculpted using sculptor's tools. The face is entirely hand-done. It took a good deal of time to get the face just right. At first the "beak" was too big and Blanche looked like a duck. Once it was all put together, and sitting on my kitchen table, it looked so real I thought it might move.

I named her "Blanche" just because it seemed to fit her. It really was my pleasure to make this life-like creation for this sweet, smart, and generous little girl.

Comments for Blanche The Sea Turtle Cake

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Dec 10, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Most realistic
by: Anonymous

This is hands down the most realistic cake I've ever seen!

Dec 09, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
nice detail
by: Anonymous

Love it when cakes look this realistic! great job.

Dec 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Fantastic!
by: Kathleen

Love, love, love this cake. Absolutely fabulous!

Dec 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
The Best!
by: Lonna

Dani can do anything with cake! And the Sea Turtle is no exception!! Awesome cake!

Dec 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Awesome!!
by: Britney

So much detail and 3D cakes are not easy to do at all!! AWESOME, You should be proud , win or lose!!!

Dec 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
realistic
by: Anonymous

LOVE THIS CAKE!!!! Looking at it my daughter thought it was a real turtle.

Dec 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Artistry
by: Anonymous

What a beautiful cake! So much detail and creativity. I know she must have been one happy girl!

Dec 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Incredible lady, incredible baker
by: Jordo

She is incredible. She puts together a great product, at a great price with the best service imaginable. She deserves any and all accolades that can be given.

Dec 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Cool!
by: Anonymous

That is an awesome cake for an awesome birthday girl!!!

Dec 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Awesome cake
by: Anonymous

That cake is awesome and so lifelike.

Dec 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Love it
by: Anonymous

Love it. Amazing detail.

Dec 02, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Super Turtle
by: Anonymous

This cake is awesome!

Nov 29, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Gorgeous
by: Anonymous

Love this cake. Looks just like a real turtle.

Nov 09, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Awesome
by: Anonymous

Incredible as always Dani!

Nov 09, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
So realistic...
by: Anonymous

I can't imagine cutting into it! Such a work of art!

Nov 09, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Amazing
by: Anonymous

Love this cake.

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Wow
by: Anonymous

You outdid yourself again. Can't wait until you do it again!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Amazingly WOW
by: Jodi S

Dani it's miraculous. The detail is so realistic.

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Awesome cake
by: Peggy

Laurel supplied the idea and Dani did a fantastic job of creating the cake!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
AMAZING
by: Brenda R

What an amazing cake. Such talent from the cake artist and clearly made with a loving heart. Go Laurel....you are so awesome!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Very realistic
by: Donna Cory

Very realistic ! I have shown this to friends who thought it was a sculpture or a resin figure, not a cake. Dani is so talented!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Tasty Too!
by: Becky A

As Laurel's mom, I can say that this cake was even better in person! Everyone loved it, especially when they realized it not only looked amazing, it was delicious! Thanks again, Dani!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Impressive work
by: Jo Jo Starbuck

Life-like and so creative. Takes alot of talent to see it in your mind and actually create it with your hands...well done!!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Phenomenal
by: Carrie Hafner

The most realistic cake I have ever seen! Amazing!

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
A Masterpiece
by: Meg

What a beautiful detailed design. It looks so lifelike.

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Sea turtle cake
by: joe H

Best ever artwork cake.

Nov 08, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Amazing Work
by: Melissa

This is an amazing cake!! Excellent work!

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Cake Decorating Contest Fundraiser To Benefit Icing Smiles.

This article was printed from Wedding-Cakes-For-You.com

Print Article
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.