The Making of a Chess Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this tutorial, I will show you how I made this lovely and unique chess cake. This is a 2 tier cake with deconstructed chess boards and pieces. It also features silhouettes of knights on horses. This is one cake which is sure to please any chess player. To see more views of this cake and read more about the sponges and frosting used, click here. This cake can also be made in a single tier like the one below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PROCESS:

(1) First, some preliminary stuffs. Make the chess pieces. I used a mold to make the fondant pieces I used for this cake. The pieces were brushed with a 50/50 mixture of vodka and corn syrup for the glossy look. If however you do not have access to a mold, you can use make your own chess pieces using a pictorial I have here. Make the pieces in advance and leave them to dry before using.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2) Next, cover the cake board with white fondant. Cut out black fondant squares and stick them to the cake board. Also cut out two thick sheets of white fondant, one smaller than the other. These would be used to make the deconstructed chess boards. Cut out squares from the sheets to create vacant spots. Allow these to dry thoroughly and stick black fondant squares to them like you did in the case of the cake board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3) Designing the cake: Drape the bottom tier with white fondant and stick it to the cake board. Roll out another sheet of white fondant the same height as the cake, use your ruler and embossing wheel to make vertical indents on the fondant about an inch apart from each other and wrap this sheet of fondant around the cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4) Next, roll out some thin grey fondant and use a printout of a knight on a horse to make silhouettes. You can read more on how to make fondant silhouettes here. Stick one silhouette to the bottom tier. Using your ruler and embosser, trace the lines on the cake on the silhouette so it merges into the cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5) Place dowels in the bottom tier and stick the larger dried chess board on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6) Next, repeat all the steps above for the top tier. Stick the top tier on the bottom tier, place a few dowels in it and place the smaller chess board on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7) Finish the look with your formed chess pieces. That’s all there is to it. Happy caking!