How to get an 'explosion' effect when decorating a cake

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Are you looking for new ideas for a birthday cake? Then you'll love this creative twist on a traditional fondant cake from Just Cake It. While this version uses the lovely penguins from the Madagascar movie, you can easily customize this project to fit your needs. This surprisingly simple technique requires the use of fondant. You'll need the pliability of this type of frosting so you can manipulate the material.
If you are unfamiliar with working with fondant, there are many things you can do to make sure it works and looks exactly as you want it to. Sugar Coated Chronicle explains how important it is to choose the right fondant and how to apply it properly. For example, she states how she started using marshmallow fondant. This kind of fondant is quick and inexpensive, Craftsy states, however, it can take a few tries to get it right. Another problem is that it can be too sticky, according to Sugar Coated Chronicle. For a design like this one, we need to be precise, so working with the right fondant is key. If you're not used to making your own fondant, you can try with a store-bought rolled fondant.
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Check out the video below to see how this adorable cake comes together.
After you've made your cake, measure your centerpiece (in this instance, four small penguin figurines). You'll need to have a good idea for how wide they sit. A protractor makes this job a snap. Use the same protractor to draw a circle to the right diameter on a piece of parchment paper.
Double check to make sure your figurines fit in the middle, cut out your circle and use this to cut out the right amount of flattened fondant.
Place this circle of fondant in the center of your cake. The base should be completely covered in fondant. Press into the center to secure and cover this with another layer of fondant.
Once you've completely recovered your cake, you'll see an indentation where your circle of covered fondant sits underneath the top layer. Using a cutter, slice equal pieces across this section of the fondant ( like a pizza) and pull each section back to reveal the colored fondant on the other side.
You cake now looks like it exploded. Simply add your figurines into the center of the "explosion" and decorate the rest of your cake with a matching ribbon, stars, or any other shape you like.
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To really make this design pop, use contrasting colors (like white and pink). This is a simple, fun design that's perfect for birthday parties, baby showers or other fun events. If you're a beginner, this is a fun way to try your hand at a slightly trickier technique. Make sure to watch your measurements the first few times for better results.
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