Logger Beaver Cake Decorating and Baking Tutorial

Janette starts by putting the stand together. She used a 16”x 14” oval mdf base, but you can equally use a square or rectangle. It’s a simple, sturdy, foodsafe structure ready for the cake to be added.

Janette shapes, stacks and carves the log and the beaver’s body to get an outline shape. There’s a lot of cake so a lot of carving, but remember that if you take too much off you can always just ganache it back on.

Time to get the beaver’s head added. Janette doesn’t finish shaping the body until the head’s been added to ensure that she gets the overall shape and proportionally correct.

Using simple techniques Janettet covers the log, but then starts to add some very characteristic knots and bark lines using the Cake Duchess tools.

Time to cover the body and Janette recommends using an elastic paste such as Cake Duchess covering paste. She then texturises the body with some simple, but effective techniques then adds the beaver’s feet.

Our little character comes to life by adding the distinctive beaver features most notably teeth and eyes.

Janette goes for a beanie style hat for our little beaver. Just using simple techniques it all comes together and really adds to the overall look.

Time to add a little shirt to add yet more personality. Janette goes for red, but of course you can choose whichever colour or design you prefer or if you’re in a rush you don’t even need to add the shirt.

He’s really coming to life now as the arms are added and his shirt gets some extra detail. The shirt has still to have the airbrush checked pattern added, but you could equally paint it at this stage or just leave it red.

Janette talks through all the steps needed to make the axe, including a great tip to ensure the centre of gravity will keep the axe balanced on the cake.

NOTE: The axe needs to be set hard so best to leave for a day or so before adding to the cake.

This is where the axe’s centre of gravity becomes very important as it’s carefully placed onto the cake. No beaver would be complete without their distinctive tail so Janette shows how to make and add the tail to finish the wee guy off.

Janette shares a great little tip on how to make the branches using cocktail stick and florist wires. Once the shape has been created it’s just a case of covering them, leaving to set, then adding to the cake.

With a blue marbled effect Janette covers the board in sections. The elasticity of the Cake Duchess covering paste means that it joins together easily and can be stretched around the tail.

In the final lesson, Janette add some finishing touches to the coat and fur with the airbrush.

Some other ideas for the Logger Beaver cake.

Everything a pro needs to know about pricing and distributing a cake like this.