Hot Air Balloon Cake Decorating and Baking Tutorial

After a quick chat about the design, Paul starts with the hardest task first, covering the sphere. With a few hints and tips along the way, he has the balloon covered in no time.

This is nice and easy, just a case of joining the boards together and glueing in the dowels at a slight angle. Once the glue has set Paul then adds the balloon to ensure that it will support the weight.

Paul comes up with a great, but very simple, technique to mark equal segments on the balloon. He then paints the wooden dowels in preparation for adding the cake.

Now it’s time to add the cake. Not just as straightforward given that it needs placed around the dowels. Watch how Paul makes the cuts and shapes to get the perfect fit , before covering in ganache.

After covering the top first, Paul then creates panels and texturises to give the basket weave effect, which works very well.

Paul has a eureka moment after viewing hot air balloon images on google….he adds a railing to the basket! This gives the basket a more realistic, chunk effect, without ruining the cartoon look. He finishes the lesson by painting alternate segments of the balloon.

Using a nifty technique, Paul creates, then adds the decorative swags to the top of the balloon.

Time to add some pretty decorations. Paul starts by adding little bows as decorations to the swags around the top of the balloon, then makes a selection of rose sizes and filler leaves.

NOTE: Paul ends up using:

10 – Rose buds

5 – Rose with two additional petals

5 – Rose with a further three petals

4 – Full rose

Paul adjusts his design here adding the gas entry to the bottom of the balloon. He then creates the cutest little bear to sit pride of place.

The cake turns cutetsy when all the lovely roses and leafs are added. This is when cake decorators become flower arrangers! Take your time, but don’t over think it and enjoy bringing all your hard work to life.

Time to finish off by adding the topper and a few tweaks here and there and that all important glaze.

Everything a professional needs to know