If you’re looking for a fun cake for a man look no further. This polka dot tie cake is not only fun but it’s extremely realistic looking. If you placed the finished cake in a shirt box I think the recipient might have to look twice!
Using a premade rolled fondant makes this cake doable for even the most novice of cake decorators. With a little time and no special tools you can make this cake in about 3 hours.
So grab your cake mix and let’s get started!
Step 1 - Bake cake mix according to package directions. Let cool.
Step 2 - Invert cake onto a rectangular cake board.
Step 3 - Place a thin level of icing onto the cake. Place cake in freezer to let icing firm up.
Step 4 - Knead the fondant until it’s pliable.
Step 5 - Roll fondant to 1/4” thickness. Don’t roll too thin or it will crack when assembling.
Step 6 - Invert cake pan over rolled fondant to check that you have enough to drape.
Step 7 - Roll fondant over rolling pin.
Step 8 - Remove cake from freezer. Drape fondant over cake. Using your hands to smooth and shape it to cake.
Step 9 - Use a paring knife to trim excess fondant (set aside to make collar, pocket, tie and polka dots).
Step 10 - Grab a man’s button down shirt to use as a template. Roll 1 piece of extra fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Use paring knife to cut fondant into shape of a pocket.
Step 11 - Use toothpick to create stitching detail.
Step 12 - Brush water on back of pocket; place on cake. Roll another piece of extra fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out collar. Place collar at top of cake.
Step 13 - Knead remaining fondant with gloved hands until it softens. Use toothpick to add blue icing color until desired color is achieved.
Step 14 - Roll blue fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out tie. Cut small piece of fondant for tie knot.
Step 15 - Drape tie onto cake; add knot at collar.
Step 16 - Roll reserved piece of white fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Use end of large plain pastry tip to cut out polka dots. Dab water on back of polka dots; place on tie.
And you’re all done! Amazing what you can do with just a few ordinary items in your kitchen and a little time. I think this would make an amazing Father’s day cake, a cake for a special work promotion, or of course for a birthday. You could go crazy with variations on the tie. Change up the color, add stripes instead of polka dots, or even paisley.
Ingredients
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1box Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ White Cake Mix
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Water, vegetable oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box
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1tub (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy Vanilla Frosting
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2 1/2lb pure white rolled fondant
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Powdered sugar
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Royal blue gel or paste icing color (not liquid food color)
Directions
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1Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease 13x9-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and egg whites. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack.
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2Remove cake from pan to cake board. Place strips of waxed paper or cooking parchment paper under cake edges. Frost cake with vanilla frosting, spreading frosting as smooth as possible. Place cake in freezer until frosting is firm.
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3Meanwhile, place fondant on work surface (sprinkle surface with powdered sugar if fondant begins to stick). With rolling pin, roll fondant to 1/4-inch thickness (do not roll too thin or it will crack when assembling). Invert cake pan over rolled fondant to check that you have enough to drape. Roll fondant over rolling pin.
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4Remove cake from freezer. Carefully drape fondant over cake, smoothing with your hands and shaping it to cake. Use sharp paring knife to trim excess fondant (set aside for future use). Remove waxed paper strips from underneath cake.
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5Roll 1 piece of excess fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Use paring knife to cut fondant into pocket (use man’s button-down shirt as template, if necessary). Use toothpick to create stitching detail. Brush water on back of pocket; place on cake.
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6Roll another piece of excess fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Using man’s button-down shirt as template, cut out collar. Place collar at top of cake.
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7Reserve small piece of fondant to create polka dots. Knead remaining fondant with gloved hands until it softens. Use toothpick to add blue icing color until desired color is achieved. Roll blue fondant to
1/4-inch thickness. Using man’s tie as template, cut out tie. Cut small piece of fondant for tie knot. Drape tie onto cake; add knot at collar.
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8Roll reserved piece of white fondant to 1/4-inch thickness. Use end of large plain pastry tip to cut out polka dots. Dab water on back of polka dots; place on tie.
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