Monday, July 12, 2010

All aboard

Dinosaur Train Birthday Cake - front

I seem to learn new things every time someone asks me to make a cake. The world of children's television is a mystery to me but with my introduction to the PBS show Dinosaur Train, I can see why kids these days are so enthralled with such captivating edutainment. Except for Sesame Street and 3-2-1 Contact (remember the Bloodhound Gang?), which I remember watching in the afternoons with my sister right after Three's Company re-runs, there was little else which was both fun and educational.

Dinosaur Train Birthday Cake - flying Tiny

A relatively simple buttercream-covered cake inspired by Dinosaur Train was requested so I decided to make fondant elements which could be removed easily before consumption. Tiny is a Pteranodon who is spreading her wings in the sky above the Dinosaur Train, manned by the Conductor, a Troodon with great knowledge of the dinosaur world. Seriously, I have never heard of these dinosaurs. I barely remember what a Stegosaurus looks like.

Dinosaur Train Birthday Cake - rear

I used royal icing on dried fondant shapes to create the train. Flourescent green Tiny was the most challenging to make, as those skinny arms, legs and neck made me extra cautious; however, the Conductor was my favourite since I can't resist animals that wear clothes! The cake itself was simple, just chocolate cake and dark chocolate mousse, masked in buttercream with piped italian meringue clouds. Because the train was too short to wrap around the entire 8" round cake, some prehistoric decor was added at the rear to fill things out. Who doesn't love a little lava? I heard that the cake was met with a chorus of squeals which is music to my ears! Happy Birthday Alex!

Dinosaur Train Birthday Cake - the Conductor

14 comments:

Sweet Handmade Cookies said...

Great job Charmaine! I follow your blog faithfully and was happy to see this inspired and beautiful cake. Keep up the good work,...

Laura

Blessed Rain said...

Absolutely a darling cake!

Paris Patisseries said...

That is stunning. I only wish my 4th birthday cake looked like that. I believe it was merely a Fudgie the Whale from Carvel.

Chef Scott said...

This is Fantastic! I am delighted by your whimsy. Forgive me, I'm not familiar with your subject matter... but I LOVE a little story telling in my pastry. Excellent Job :)

Jenniffer said...

OMG! Your cakes are SO cute!! I'm very glad I stumbled across your blog!!

TLC said...

wowza! your cakes blow my mind a little...!

The Mrs. said...

That is so amazing! My daughter is completely in love with Dinosaur Train and when she saw this cake she went crazy! What an incredible job you did! :o) I love it!

Lisa Santoski said...

Hi Charmaine -- That's a beautiful cake. I am just now searching for someone to do our son's fifth birthday cake, and yours came up in Google images. Did you have to get permission from PBS to make the dinosaurs from the series ... I do not know of a bakery that makes the cake from the series.

I have thought of replacing a dinosaur topper of one of a bakery's dinosaur cakes with one from the series, but that's the least preferred. I want the REAL McCOY!!!!

In the meantime, I have sent an Email to PBS asking for their permission to use Buddy from Dinosaur Train in an image on the top of our son’s birthday cake. Our intent was to superimpose an image of our son with an arm around him. This would not be used for any other purpose than the cake image, and our bakery would need written permission from PBS to create that. So far I have not heard from PBS.

Thanks Charmaine.
I look forward to your reply.

Charmaine said...

Lisa: Actually, the whole idea of getting permission from PBS is news to me. Getting permission from any "group" in order to create a single custom child's birthday cake out of my home kitchen seems a little excessive to me. Perhaps if I was mass producing 100's of Dinosaur Train cakes out of bakery, that would be a different story.

I shudder to think of the thousands of brand-name purse cakes or all the Hello Kitty cakes ever made which never had and never will get official permission...

Lisa said...

Wow, what a perfect Dinosaur Train cake. I live in Vancouver, too, and I'm planning my daughter's birthday party in October. Is there any way I could get in contact with you about doing a similar cake for her?

Katharine said...

Hi Charmaine,

Like Lisa above, my daughter is nuts about Dinosaur Train and her birthday is in October.

I also live in vancouver and was wondering if it's possible to order a cake like this (or at least DT themed, if you wanted to do something different to expand creatively). This cake is simply outstanding.

I'm not sure how to contact you so I'm hoping that by posting this comment you can contact me?

Thanks.

Charmaine said...

Lisa & k.morrison: Thank you very much for your interest in my cakes! I am touched. Currently, I do not take orders from the general public but hopefully that will change in the future!

Lisa Santoski said...

Charmaine -- I, too, was surprised that I had to get permission from PBS. A few have said that they are not able to create a photo cake using copyrighted images such as cartoon characters, celebrities or corporate logos, unless the company provides written permission. Just a couple bakeries were okay to do without permission.

Katharine said...

so, so sad. :(
Oh well, good luck and please email me if you do decide to go public.

Your cakes are just beautiful.