Math Can Be Sweet

Today's calculator cake is a special treat for any math lovers out there (yes, we do exist).  I had been wanting to do a math cake for a while, but hadn't found the right occasion. I was going to do it for my husband's birthday, but went for a UK basketball theme instead.  I don't find a lot of occassions for math cakes, as most people aren't as big of nerds math enthusiasts as my husband and I!  Believe it or not, my favorite subject in school was always math, I especially loved calculus.  Thankfully someone else in our family is a math person as well, so I had a great excuse to make a math cake.

My sister asked me a few weeks ago if I would make a calculator or math cake for her husband's birthday.  He is a high school math teacher, and she thought he would like that theme.  I looked around online and found what I expected - not a lot of math cakes out there...  I decided to create my own, and came up with some ideas.  This cake has three basic techniques used - piping, fondant decor, and Cake Cricut work.   I have tutorials for all three, as well as the recipe for the cake.  My brother-in-law is a big Oreo fan, so I did a chocolate cake with a Oreo cookies and cream buttercream. 

Fondant work - Calculator

My first step with the cake was working on the calculator.  I started this about a week in advance, as I knew it would take time to create and dry.  You should allow at least 72 hours for a large piece like this to dry before putting it on the cake.

When creating a detailed fondant object like the calculator, I like to use the method of working with a print-out and Exacto knife. 

1. I printed several copies of a picture of the calculator, scaled to the size I wanted for the cake.
2. I cut out the basic shapes for the calculator from the printouts (the overall shape, the screen, the area around the screen, the various shaped buttons, etc). These will serve as templates to cut out the fondant pieces. 
3. I rolled black fondant out to approximately 1/8".
4. Using the exacto knife, I cut out the basic calculator shape using the printout as a template.
5. I rolled out white and black fondant to 1/16" and cut out the respective buttons using the buttons from the printout as a template.
6. I dyed white fondant the gray, green, blue, and yellow shades I needed for the remaining pieces.
7. I cut out the screen, buttons, and remaining pieces.  I again used the printouts as a template.
8. Using gum glue (mixture of gum paste or fondant and water), I glued the pieces onto the calculator base.

You could leave the calculator as shown above.  But to finish it off, I used an edible marker to fill in some details on the buttons and screen.

Cricut Cake work - "Happy Birthday Jason" and numbers

Much to my excitement, my Christmas presents this year were centered around cake decorating and baking.  I received a PINK KitchenAid mixer and a Cricut Cake Mini.  I had seen a little about the Cricut Cake, and my sister uses the regular paper Cricut.  Once I tried it out, though, I was hooked!  It is so easy to make professional and detailed items for cakes.  I got three cartridges filled with all kinds of objects, texts, borders, etc.  I definitely wanted to try it out for this cake. There weren't a lot of math themed symbols and objects, but I was able to cut out the "Happy Birthday," "Jason," and the numbers.  I think the items take the cake to a more professional looking level.  I'm not the best at piping text, so this will come in very handy!

You can read more about the Cricut Cake on Cricut's website, or find them at most local craft stores.  I haven't tried using rolled out fondant in the cricut yet, but love using the Wilton Sugar Sheets.  They work just like paper, and are perfect for the Cricut Cake.

Piping work - Digits of pi

 

No math cake would be complete without a mention of pi!  I decided to finish the cake off with a tribute to the number by writing just a few of its digits around the cake.  I used the #12 tip in a piping bag to do this.  The best way to pipe text or numbers is by keeping the tip at a 45 degree angle from the surface you are piping on.  You should keep the tip just above the surface, as you continue piping it will rest down on the icing or cake board.  Keeping the tip slightly above will keep the icing from bunching up.

Another good tip is to use thin icing with a little piping gel mixed in.  THe piping gel adds elasticity to the icing and keeps it from cracking.  You may notice that some of my numbers cracked.  I didn't have all my tools with me and did not add the gel.  My icing was also a little too thick, I should have thinned it out.  A smaller tip (#1, #3) also help if you want finer writing on a cake.

The Cake Recipe

Chocolate cake ingredients:

• 2 cup sugar
• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Cake Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Combine all dry ingredients
3. Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla into batter.
4. Beat batter at medium speed for 2 minutes.
5. Stir in boiling water  - batter will be thin.
6. Generously spray cake pan and fill with batter.
7. I uses an 8 inch round cake 3 inches thick and baked it for about 50-55 minutes.
8. Let cool before icing

Cookies and Cream Buttercream ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Crisco
• 1/2 cup butter (softened)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 8 tsp milk
• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 4-5 crushed Oreos

Buttercream directions:

1. Combine Crisco, butter, vanilla, and milk.
2. Beat until mixed well.
3. Add powdered sugar about 1/4-1/2lb at a time.
4. If too thick consistency, add additional tsp's of milk.