Free Steampunk Witch’s Hat Tutorial

Step 1

Torte, fill and stack the 6” cakes onto the 6” cake drum. Refrigerate until the buttercream is firm.

Step 2

Place the cake onto a spare working board and begin to carve into a cone shape.

Step 3

Coat the cake with ganache. Flexi smoothers are great for spreading ganache on odd shapes. Refrigerate until firm.

Step 4

Cover the 12” cake drum with the black sugarpaste and leave aside to dry.

Step 5

Once the cake is firm, place the dowel through the centre as shown. This will be an anchor for the top of the hat.

Step 6

To make the pointed top, roll out some dark modelling chocolate into a cone shape. The wide end of the cone should be approximately the size of the top of the cake.

Step 7

Place the modelling chocolate on top of the dowel.

Step 8

Use the blue Sugar Shaper to smooth the join.

Step 9

To add a little character to the hat, bend the tip a little.

Step 10

Place the cake onto the centre of the covered 12” board.

Step 11

Cover the cake with the red sugarpaste. Overlap the sugarpaste at the back and use the sharp knife to cut through the overlap. Remove the excess to make a neat join.

Step 12

Use the heat of your hand to smooth the seam.

Step 13

Trim the excess sugarpaste from the bottom of the cake.

Step 14

Use the round end of a tool to add some creases to the tip of the hat where the tip bends over.

Step 15

Use your little finger and the side of your hand to add some creases into the hat.

Step 16

Add a teaspoon of tylose powder to the remaining red sugarpaste and knead. This will strengthen the paste and help it to hold the shape of the brim. Roll out the red sugarpaste into a long strip and pinch one side in random spots to create ruffles in the brim.

Step 17

Attach the brim around the base of the hat using edible glue. To create a little movement, place pieces of foam under some sections of the brim as shown. These can be removed once the brim dries.

Step 18

Roll out some dark modelling chocolate and press the leather impression mat over it.

Step 19

Use the ribbon cutter to cut two strips to make the belt for the hat.

Step 20

Cut a V shape at the end of one strip and use the end of a paintbrush to make buckle holes.

Step 21

Use edible glue to attach the belt and buckle around the base of the hat.

Step 22

Roll a small piece of modelling chocolate to make the latch for the buckle.

Step 23

Roll out some dark modelling chocolate and use the steampunk gear cutters to cut out three small and two medium sized gears. Use edible glue to attach to the hat.

Step 24

To make the chimneys, roll out some modelling chocolate into a cylinder shape.

Step 25

Cut a section out of the cylinder and bend into an L shape. Make three of these.

Step 26

Roll out some more modelling chocolate and use the circle cutter to cut out three circles. Attach the circles to the cake using edible glue. Insert a cocktail stick into each circle.

Step 27

Attach the L shaped chimney pieces onto the cocktail sticks. Add a strip of modelling chocolate to the top and bend on each chimney.

Step 28

Paint the gears, buckle, buckle holes and chimneys using the metallic dusts mixed with alcohol.

Step 29

To make the chimney smoke, cut the wire into three sections and bend the wires to create movement. Use a little edible glue to attach a little white gum paste to each wire. Push the wire into the chimney. Remember, the wire should not be inserted directly into the cake, just the chimney.

Step 30

Use black airbrush colour to add some shading to the cake.

Step 31

Paint the belt with confectioners’ glaze to give it shine. Don’t forget the ribbon!