BAKE a rectangle or square shaped cake.
For this tutorial, I used my large baking dishes... large rectangles.
1: once you have baked and torted your cake, begin my carving the shape of the cushion ... I like to roughly outline with a knife on the top of the cake.... a very rough guide, but it helps....
you could also use a template.. But I am not usually that organised!!!
2: Carve the 'shape' of the cushion, tapering corners, and curving sides.... this will give the more authentic cushion shape to your cake.
3: cover one side of cushion with BC, then fondant, and flip cake over onto cake board.
4: If you wish, you can emboss the top cover of the cushion... I used the embossing mat to help lift the fondant onto the top of the cushion, and then raised the mat off the fondant once happy with the position of the fondant on the cake.
You can do whatever you like with the design of the 'fabric' for your cushion..... quilting, painting, embossing, etc...............
5: Use a ribbon to help guide your stitching wheel to ensure straight lines.
6 & 7 * Create dents for buttons
* Create cord detail, holding in place with pins until dried in place.
8: Paint cake as desired. You don't have to paint it of course, but that is what I did for this cushion.. All painted with Lustre Dusts & vodka.
9: Voila..... finished cake!
I have included this photo of a 2 tier cushion cake dummy I did for a trade fair, to give another decorating idea.
6 & 7 * Create dents for buttons 
* Create cord detail, holding in place with pins until dried in place.
(I leave the pins in overnight).
8: Paint cake as desired. You don't have to paint it of course, but that is what I did for this cushion.. All painted with Lustre Dusts & vodka.
Place your pre-made ballet slippers on the cake.... and hold in place with ROYAL ICING.
9: Voila..... finished cake!
This was my first cushion cake, and remains one of my cakes that I am still proud of. I did make the error of not covering the board, and while painting, flicked colour ... making a splattering all over the board.. hence the heart cut outs............ strategically placed to cover my mess!!!
I have included this photo of a 2 tier cushion cake dummy I did for a trade fair, to give another decorating idea.
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What a brilliant tutorial!
Thank you for being our guest teacher this week Toni!
**********************About Toni**********************
Toni grew up in Melbourne, Australia and as a young adult her travels took her to Italy. She met her husband, and now calls Italy her home... Pietrasanta (LU) on the Tuscan coast. Disappointed that cakes, such as a simple cupcake, were impossible to find there, Toni began making special birthday cakes for her own children. She is now is serving the public with her own special brand of cake artistry!
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Photos, patterns and tutorial by Tony Brancatisano ( Torteditoni ) 2009 all rights reserved
This tutorial was used with the expressed permission of Toni Brancatisano ( Torteditoni )
and may not be reproduced without written permission from the author.