Last Updated on February 1, 2023
Today, we’re going to be taking a look at how to make a book cake without fondant. Book cakes are notoriously difficult to make, but they don’t have to be. Working with fondant can be quite tricky, so we decided to learn how to make a book cake without fondant, and now you can too! Book cakes are perfect for just about any occasion, especially if you have a fellow bookworm in your life. So how do you make a book cake without fondant? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a Book Cake?
A book cake is exactly as it sounds, a cake that’s been shaped like a book. These work really when it comes to novelty cakes for a celebration or occasion. And an open-book cake is one of the easiest to work with. However, you can also make a stack of books, or a closed book too.
Book cakes are made simply by carving out a cake and then decorating it with either fondant or buttercream.
Ingredients in a Book Cake
You may be wondering what the ingredients are when it comes to a book cake. The truth is, the ingredients will vary depending on which recipe you’re following and which decoration you’re using. Our recipe contains the following:
- butter
- caster sugar
- self-raising flour
- eggs
- milk
- cocoa powder
- baking powder
- vanilla extract
- salt
- icing sugar
- royal icing
Nutritional Information of a Book Cake
You may be curious as to the nutritional value of a book cake. Each whole cake contains the following:
- Calories: 8535
- Carbohydrates: 1080
- Protein: 72g
- Fat: 457g
- Cholesterol: 1955mg
- Sodium: 4983mg
- Fiber: 14.9g
- Sugar: 854g
One thing’s for sure – don’t eat this cake alone, and enjoy it in moderation!
Do You Need Fondant When Making a Book Cake?
While fondant seems like a key ingredient, it doesn’t have to be! You can make a buttercream book cake or an iced book cake. Both work just as well as fondant and can be just as easy to work with. When it comes to making book cakes, there’s just one skill you need: patience!
How to Make a Book Cake Recipe
Let’s get down to the reason you’re here: how to make a book cake! Let’s take a closer look.
Ateco Reversible 2-Sided Revolving Cake Decorating Stand
Ingredients – How To Make A Book Cake Without Fondant
For the cake:
- 5 eggs
- 300g of butter
- 300g of caster sugar
- 275g of self raising flour
- 75ml of milk
- 25g of cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2/3 teaspoon of baking powder
For the decoration:
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 560g icing sugar
- 225g of butter
- sugar flowers of your choice
Recipe
Step 1: Bake the Cake
Gather the ingredients you need and preheat your oven to 340F. Grab a bowl and add the sugar and butter. Beat until light and creamy. Now add the eggs individually. Do not add the next egg until the previous one has been mixed. In another bowl, sift the baking powder, self-raising flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Once sifted, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, along with the milk. Combine one last time with the vanilla essence. Pour the batter into a rectangle cake tin and bake for around 50 minutes in the center of your preheated oven. Leave to cool.
Step 2: Make the Buttercream
Before making the icing, sieve the icing sugar. In another bowl, cream your butter until it’s soft and smooth. Now you can gradually add the sifted icing sugar, being sure to whisk continually as you add. Now add the vanilla extract and mix one last time. You’re looking for a thick, stiff consistency.
Step 3: Carve the Cake – How To Make A Book Cake Without Fondant
The cake should be lying horizontally on it’s longer side when you start. Measure the cake with a ruler and make a line at the midway point, vertically, down the middle of the cake. On the surface of the cake, cut out a triangular wedge in the center. Ensure it is only around a quarter of the thickness of the cake. Now opposite that wedge (the bottom), slice a small triangle off. Next, cut the edges of the cake so they slant outwards; looking like an open book.
It’s worth noting that if you don’t want to carve the cake, you can simply buy a book cake pan, which does the job for you.
Step 4: Frost the Cake
Using the buttercream, coat the entire top of the cake and smooth it out using a knife. For the edges, you’ll need a piping bag and star shaped nozzle. Pipe the icing onto the sides of the cake to create a stacked book design.
Step 5: Decorate the Cake
This section is open to interpretation and can be designed any way you wish. It’s simply designing the open pages. Start by piping some icing around the edges of the book for the cover. Now you can use icing to write a message, add your sugar flowers, and ice some leaves. The choice is entirely up to you – let your creative side run wild. Serve and enjoy!
Take Out Time to Also Read:
Book Cake Ideas
If you’re unsure how to decorate your book cake, here are some ideas you may want to use:
- your favorite book, simply write the title (or even try to create the cover)
- spell book (you could even write a recipe in icing)
- notebook
- school book
- journal/diary
- letter to a loved one
Do let us know if you have any more ideas.
How To Make A Book Cake Without Fondant: A Guide
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 5 eggs
- 300 g of butter
- 300 g of caster sugar
- 275 g of self raising flour
- 75 ml of milk
- 25 g of cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2/3 teaspoon of baking powder
For the decoration:
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 560 g icing sugar
- 225 g of butter
- sugar flowers of your choice
Instructions
- Bake the Cake – Gather the ingredients you need and preheat your oven to 340F. Grab a bowl and add the sugar and butter. Beat until light and creamy. Now add the eggs individually. Do not add the next egg until the previous has been mixed. In another bowl, sift the baking powder, self-raising flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Once sifted, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, along with the milk. Combine one last time with the vanilla essence. Pour the batter into a rectangle cake tin and bake for around 50 minutes in the center of your preheated oven. Leave to cool.
- Make the Buttercream – Before making the icing, sieve the icing sugar. In another bowl, cream your butter until it’s soft and smooth. Now you can gradually add the sifted icing sugar, being sure to whisk continually as you add. Now add the vanilla extract and mix one last time. You’re looking for a thick, stiff consistency.
- Carve the Cake – The cake should be lying horizontally on it’s longer side when you start. Measure the cake with a ruler and make a line at the midway point, vertically, down the middle of the cake. On the surface of the cake, cut out a triangular wedge in the center. Ensure it is only around a quarter of the thickness of the cake. Now opposite that wedge (the bottom), slice a small triangle off. Next, cut the edges of the cake so they slant outwards; looking like an open book.
- It’s worth noting that if you don’t want to carve the cake, you can simply buy a book cake pan, which does the job for you.
- Frost the Cake – Using the buttercream, coat the entire top of the cake and smooth it out using a knife. For the edges, you’ll need a piping bag and star shaped nozzle. Pipe the icing onto the sides of the cake to create a stacked book design.
- Decorate the Cake – This section is open to interpretation and can be designed any way you wish. It’s simply designing the open pages. Start by piping some icing around the edges of the book for the cover. Now you can use icing to write a message, add your sugar flowers, and ice some leaves. The choice is entirely up to you – let your creative side run wild. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Conclusion – How To Make A Book Cake Without Fondant
I hope this post has helped you to become more familiar with how to make a book cake without fondant. While it may seem challenging at first, making a buttercream book cake couldn’t be easier; especially if you use a book cake pan.
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making a book cake without fondant? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. Sharing is caring!
