Sunday Sweets: Harry Potter
July 12, 2009 Years ago, Jen and I were in an airport with nothing to read. So, like so many other hapless victims, we decided to peruse the local den of thieves (aka airport gift shop). On a whim, Jen picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Little did I know that that would be the beginning of what has become a minor obsession in my life. We've been to midnight book releases, I listen to the audio books at work over and over, and naturally I'm far more excited about the movies than any grown man probably should be. So, with the sixth film coming out this Wednesday, I asked Jen to let me do this week's Sunday Sweets.
Now, put down those Fizzing Wizzbies, and let's admire the works of some of the finest Muggle bakers around!
You guys asked for more 2D cakes, so check out this awesome fondant-free example:
We're pretty sure that's either a chocolate or butter cream transfer on the top - cool, huh? I found it on Decolicious!'s Flickr stream.
Next is Margie's amazing Sorting Hat:
For those of you who are not (yet) die-hard Potter fans, the sorting hat is a magical talking hat. Who sometimes sings. Or produces swords. Or bursts into flames. (Just read the books, Ok?)
This next one is reeeeally exciting [pushing up glasses]:
It's a book cake, yes. But not just ANY book cake; a book cake with the very last line from the series on it:
"All was well." [tearing up] This is so beautiful. It's from the aptly named Mike's Amazing Cakes.
And finally, here's the Hogwarts cake Duff and his team from Charm City Cakes made:
I think this was for the last movie's premier.
Here's a closeup:
I know what you're thinking, and yes, there actually are more great Harry Potter cakes out there. You'll just have to tune in next Sunday to see the rest of them. (And if you have one to nominate, you can send it to us at Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.)
And finally, I know there are still some folks out there who don't like Harry Potter, for any of a number of reasons. I doubt I'll be able to change your mind if that's the case, but I do want to share what I think is the best end result of JK Rowling's work:
Little kids reading 800 page books - now THAT is Sunday Sweets worthy.
Reader Comments (255)
The source of the Sorting Hat Cake: http://pics.livejournal.com/cauldroncakebkr/gallery/000010c1
I do not agree with john. Kids may read them but it does not mean it is a good book. I do not agree with filling our children's head's with witchcraft!
So what if they will read it! your kid may be willing to watch r rated movies but it does not mean it is fine for them to see.
Come on every one! We need to guide our children and have them read good books so that they can have a very fulfilling childhood!
~Lucia
I love how everyone has a Harry Potter story (how they got into it, what they've done bc of it etc etc). We'll also share them at the drop of the name.
Hilarious. Awesome. Touching. Great subject for cakes :)
The Sorting Hat cake!!! I swoon ...
Those are great! I had a Harry Potter cake for my birthday one year, but it wasn't anything as cool as those. It was just a regular ice cream cake with the Hogwarts crest on it from Baskin Robbins.
I saw the Ace of Cakes with the Hogwarts cake, I remember that Dan Radcliffe really loved the cake.
Today's post makes me miss the book release parties...particularly the amazing festival that Oak Park put on where the entire downtown was involved, including businesses transformed into Diagon Alley shops.
My word verification sounds like a spell from Harry Potter:
"anspitio!"
Ooooo. I want all of those cakes. I don't so much like the movies, but I adore those books and have read them a lot.
But, if a child were to carry all of those books at the same time...
They probably would end up like me as a kid, carrying a backpack that is way too heavy and makes grown men strain.
Hey all,
I just wanted to say that I truly appreciate the active discussions we have on this site. It's odd when you consider it's a cake site.
I want to make one more point, though, before I move on with my life so please bear with me.
What if you had never seen "The Sound of Music" and someone told you it was all about the Nazis. Would you want to see it?
What if you had never heard the 1812 overture and someone told you it was just a bunch of cannon explosions? Would you want to hear it?
What if you had never had chocolate and someone told you that it gives you pimples? Would you want to eat it?
I believe it is unfair to pass judgement on something you have never experienced based upon the opinion of another. If you don't want your children exposed to magic, then by all means, don't let them read Harry Potter. But you should also keep them from Disney, and Narnia and Middle Earth and probably even the Bible, which is full of all kinds of supernatural things. And please don't base your opinion of a book on hearsay. Read a chapter. Learn for yourself whether your friend or sister or Pastor has any real concerns. Then decide.
If you had never smelled a rose and someone told you they were full of bees...
john
Thank you so much for the Harry Potter cakes!! Now I'm definitely going to have to go back and re-read them all again!
You have no idea how happy this made me. *sniffs*
In looking back, I consider myself very fortunate that my parents never censored my reading material. I recently went to my 25 year reunion and when talking about what we remembered about everyone else, it was always my books, my reading that everyone recalled. I read Gone With The Wind when I was 10. I read trash and I read fine literature and I learned from it all. I would hide a book inside my textbook when I was done reading the assigned pages. I always got in trouble for it and not one teacher ever bothered to find out that not only had I read the assignment but I had read the entire textbook by October. I read the backs of the ketchup bottles in restaurants and every ad on every paper placemat. I now read while I brush my teeth and while I stir the spaghetti sauce. There is nothing so magical as a book and I won't be a snob about 'literature' because every bit is learning. It is pure joy.
Wow! Hoping to get a comment in here before John, Hubby of Jen, decides to close down any more arguments by closing comments. heh.
I won't debate this (because I have very strong feelings about HP), but I do want to say THANK YOU for these awesome cakes!!! They are beautiful! I also thought the book was Riddle's diary at first, but I love the last line. Just great.
Can't wait for the midnight showing!!! I'm wearing my awesome Gryffindor scarf in this crazy hot Arizona heat. :)
Ooooooh! I'm thrilled you posted Harry Potter cakes on my 30th birthday!! I'm a huge fan of Potter and Cake Wrecks, so it's like I got one last present today.
Just finished listening (yet again) to the great Jim Dale read all 7 books to get me psyched for the movie.
Looking forward to more Potter sweets next Sunday!
Have you all seen the Harry Potter musical? http://www.youtube.com/user/StarKidPotter
Why oh why!!!!
I haven't finished the books, mostly because I don't have a few of them... I do have the last two, but I don't read them because I don't want to ruin it... but you had to go and show that book cake and mention why it was awesome... Why!!! :( Not that the cakes aren't awesome, but now that phrase will be engraved in my head until the end of days... I know it doesn't say much, but I've avoid any possibility of reading anything about it, to keep the experience intact for the day I finally got to the last one... Sigh... I need some cake goodness to try and forget it...
Harry Potter is not simply about witchcraft and magic. It's about the power of friendship, loyalty to those you love, how to face your fears and still do the right thing. The classic battle between good and evil and overcoming the evil within ourselves. How can a story like that be a bad thing?
Someone mentioned out that the Tolkien book had clearly defined good and evil. But, is LIFE that way?
I'm in my 40's, and didn't read any of the books until a co worker talked me into it. I love the books, I love the stories and charactors, and re-reading the books is like comfort food without the calories. :-)
And yes, I have all the movies too. I won't get to opening night of Prince, but I will for one of the last 2 just for the experience of seeing an opening night HP party. :-)
Holly at 11:55, I was lucky too--my parents never censored anything I read or even watched on tv, and I think it make me a more mature young adult. I never felt the need to explore "all that stuff my parents never let me do" like so many kids do.
I was given the first book when I was about 8, and though I have always loved reading, Harry Potter just can't be beat. To think she came up with that whole amazing plot on a train, and didn't even have anything to write it down on. My best friend and I could argue for hours about harry potter. Before, we'd argue about what would happen in the next book, now we theorize about what they'll cut or destroy in the next movie. People say they couldn't get through them or that they're boring and to those people I say: WHAT??
Thanks for posting these awesome cakes. If you search the charm city cakes one on YouTube you can see the clip from ace of cakes.
Grace, 15
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Yes, they are reading 800 pages but is it QUALITY reading material? Before you answer that I make my children read text books.
July 12, 2009 4:50 PM-
That's sort of the point, MAKE them read, wouldn't it be nice if they CHOSE to read something that they truly enjoyed?
I've read a million and one books (at least) and remember most of them, and the ones that always struck me, and caused a stir inside my chest were the ones that were about true friendship, and loyalty and most of all about love.
From a witch (yes really) who was raised a witch, who has read and or studied the bible, the story of Siddhartha, the Qu'ran, the Torah and, best of all, Harry Potter.
Jon - excellent argument. I applaud you there.
To all those who are saying that harry Potter isn't real literature, and/or it's not good quality - why let kids read it - I am not going to argue with your parenting styles, because I'm not a parent myself, and just because I feel one way, doesn't mean everyone else should conform, but let me just say this.
My brother and I grew up together and we were completely different. I was the studious one, at age 5 I had already read some Shakespeare, and Dickens. By age 11, Romeo and Juliet were my inspiration for love, and Tolkien was my idol. My brother, on the other hand hated reading, didn't even do his reading projects in school, he just asked me what the book was about.
When Harry Potter came out, my mother picked it up thinking my father might enjoy it. He ended up reading it to me and my brother.
It was like a bit of magic had come to our own lives. I fell in love with the description, and the prose, and the way I fell into the story. I literally saw the world morph into Hogwarts around me. It was a book that felt just as exciting as any classic, but was still fun and modern.
My brother liked it because t was an escape. While he read Harry Potter, nothing else mattered. The world disappeared, and he was just a boy experiencing a magical journey. The books even got my brother into reading. He started on Tolkien and then moved on to other fantasy, finally settling on sci-fi.
Although we were both very different, we both loved Harry Potter, even though it seemed unlikely that we would. That's the wonder of this series. I say, give it a try. Let the kids decide if it's bad for them, but I have a feeling you might be surprised at how they change through the series, right along with Harry.
Like I said, not place at all, but I just feel pretty strongly about letting all sorts of magic into your life.
I was a big HP hater, i hated the hype, i hated the idea, i hated everything about it because as a Witch, i felt it made a mockery of my faith.
However, i expressed a curiosity to go see the first film when it came out 8 years ago after seeing the trailers and a friend impressed upon me to read the book first as the film left some stuff out.
So.. i trotted off to Asda and bought it for a single pound.
I have been hooked ever since.
Love the cakes! I'm torn on the favourite though, i adore the castle, but the hat is also awesome.
Its my wedding anniversary on Friday, my hubby who dislikes the potterverse is taking me to see the new film!
I don't want to start another debate here, but am I the only one that thinks the 1st HP cake is terrible???? It doesn't even compare to the others, but the character and the flash coming out of the wand look a little wrecky to me.
BTW, can we find out if any of those Harry Potter cakes were Devil's food cake? I'm sure they couldn't have been made out of Angel food cake. ;-)
Hey dudes, where's my posting?
The one in which I was Offended because the protagonist of these books is white. and male. and heterosexual.
Or did it just get drowned in the general "Harry Potter is Evil" furore?
Don't worry, John, my boss, Roy is just as obsessed with Harry Potter. He's changed all of our computer backgrounds, bought advance tickets for the midnight show...he even has a ring-back tone of one of the scores. :-)
Love you guys and everything you do.
Avid Harry Potter fan here. The hogwarts castle and sorting hat cakes are super awesome! Hell yeah!
Love the last picture!
While making reading "cool" has gotten JK a special place in heaven, the books pulled off something else as well. About three books in to the series, my nephew had his first eye exam and flunked it. The reaction of all his friends? "Cool, you get to wear glasses!". Trust me, that was _NOT_ the reaction his father and I got when we got our first pairs of glasses.
I adore the HP books! And these cakes are fantastic! Oh to have the time and patience to make such things.
To those commenters who have mentioned CS Lewis in their "it's the Devil's work I tell you!" rants...CS Lewis was a devot Christian and the Narnia books were meant to teach children about God and Christianity.
@Jamie...Aslan represented God, my friend. He sacrificed himself on the stone table to save Edmund from his "sin". You really must know more about these things before you comment.
Cat, Tolkien said in an interview that Gandalf (the "wizard" in his trilogy and The Hobbit) was actually meant as an angel. Saruman, his nemesis in The Lord of the Rings, is a fallen angel doing the bidding of Sauron.
So yes, Christianity is explicit in his works.
Lewis' evil characters (the White Witch, Jadis) use magic and sorcery, but Aslan does not. He is a Christ figure.
Tolkien and Lewis are lightyears away from Rowling and Harry Potter. Both in writing and message. Lewis and Tolkien's characters draw strength from believing in a higher power; Rowling's characters' strength comes from mastering sorcery and believing in *themselves*. Very different messages.
I am not a fan of HP but it helps to get children to read. My daughter is an advanced reader and we were running out of books for her to read. So when she was 7 in the 2nd. grade she began to read the HP books. She has read everyone twice. She is now entering the 5th. grade reading at college level.
Diana,
I don't have to respect the books, either. I don't. I respect Rowling for dragging herself out of poverty and finding something that seels. But things that well well aren't necessarily quality. Look at McDonald's. Look at the (shudder) Snuggie.
You can't make kids want to read. Well, sort of. You can. Model good behavior. Read to them when they can't do it for themselves. Over and over again. I grew up watching my parents read every day. There was always a book on the bedside table, books in shelves in every room, books stacked next to chairs, When I couldn't read, they read to me-every night.
Reading was never presented to me by my parents as a "chore". It was a pleasure! Consequently, I was several years ahead in my reading and comprehension skills.
Kids shouldn't have to be forced to read. If they grow up in a reading environment, they will become readers, avid readers. Read them good literature-from any era. Buy them books, lots of them. Be a role model and show them.
Kids who hate reading come from families, parents, and home, where reading is rare and TV rules.
And yes, I AM a teacher, and I DO lament the students I have who see reading five paragraphs as "too much work". Guess what? Their parents don't read.
I'd rather kids read Harry Friggin' Potter than be illiterate, though. I don not agree with organized religion banning a book because of "sorcery". I can't see the difference between the good luck spell and the miracle of the bread and fishes.
These are some great looking cakes. Watching Duff and crew make the Hogwarts cake for last year's movie was awesome!
My favorite has to be the book one with "All was well" simplistic, but so much meaning for those of us who read Harry Potter.
Also, love the picture of the children reading, that has to be the best thing is that the youth is out there and Harry Potter has gotten so many of them to read more!
John,
Harry Potter cannot be compared with "The Sound of Music", or "The Chronicles of Narnia." In the "Sound of Music," it was CLEAR that the Natzis were evil. Narnia had very clear distinctions between good and evil, and Alsan represented Jesus Christ. The "Sound of Music" shows the children's father and later stepmother as people they can trust and love. HP only shows Harry's family as despicable.
It is very important for children to know that ALL witchcraft is evil. Moral relativism is wrong as we can see with the downfall of the family, through divorce and children being born out of wedlock.
"A Landscape with Dragons" by Michael O'Brien is an excellent book for any parent who really cares about learning how to differentiate between good books for children, and books that can be harmful to their mind.
Oh, I SO agree with you! My son and I read the series together...and I sobbed through the last one because I knew our time with Harry was coming to an end. What a great series, great message...I love that these books can be enjoyed my kids and adults alike.
Thanks for sharing these cakes!
I am hiring a sitter so hubby and I can go to the midnight showing. We are in our thirties...NEVER get a sitter and NEVER go to the movies....well guess what...we are!
I loved the books, but worry about little kiddies reading the last few. I think the way they came out is how they should be read. First one okayf or 8/9 year olds, then a year later the second and so on....by the time they read those last few they are a little more world aware. :D
I adore that sorting hat cake.
WV: medness. Most of us have a slow descent into Madness, wreckerators get Medness for their deviant ways!
I love the series and all the great cakes that come with it...thanks John...and don't feel bad about being that old guy at the midnight premiere!
Wow! What a debate! Jen, I must admit you have a real winner with John, you are so lucky. John, your argument is very similar to my own, but you put it so much better than I ever have been able. I hope you won't mind if I borrow your allegory next time I'm debating books.
At some point or another, your child is going to go into the world without you. You won't always be able to stand between them and all the gray areas that exist. Is our human free will really that susceptible to negativity that a work of fiction will completely remove our faith? There are plenty of examples of things that have actually occurred, (i.e. the Holocaust, Katrina, etc.) that have done more to make me question God and faith then any work of fantasy ever will. But I have also seen and experienced real life miracles that have renewed my faith.
That being said, the right to have differing opinions is what makes America great, I'll defend to the death your right to believe completely the opposite of me.
This post made me squee so much. I used to help run our local bookstore's midnight release parties, and I kind of miss that level of excitement.
More than that, though, John, you gave me the chills. Your eloquent responses to all the debate are enviable. I wish I had thought of half as poignant a response for the naysayers at the bookstore.
This is the perfect way to end my weekend. Some friends and I were able to make a "Sunday Sweet" for ourselves and went to a preview of the Half-Blood Prince last night! (It was for a children's charity). Needless to say, the movie was AWESOME! Can't wait for the next two.....
Samcarter, angels are not limited to Christianity. Even if Tolkien were referring to angels, I didn't say that Christianity isn't present in the books - I said that the Christ story is not. And it isn't. Frodo's (and The Fellowship's) fight for Middle Earth, as far as I am aware, was *not* meant to be allegorical of Christ's life and his battle for humanity.
Rowling has said in an interview that the Harry Potter series *is* meant to be somewhat allegorical to the story of Christ presented in the Bible.
Magic may be used in different ways in these different series, but Harry Potter has more in common, at a fundamental level, with The Chronicles of Narnia than either do with The Lord of the Rings.
truly amazing cakes!
Oh, Harry! I *love* that book cake! Beautiful! And the sorting hat is amazing!
As to the great debate:
As a Christian, I have never read a more beautiful depiction of the story of Christ than the one JK wrote into Harry Potter.
The Harry Potter phenomenon was a fantastic opportunity for the Church to spread the gospel in a way that people would understand because people who would never set foot in a church read Harry Potter.
Instead, what did we do? Sit back and moan about the "witchcraft" and evil and pronounce a judgment on something we knew nothing about. I am ashamed of how so many of my Christian counterparts have behaved about this series. Unfortunately, I also know that those diehards will fight until the bitter end without ever cracking a book to get the real story. It's disheartening, really.
WV: fullseti -- "Those who say that Harry Potter is the devil's work are fullseti." (Heh.)
Caring Mom:
To say that Harry's family is only portrayed as despicable is misleading. In the earlier books, they certainly are. As the books progress, however, it becomes quite clear that Harry aunt, uncle, and cousin are both scared and slightly envious. Dudley, once Harry's tormentor, matures and he and Harry reach an understanding before they part. Rowling has gone on the record as saying that Dudley and Harry remained on "Christmas card terms".
Also, the Harry Potter series makes clear distinctions between good and evil. The issue is that the HP world, much like our own, "isn't divided into good people and Death Eaters". Not all on "our" side are those we wish to ally ourselves with. There are people who do truly evil things for good causes, and vice versa. I'd say there's really only one character throughout the series that's ambiguously good or bad, and he is ultimately redeemed as we see his story.
Much longer than I planned, but back to the original post: The cakes are beautiful. The Sorting Hat is fantastic, and that book's simplicity is breathtaking.
:D Love it. Can't wait until Wednesday!
Hi John, this is a great post and I just wanted to let you know that my husband has probably read this series over 20 times and I'm hedging my bet that we are a tad bit older than you and Jen.
I usually read all of the comments here but I'm afraid that I do not want to get my blood pressure up. I am a level headed Harry Potter fan who understands that while not everything may bring everyone as much joy as it does to some, comments should be with held by those who are not familiar with the subject matter first hand. In other words, if you have never read the books, please do not pass judgement on those of us who have. Likewise, Fans, it is not our place to comment on the intelligence or open/closed state of the mind of those who are not obsessed. < /soapbox>
Oh yeah, and please please please do some HP wrecks!
Am I the only person on the planet getting tired of Charm City Cakes? Yeah, they make awesome cakes, but half the time, a good portion of the cake (or all of it) is not actual cake. See the Milkbone box "cake" which is plywood covered in fondant. No actual cake in the entire cake. Sorry, just me I guess.
I'm not sure what amuses me more... that a cake/humor blog incites so much passionate discussion about literature or that I am in the minority in not really caring for the HP series AND not caring if kids read it.
I don't object to the subject matter, but also don't think it's necessarily quality writing. The later books especially get very clunky and are difficult to read out loud. Some of it I think is differences in British vs. American English, but some of it is just poorly constructed writing. They're not Shakespeare...but then again they're not meant to be! I don't think anyone is arguing that all children should read is HP. Parents have to provide kids w/varied reading materials (including non-fiction) just like they provide kids w/a varied diet.
Oh the piffle!
I love the post. Seeing good cakes based on figures from popular culture is always fun. Thanks, John.
And thanks for your passionate defense of critical thinking.
All this crying "witchcraft!" reminds me of the satanism panic of the 80s. Remember all those kids who were being "abused" by "satanists?" I guess they are now the parents of these witchcraft-loving HP-reading youngsters.
Anyway, Hollym I loved your post about the joy of reading anything en everything. I feel the same way. And I read the backs of ketchup bottles, too.
Wow, that 2-d one was indeed awesome! Very cool effect.
I just remember the episode where Daniel Radcliffe saw Duff and Co's cake:
Duff: You like it?
Daniel: 0_0 YES!
XD
Seriously, if you’re that worried about a book changing the moral compass you’ve instilled in your children than maybe you need to look at your own teaching methods. For frick’s sake.
I too love Harry Potter, et al, far more than a 38 year old should. The sorting hat cake is "saaaweeet!"!!
Very neat, but I was disappointed when I saw the Charm City Hogwarts cake on Food Network - the castle part appears to be entirely styrofoam.
So, while it's a really cool-looking construction, and the landscaping that WAS actual cake is a pretty awesome feat of pastry (none of the actors actually wanted to eat it and spoil the work of art), I feel that since the main focus of the cake (the castle) was not in fact cake, then it shouldn't be a Sunday Sweet.
Now if I'm wrong about the styrofoam, someone correct me and I'll take it all back. But that's what it looked like on Ace of Cakes.
I have to laugh at 'make it fun and they'll read. Not always true. (I am the ketchup bottle reader). My mom enjoyed reading although it wasn't a passion for her and she put it after many other things. My dad, with a 10th grade education didn't enjoy reading much. I love it, always have.
I read to my kids when they were babies and toddlers. I bought books, whatever they might be interested in, as well as books to read together (Charlotte's Web, Runaway Ralph) at night. Books, books books FILL my house, are stacked beside chairs and bed (mine), on the kitchen counter. I never censored reading material. When they removed 'The Giver' from my son's required reading, I went out and bought a copy to see why and he and I both read it and still rate it as one of our favorites.
Alas, neither one of my boys are prolific readers. My oldest enjoyed the Goosebumps series and a couple of sci-fi series but it's not something he does on a daily basis. My younger son reads well but doesn't much like it. He'd rather be outside, moving. Even books about slithery, slimy things only get a glance. You CAN lead a child to books but you can't make them love 'em. Unfortunately.