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What's a Wreck?

A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.

Now, don't you have a photo you want to send me? ;)

- Jen
Sunday
Jul062014

Sunday Sweets: Classic Kids' Books!

To quote an awesome grandfather, "When I was your age, television was called BOOKS."

I may not be quite that old, but there's still nothing more magical than all those "special books" we grew up on. So let's check out some gorgeous cakes inspired by a few childhood favorites:

 

Madeline

(By My Sweet Indulgence)

Pastel perfection.

 

Harold and the Purple Crayon

(By Cakelava)

Such a simple idea, but I love the 3D elements that pop out from the cake.

 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

(By Cake Doodling)

Talk about impossible textures to match - but somehow she managed it! Beautiful.

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

(Submitted by Beth K. and made by Dessert Deli)

I see a lot of book cakes, and this is one of my very favorites. All those 3D elements, and perfect piping!

 

Peter Rabbit

(By Catherine's Cakery)

More like delicate handpainted porcelain than cake - and doesn't Peter look soft and fuzzy? I want to snuggle him. :)

 

Captain Underpants

(By Confectioneiress)

HA! Bold, bright, and fun. Love it.

 

Olivia

(By Rosebud Cakes)

Over the years I've learned to spot Rosebud Cake's style anywhere. That combination of sculpted buttercream and subtle airbrushing is all their own, and absolutely gorgeous. (Notice only the box and number 2 have fondant/gumpaste. Impressive!)

 

The Little Prince

(By Arte da Ka)

The little rose! The asteroid craters! SO SWEET.

 

The Rainbow Fish

(By Cakes Unique by Amy)

So much to love here, but it especially thrills my crotchety old heart to see edible glitter done right. Aaaaaahhh.

 

The Gruffalo

(By Little Cake Cupboard)

This guy's next on my "To Snuggle" list.

 

And finally, a book beloved by many, disdained by some, and utterly depressing to all:

The Giving Tree

(By Tiffany's Baking Co.)

This is a wedding cake, and I am in awe. AWE, I say. The book on the right is cake! And the apple, and moss, and flowers... WOW. 

Here's the front view:

How perfect is that bite out of the apple?!

 

Happy Sunday, everyone! Now, go read a good book.

Be sure to check out our Sunday Sweets Directory if you want to see which bakers in your area have been featured here on Sweets!

*****

Thank you for using our Amazon links to shop! USA, UK, Canada.

« Chocolate Day Scat Fest | Main | Fourth Coming Wrecks »

Reader Comments (33)

The Giving Tree cake....wow! Would love to know how the bark was done. Even if they used a real piece of bark as an impression, the color is perfect!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTom

I like the giving tree cake almost as much as I hate the book!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterMatt

D'aww peter rabbit :D

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered Commentermindy1

The Giving Tree as a wedding cake? This doesn't bode well for the bride.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterSuBee

They're all gorgeous, but the Peter Rabbit cake is just perfection.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterCaroline B

I've always devoured books, so these cakes are perfect.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterSharyn

Loved Madeline when I was a little girl. And I love this cake!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTLC

Madeline
Oh your watercolors are divine
Harold’s purple drawings
Extra fine
Oh I believe in Sunday Sweets

Brown Bear there,
I see something extraordinaire
Wimpy Kid books best ever
I swear
Oh Sunday Sweets are lovely

Peter Rabbit’s perfect
I’d like to snuggle him
Underpants adorable
Bold, bright, fun.
I Love i-i-i-it!

Pig of pink
Simply wonderful I think
Little Prince makes me
Not want to blink
Oh I believe in Sunday Sweets

Rainbow Fish
Gives us all a perfect glitter wish
I’d snuggle Gruffalo
Except he’d squish
Yes I believe in Sunday Sweets

Giving Tree is perfect
Your book feelings aside
What an amazing cake
Can’t believe it’s for a bri-i-i-ide

Sunday Sweets
Always perfectly divine
A little journey into the
sublime
Oh I believe in Sunday Sweets

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterSandy

I feel like I should understand why The Little Prince is standing on an udder with inverted teats...

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterGené Brinson

Absolutely in awe at these beauties. The giving tree one is outstanding, but I just stare at the Peter Rabbit one with astonishment. I wouldn't want to cut it - it looks like it deserves to be placed on display in a china cabinet.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterKaren

I'm with you SuBee. A little horrified at the notion of The Giving Tree as part of a wedding. Then again, weddings are kind of the scene for crazy optimism so I'm sure there was some romantic meaning to the couple.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterAuntie Meme

Those aren't craters!! They're volcanos that he had to keep cleaned out!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterBeckie

I'm I the only one, or are other people really starting to wonder how much money people are spending of cakes for their 2-year-olds?? Lovely cakes, works of art, but man.... they must cost a bundle!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterSusan

Awesome cakes, and I love all the comments above, especially the ones about The Giving Tree. Nothing like a stump on your wedding cake to predict the miserable future and demise of the bride (at least if she becomes the mother of a son). Interesting selection of some of the most beloved and reviled children's books of our time.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTina

OK, the Giving Tree cake brought a tear to my eye. *sniff* All the cakes here are wonderful!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterKaren

I wouldn't think that a Giving Tree wedding cake would bode well for the newlyweds...but it is a beautiful cake!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterKelly W

I had an ex-bonfire who ADORED The Giving Tree - RAVED about it. I HATED it. And he also went out of my life! Any wonder?
In any case - the cake version is gorgeous...

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterLaura

I love the rainbow fish and also the Peter rabbit one.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterCrystal

This is my favourite Sunday Sweets post!!! Love all these cakes.

Amanda

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterAmanda

The Little Prince cake is totally my favorite - probably because it's about my favorite book.

coming in a close second would be Peter Rabbit - the work on that cake is exquisite. like fine china.

I'd hate to cut into any of them - they are astonishing in their detail.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterAddie

I must point out that the "asteroid craters" on The Little Prince cake are not craters but volcanos. This book is very important to me and I couldn't help but tell you. What beautiful cakes, all of them.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterShannon

That Peter Rabbit cake hits all my soft spots. Just beautiful.

Now I have "Brown Bear..." Running through my mind, with the baby's responses, "I see a bwue horse wookin' at me." He's 8 now. Sniff.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterAngelaS

*sob* ;A; I was already feeling old today, reading old conspiracy theories about 90's and 80's cartoons, about American Girl's doll decline. And then you pull THIS on me?

I can't, the cuteness, the sweet memories.

AND OMG THE GIVING TREE! WHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

*sobs heart out*

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterWhitney

The Little Prince one isn't actually a cake. Here in Brazil it's common to use fake cakes just for show, and this "Arte da Ka" is kinda famous. She ships the "cake" via mail. Her art is still beautiful, but I consider it a sculpture and not a cake.

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterFernanda

These are AMAZING! I love the Sunday posts anyway, but I LOVE these! They're all so good in their unique ways!

July 6, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterTanya

Wow, I read all those books...

July 7, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterAlessandra

Princess Bride reference AND Harold and the Purple Crayon...I'm in HEAVEN!

July 7, 2014 | Unregistered Commentermiss_paper

OK good cakes but due to my age and being a Brit I only know a few of those..so I cany comment except to say BLUE NIPPLES!! you saw cute craters and I saw BLUE NIPPLES!!!
and I really loved Jemima Puddleduck, who you failed to notice!!

July 7, 2014 | Unregistered Commenterdiddleymaz

Oh, the Peter Rabbit cake makes my heart hurt...so beautiful!

July 7, 2014 | Unregistered Commentergigi

I love all these cakes and even know a few of the characters portrayed, but I find it very disconcerting. I don't have beloved childhood books that my parents read to me over and over. I was reading by age 2 1/2 on my own and had graduated to YA fiction by age 7. I didn't even get my hands on the "Classics" like Dr. Zuess, Where the Wild Things Are and The Giving Tree until I was an adult with kids of my own. I still haven't read Where the Wild Things Are or The Giving Tree.

Tha cakes are beautiful though.

July 9, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterJoelle

Ummm... I have an issue with being at a party for kids and cutting open a character. The cake is lovely, but in the end you get 4 yr olds replaying the armadillo cake scene from steel magnolias. The art is fabulous, but is it practical? What happens when you ask a kid to eat olivia's nose?

July 13, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterPaige

Love the Peter Rabbit cake, but I love the brown bear one more as it features blue horse, who I had the honor to play in my theatre debut at my kindergarten program.

July 20, 2014 | Unregistered Commenterdakota

That Peter Rabbit cake would be perfect for Prince George's first birthday! ( Since the Royal Family threw a Peter Rabbit themed birthday party for his first birthday.)

August 19, 2014 | Unregistered CommenterBigg3469

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