How To: Make a Full-Body Plex Cake

Kristin sent in pictures from her 19th birthday party that were so awesome, they are deserving of two different posts. This first one, Kristin describes in great detail on how she made this amazing Plex cake! She even gives you a cut out pattern for your cake to help you make each of the individual shapes!

Thanks, Kristin!

This December for my 19th birthday I didn't want to have the usual cake from the store so I decided to make a completely original one. After hours of deciding I thought of a Plex cake! I spent the morning of my birthday having a blast making it.

Things you'll need:

2 Cake mixes (of your choice and the ingredients that go with them)
2 9"x13" cake pans
8 oz. white marshmallows
3 tablespoons of water
1 Lb. of C&H Cane Powdered Sugar
½ cup Crisco shortening (put in an accessible bowl)
Black and Yellow Food coloring
Giant Platter or cookie sheet
Bread Knife
Foil
Used paper towel roll
12 toothpicks
2 Cans of white frosting
Rolling pin
Black licorice
1 red blowpop

I first started out with making two 9"x13" plain vanilla cakes (from any mix of your choice). While I was waiting on the cakes to bake and cool I started creating homemade fondant, which I would recommend making the day before (it's easier to work with) or buying some already made. The recipe I used can be found here. I only made half of what it says. Split the fondant into 3 sections: one for white, one for grey, and one for black. Mix black food coloring into the two sections that will be used for grey and black.

The first cake will be used as the body so leave that one off to the side. The second cake will need to be cut for the shape of his head. Take a bread knife and several toothpicks (about 12) and use a similar template. Use the toothpicks to mark the edges of where you will cut. The left over pieces from cutting the head will be used for the feet and hands.

After the cakes are cut take some white frosting and mix in plenty of yellow food coloring. Make sure you have enough to cover both cakes! Now it's time to roll out the fondant. Take the black and with a rolling pin leave it 1/8"-1/4" thick. Using a knife cut out a rectangle that will be big enough to make the faceplate, two small circles for the eyes, and a bigger circle that goes on his body. Roll out the grey fondant and cut out the pieces for the edges of his head (make sure you cut it big enough to go over the top and the sides of the cake. Next roll white for the eyes.

Close up of my giant Plex cake.

To make the arms and legs find a used paper towel roll. You will need to cut it relative to the size of your platter and into 4 sections. In order to have mine fit on the board I needed to bend the arms by cutting a slit in the 2 tubes then bending and taping it. Then I got some foil and wrapped up the paper towel rolls with it. Now you're almost done! Find a really big cookie sheet (I found a giant cardboard box cut two of the sides out taped them together and covered it with foil. You can also cover it with decorative paper) Place the cakes on the cookie sheet or platter and set down all the arms and legs. Put all the fondant in the correct places. You'll need to take out the black licorice and cut it according to the size you want the antennae and stick them at the top. For the finishing step cut off part of the stem of the red Blowpop and stick it either under or inside the black licorice. If you want to be sure things don't slide you can stick some tape underneath the foil arms, legs, and antennae. There is also room at the bottom to write a birthday message. Your Plex birthday cake is now complete!

Me Glad that I'm finally done and ready to start my birthday!