Buddy's Sketchbook
This cake was requested by Joe Perillo of Perillo Rolls Royce Dealership in Chicago to celebrate the grand opening of his dealership -- the first Rolls Royce one in the city!
Image Credit: DCL
Chicago CakeHow was the cake made?
The base of the cake was made of chocolate and vanilla sponge with buttercream. The buildings were mostly vanilla sponge covered in fondant. The Spirit of Ecstasy is sculpted from modeling chocolate.
What's memorable about the cake?
The Spirit of Ecstasy raised up from under the cake on a scissor lift.
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Buddy's Sketchbook
This cake was requested by Al Dorso Sr., the owner of the Meadowlands State Fair, to celebrate its 25th anniversary of being in its current location.
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Ferris Wheel CakeHow was the cake made?
The Ferris wheel was a metal structure covered in modeling chocolate -- and with a real motor! The cake base was chocolate and vanilla sponge with chocolate fudge and vanilla buttercream. There were also fondant buildings and cannolis on the base of the cake.
What's memorable about the cake?
This Ferris wheel actually spins and lights up!
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Buddy's Sketchbook
This cake was requested by groom Jason Schein and bride Sarah Schein. The couple asked for a formal wedding cake for their reception. Then, at the last second, Sarah changed her mind and surprised her paleontologist groom with a giant dinosaur-shaped cake!
Image Credit: DCL
Dinosaur CakeHow was the cake made?
The internal structure was made of wood, then filled in with vanilla sponge and vanilla buttercream. The dinosaur was then covered with modeling chocolate and fondant.
What's memorable about the cake?
The dinosaur is a Dyrptosaurus, the New Jersey state dinosaur. The cake was served at a wedding reception in the New Jersey Natural History Museum.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Ed, a party planner, on behalf of his party client, Robert Kuster. Robert is a famous glass artist.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Chandelier CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake is a yellow pound cake with butercream, the glass- like pieces are made from pulled and blown sugar.
What's memorable about the cake?
It's the 25th year Robert has been in the modern glass fixture industry.
The giant cake hangs upside down! And then Buddy accidentally drops it while trying to bring down the cake from the pulley.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by the Klein family to celebrate a prize milking cow turning 10.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Cow CakeHow was the cake made?
The Cow cake is a vanilla sponge filled with buttercream for the body of the cow and modeling chocolate for the brown spots and udder. The head and neck are made out of rice krispies treats.
What's memorable about the cake?
The cake is a life size replica of Eden the cow. There is space inside the structure for Maurizio to climb into it and send real milk through the udders. You can "milk" this cake!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Adam, a friend of Madeleine's, to celebrate a 10-year camping reunion.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Camping CakeHow was the cake made?
The Camping cake is a vanilla sponge filled with vanilla truffle buttercream and chocolate chips. The cake is a camping scene covered with all kinds of sculptures that you would find camping made out of modeling chocolate, like squirrels, people, boats, coolers, tents and even an RV made out of Rice Krispies treats and trails made out of puffed rice for texture.
What's memorable about the cake?
The cake has a real fire pit in the middle that they use for roasting marshmallows!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by the Rev, a hamburger enthusiast, to celebrate National Hamburger Month.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Cheeseburger CakeHow was the cake made?
The Cheeseburger Cake is actually three cake burgers sitting on a bed of red and white fondant to look like tiles, just like an old fashioned burger joint. The cake is made out of red velvet cake and dirty iced. The cakes will be stacked to look like buns with a burger inside which will be cake covered with modeling chocolate and adding some texture so it will look like meat. The buns and meat are airbrushed and the buns are covered with fondant sesame seeds. Then fondant is used to make the condiments like cheese, bacon, onions, pickles.
What's memorable about the cake?
These cheeseburger cakes look like 3 giant cheeseburgers!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Jessica, a professional sprint car racer, for an annual family get-together that involves racing go-karts.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Go-Kart CakeHow was the cake made?
The Go-kart Cake is made out of vanilla cake filled with vanilla buttercream, covered over with Rice Krispies Treats. The entire cake is covered in red and white fondant, with some old-school detail to make it look vintage, and finished off with a replica of Jessica’s go kart steering wheel.
What's memorable about the cake?
The cake is on a real go kart frame and it's gonna drive!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by the New York Entomological Society for its banquet, which used insects as part of the meal.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Spider CakeHow was the cake made?
The Spider Cake is made out of pound cake filled with buttercream and chocolate crunchies to make the tarantula, smoothed over with buttercream. Covering the body of the cake with modeling chocolate and scratching lines into it to make it look like hair. The legs are made out of pvc pipe covered with modeling chocolate.
What's memorable about the cake?
This cake looks like a giant tarantula!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Parkway Lanes to celebrate four years of ownership and to thank its customers.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Bowling Alley CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake is made out of vanilla sheet cakes with custard (half filled with pineapple and half filled with strawberry) to make the lane, covered with fondant made to look like wood flooring. Fondant for the gutters and Rice Krispies treats covered in fondant to make the ten bowling pins.
What's memorable about the cake?
This cake looks like a bowling alley. It's 12 feet long!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Chevrolet for GM's press day at the New York Auto Show and the new Camaro associated with the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
GM / Transformers CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of yellow sponge cake for the base and Rice Krispies treats for the transformer body and armor covered with black and yellow fondant.
What's memorable about the cake?
This cake is made in the shape of a bright yellow Camaro and on top of it is the Bumblebee Transformer complete with moving wings, lights and pyrotechnics! This 1500 pound cake is so big that they have to build it outside the bakery in a warehouse!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by cousin Anthony for his 21st birthday.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Anthony's 21st Birthday DJ CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of vanilla sponge cake filled with "California Cream" frosting (a custard base, fold in some fresh whipped cream, add strawberry and then add the secret ingredient: Galliano liqueur), fondant, and modeling chocolate.
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy makes a cake with a "coffin" and spinning turntables and lights that looks just like a whole DJ setup!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Century 21 for a Las Vegas convention that would bring agents from 73 countries.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Century 21 CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of black and white fudge cake with buttercream frosting, and Rice Krispies treats (for huge globe and all the different houses) covered with fondant and royal icing.
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy makes a cake with a giant spinning globe over a 12 foot base that showcases different houses from around the globe. They have to feed 4000 people, so they also have to make 50 sheet cakes and drive them all the way to Vegas!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by NASA for the 30-year anniversary and final year of the space shuttle.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
NASA Space Shuttle CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of six inch sponge cake with buttercream frosting, and Rice Krispies treats (for the shuttle) covered with fondant.
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy makes a cake that is a five foot high shuttle stack, including an external fuel tank, the two launch boosters and the space shuttle. NASA wanted fire and smoke and Buddy does not disappoint - the cake "lifts off" the pad with flames pouring out!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by the Philadelphia International Flower Show to be presented at the show.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how it was made.
Image Credit: DCL
Flower Show CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of vanilla sponge cake with buttercream frosting, modeling chocolate (for the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame Cathedral), and sugar flowers.
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy was asked to make a cake that reflected the Parisian theme of the flower show and replicate all the delicate and gorgeous flowers that are in the show. The cake is truly a work of art.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cakes were requested by fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi to match his new clothing collection for the runway during Fashion Week.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cakes.
Click "Next" to see how the cakes turned out and how they made them.
Image Credit: DCL
Fashion CakesHow were the cakes made?
To make all the 7 different cakes that the models carry down the runway, Buddy makes the cake part out of styrofoam and covers each with fondant and icing to decorate it.
What's memorable about the cakes?
Buddy only has a few days to make seven cakes for the fashion show and when Mizrahi sees the cakes the day before the show, he's not happy.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by Santino Morella of the WWE for a segment on the WWE TV show.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
WWE CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of pound cake with buttercream frosting, chocolate fondant (to look like rocks), royal icing and sponge paint (texture for the mountain), modeling chocolate (wrestler's arm, WWE figures), and isomalt (lava rocks).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy made a cake that has lights, fireworks and lava for an action packed WWE match!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by the Staten Island Zoo for the Groundhog Day celebration.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Staten Island Chuck CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of vanilla sponge cake with buttercream frosting, fondant (over the dirty icing to look like dirt/rocks), green piping (grass), and modeling chocolate (groundhog).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy was asked to make a cake that had a life-sized cake groundhog that would pop out of the cake just like the real one that predicts springtime at the zoo!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested by a mother for her sons' b'nai mitzvah.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Hockey Table CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake's base was made out of plywood to give it a bubble hockey table shape and filled with cake (30+ sheets!), vanilla and chocolate sheet cake, chocolate fudge filling, fondant (to cover the base/details), sponge cake and fudge layers (hockey table), and modeling chocolate (hockey figures).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy was asked to make a cake that had a hockey table with figures that could actually be played!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The cake was requested for a wedding proposal.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Snow Globe CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made from vanilla sheet cake, fondant, and modeling chocolate (figures/park elements/base cover).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy was asked to make a cake that was a snow globe with a romantic scene of Central Park and a hidden trapdoor that contained the engagement ring. The cake actually had a clear dome with snow "falling" on the scene inside.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The Italian American Club requested the cake for the East Hanover Columbus Day Parade.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Columbus Day CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made from vanilla sheet cake 3 layers high filled with chocolate fudge, rice krispies treats (ships), chocolate fondant, modeling chocolate (characters / ship details), airbrush food coloring (ship exteriors), and piping gel (ocean).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy wanted to make a cake that was as close to a replica of the three ships that sailed with Christopher Columbus in honor of his Italian heritage -- since Christopher was a true Italian. The cake was so big it had to be lifted onto the float with a forklift!
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
GPS Plumbing, a local Hoboken store, requested the cake for the 100th Anniversary of the store.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Toilet CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake's frame was made out of wood covered with rice krispies treats and fondant (toilet and the floor); modeling chocolate for the toilet porcelain; plumbing guts inside and electronics to make the cake sound like it's really flushing -- there is even real water in the bowl!
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy wanted to sure this cake really could flush. It has all the parts to make it look like a real old-fashioned toilet.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
Artie Hilliard, captain of the Eagle, requested the cake for the 35th Anniversary of his charter fishing business.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Shark CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of sponge cake, Rice Krispies treats (parts of the shark), fondant, modeling chocolate (fish parts and guts in mouth), black petal dust (gills), and liquid gel (blood).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy wanted to make a this shark look like a lean mean killin' machine! The gaping mouth is full of fish guts and fish parts with blood spilling out.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The Make-A-Wish Foundation requested the cake for its Walk for Wishes charity event.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Make-A-Wish Hot Air Balloon CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of vanilla cake, fondant (balloon covering in strips of red and white with blue detailing), modeling chocolate (for the balloon's "ropes" and figures in the park), piping (grass, water).
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy wanted to make a park scene with lots of people having fun and a hot air balloon soaring high above. The hot air balloon even has an artificial flame installed that hangs below the basket.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
Talk Show Host Rachael Ray requested a cake for her fifth wedding anniversary.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Rachael Ray Villa CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of Italian sponge cake coated with rum and filled with canolli cream, crispy rice treats (castle), buttercream, fondant, modeling chocolate (characters), colored petal dust (castle walls), piping gel (pool), airbrush food coloring.
What's memorable about the cake?
Buddy wanted to make a replica of the castle in Tuscany where Rachael and John got married so they could remember that time. The cake includes a pool that really looks like it has water in it.
Image Credit: DCL
Buddy's Sketchbook
The Ringling Brothers Circus requested a cake for a wrap party to celebrate the end of a run of the show.
Here's Buddy's sketch of the cake.
Click "Next" to see how the cake turned out and how they made it.
Image Credit: DCL
Ringling Brothers Circus CakeHow was the cake made?
The cake was made of alternating layers of vanilla sponge and red velvet cake filled with vanilla buttercream, fondant, modeling chocolate (characters), crispy rice treats (for some of the characters), high wire with characters on it, fireworks that shoot across the cake and a burning ring of fire.
What's memorable about the cake?
This cake is so big they had to assemble it in three separate sections.
This cake has all of the circus animals and performers including a high wire act, shooting canons and a ring of fire!
Image Credit: DCL
