Ben 10 Cake Design

I receive many inquiries about how to create a Ben 10 cake. There are a few different ways you can add a Ben 10 picture to your cake and really have the results come out looking realistic and professional.

You can always draw a picture on the cake freehand in buttercream, piping gel or royal icing if you’re artistic. If you want your picture to come out as close as possible to the original picture you select, here are a few things you can do:

First, begin by finding a picture of Ben 10 that you want to copy. The easiest thing to do is to find an image on the internet and save it to your computer. Next, open up your desktop image editing tool. This can be done in a variety of different programs including paint, Irfanview, Corel, etc. Now, change your image to be a mirror image. You are doing this because at the end of the following processes, you will be flipping the pattern over to place it on the cake. You may also want to either shrink or enlarge the photo so when you print it out, it fits nicely on top of your cake. Think about whether you will need room for writing a birthday message on top of the cake. Also leave enough room for any border you want to add.

Tape the picture down to either the back of a cookie sheet, on top of sturdy cardboard or on a cutting board. On top of the picture, you will tape down a sheet of plastic wrap. Tape it at the corners and in between so there are no wrinkles in the wrap and it won’t move when you start applying the icing.

Royal Icing Image: Outline the picture in either white or black thick consistency royal icing using the number 2 cake decorating tip. Allow to set for 30 minutes. To the remainder of the royal icing, add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the icing is the consistency of cream. Use food color pastes to create the different colors you need in separate cups or bowls. Place each color in its own decorating bag with a number 4 cake decorating tip attached. Use one color at a time to fill in each area to match the picture. First pipe within the outlined area, going all the way around. Then pipe in a zig zag motion back and forth until the area is filled. Pop any air bubbles with a toothpick. When done, you can place the runout design under a heat lamp to set it quickly. Or, just put it aside to dry. It may need 24 hours or more. When completely dry, carefully remove the cling wrap from the image and invert the image onto the cake.

Buttercream Icing Image: Repeat the same process of setting up your image with the plastic cling wrap on top. Using buttercream and a number 2 tip, outline the image. Fill in the areas to match the picture by first doing all of the small details. Leave the larger areas for last. When the whole picture is filled in, completely cover the entire picture with a thick layer of buttercream that is the same color as the part of the cake you are placing it on. Also add some buttercream around the perimeter of your image. Place the whole thing into the freezer until firm. When it’s completely frozen, place the transfer where you want it on the cake and peel off the plastic cling wrap.

Viola! Either way, you will end up with a proportionally accurate replica of your original Ben 10 picture.

Theresa Happe is a baker, cake decorator, and author of Cake-Decorating-Corner.com, where you will find Ben 10 cakes and other cake decorating tips.