Ayrton Oneill
Basketball is a popular sport, and basketball cakes are a fun and impressive way to celebrate a big win or a birthday. Covering a basketball cake with fondant is a great way to create a 3D basketball design. This can be done by first baking the cake in a ball-shaped pan and then covering it with fondant. The fondant can be textured to resemble a basketball using a variety of tools such as a decorating tip, a piece of tulle, or a meat tenderizer. The cake can then be decorated with fondant strips and black lines to create the basketball design.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cake preparation | Bake your favorite recipe or mix, then decorate with orange buttercream frosting stars. |
| Fondant preparation | Roll out fondant (orange, red, brown, or white) and cut out a circular shape. |
| Texture | Use a textured mat, a ball cake pan, or a clean piece of coarse tulle to create the texture of a basketball. |
| Details | Draw out the details with a black edible marker, creating lines and a pentagon in the center. |
| Assembly | Attach fondant to the cake using icing or a damp brush, wrapping it horizontally and then vertically. |
| Support | Use a small cardboard round and support with bubble tea straws or a stainless steel mixing bowl to cook the two half-spheres. |
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What You'll Learn
Bake the cake and let it cool
To make a basketball cake, you'll first need to bake the cake and let it cool. Preheat your oven to 350° F or the temperature specified in your recipe directions. Grease the inside of your pans using a pastry brush and solid vegetable shortening—be sure not to use butter, margarine, or liquid vegetable oil. Spread the shortening so that all indentations of the pan are covered.
Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of flour inside the pan and shake it so that the flour covers all greased surfaces. Turn the pan upside down and tap it lightly to remove excess flour. If any shiny spots remain, touch them up with more shortening and flour.
Prepare your cake batter and divide it into the pans. Spread the batter with a spatula to cover all areas evenly, being careful not to touch the sides or bottom of the pan. Place the pans in the middle rack of your preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the cake is done according to your recipe directions.
Remove the pans from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. While the cakes are still in the pans, use a serrated knife to carefully slice off the raised center portion. This step is important as it allows the cake to sit level and prevents cracking.
To remove the ball cake from the pan, place a cooling rack against the cake and turn the pan over. Lift the pan off carefully. Allow the cake to cool completely for at least one hour. Brush off any loose crumbs from the cake. To transfer the cake to a serving board, hold a cake board against the cake and turn both the cake and rack over together. Lift off the rack and repeat for the bottom of the cake. Be sure to hold the cake, rack, and board close together to prevent cracking.
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Prepare the fondant
To prepare the fondant for a basketball cake, you will need orange fondant, a fondant roller, and black edible markers or black fondant. If you want to create the texture of a basketball, you will also need a texturizing tool such as a decorating tip, a clean piece of coarse tulle fabric, or a meat tenderizer.
Start by rolling out the orange fondant to about 1/8 inch thick. If you are using black fondant for the details, roll that out as well. Use a circle cutter to cut out a circular piece from the orange fondant, and if using black fondant, cut out a circular piece from that as well.
If you are creating a textured basketball effect, lay the texturizing tool of choice over the orange fondant and press with your hands to create the bumps. Alternatively, you can use an impression mat specifically designed for creating the basketball texture.
Now, it's time to add the details. If using black fondant, cut out thin strips to create the lines on the basketball. Attach these strips to the orange fondant circle with a small amount of water or edible glue. If using black edible markers, carefully draw the lines and details on the orange fondant circle. Take your time and don't rush, as you won't be able to erase any mistakes.
Once you are happy with the details, let the fondant pieces dry overnight before attaching them to your cake.
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Smooth the fondant towards the middle of the cake
To cover a basketball cake with fondant, you will need to start by rolling out the fondant. If you are making a basketball, the fondant should be orange. You can also use an impression mat to create a basketball design on the fondant. Alternatively, you can use size 5 piping tips on your fingers to create the impressions. If you are making a flat-top basketball cake, use a circle cutter to cut out a circular shape.
Once you have your fondant rolled out and cut to size, it's time to smooth it towards the middle of the cake. This process will ensure that the fondant is tight and wrinkle-free, creating a smooth and professional finish. Start by placing the fondant over the cake, gently lifting and replacing it as needed to ensure it doesn't tear. Begin smoothing the fondant from the top of the cake, using your hands or a fondant smoother to gently push the fondant towards the middle. Work in small sections, gently lifting and smoothing the fondant to avoid any air bubbles or wrinkles.
For a round cake, continue smoothing the fondant down the sides, working towards the bottom. Gently pull the fondant downwards as you smooth, ensuring it adheres to the cake and doesn't create any folds or creases. For a basketball cake, you may want to ensure the fondant is smooth and tight around the middle, as this will be the most visible part of the cake.
Once you have smoothed the fondant towards the middle and achieved a wrinkle-free finish, you can cut away any excess fondant with a sharp knife or X-Acto knife. Be careful not to cut into the cake itself. After smoothing and trimming, let the fondant rest for a few hours before adding any further decorations. This will allow the fondant to harden slightly, reducing the risk of tears when adding final touches to your basketball cake.
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Cut away excess fondant
Once you have covered your basketball cake with fondant, you will need to cut away the excess fondant. This step requires precision and patience. Here is a detailed guide to help you achieve a smooth and professional finish:
Start by gently lifting the cake to smooth the fondant towards the middle of the bottom. You don't need to cover the entire bottom, but ensure the fondant extends far enough under the edges so that it remains hidden when the cake is placed on a board or another tier.
Use a sharp tool like an X-Acto knife to cut away the excess fondant. Carefully trim the fondant, ensuring you don't cut too much, especially around the bottom edge. Take your time with this step, as rushing may result in accidental cuts or tears in the fondant.
If you're creating a 3D basketball cake, you may need to trim the fondant around the base to ensure the cake sits flat and level. Use a serrated knife to carefully slice off any excess fondant, allowing the cake to sit securely without wobbling.
After cutting away the excess fondant, allow the cake to rest for a few hours before proceeding with further decorations. This resting period helps the fondant harden slightly, reducing the risk of tears when adding additional details.
Creating a basketball texture on your fondant? You can use various tools to create the texture, such as a decorating tip, a clean piece of coarse tulle fabric, or a meat tenderizer. Impress the desired texture onto the fondant before it hardens to achieve an authentic basketball look.
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Create the texture of a basketball
Creating the texture of a basketball on a cake covered with fondant can be done in several ways. One method is to use an impression mat, which can be purchased online, to create the basketball design on the fondant. If you don't have a texture mat, you can use size 5 piping tips on your fingers to create the impressions after covering the cake with fondant. This method requires patience as it will take some time.
Another option is to use a clean piece of coarse tulle fabric. Lay the tulle over the fondant and press with your hands to create the small bumps that resemble the texture of a basketball. Alternatively, you can try using the end of a decorating tip, a meat tenderizer, or a new Dobie scrub pad to press against the fondant and create the desired texture.
For a simpler approach, you can draw out the details of a basketball with a black edible marker on the fondant. Start by cutting out a circular shape from the fondant using a circle cutter. Then, carefully draw the lines and details of a basketball, taking your time to avoid any mistakes as they cannot be easily erased.
These techniques allow you to create the texture and design of a basketball on a fondant-covered cake, adding a realistic touch to your basketball-themed creation.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need around 1 lb of fondant to cover a 6" ball cake.
The fondant should be orange/reddish-brown to resemble the colour of a basketball.
You can use a textured mat, or put size 5 piping tips on your fingers to create the texture. Alternatively, you can use a clean piece of coarse tulle fabric, or a new Dobie scrub pad.
You can use icing or a damp brush to attach fondant to a cake.
You can use a Pyrex bowl to bake the top layer of the cake so that it is already round, or use a ball cake pan.
