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First of all, give yourself at least three days to do this. Do not attempt this the day before the party. It will end badly.
Day one. Bake your cake and freeze it.
Day 2, we get the large enough cake to cut the shape of R2D2 out of the freezer. There is a Wilton pan, from the 1980’s that can be found for a mere fortune on Ebay, if one is inclined. However it can be done without it just fine.
This cake should be frozen as solid as you can possibly get it.
Make a paper shape like this one. I can’t stress enough to not freehand this, unless you are super amazing talented and can create a perfectly mirror imaged R2.
I am not super amazing talented and the thought of cutting this out without a pattern makes my chest tight with stress. Just sayin’.
Using a very sharp knife, cut out your R2D2 using the pattern.
We are still on Day 2.
Do a crumb coating on it and any other shapes you want. The chocolate cake was SO large and SO yummy that I used part of it to write on and there is some still for a trifle! I can’t wait!
Time to put it back in the freezer. Trust me. Doesn’t affect the taste at all, I have people waiting impatiently for this recipe and perhaps the freezing of it made it even moister in the end.
I also actually enjoyed making this cake, I promised myself I would take time, do it step by step and slowly without stress. It actually worked!
If you wanted, you could move on to the next step after this, BUT the tracing is easier with frozen icing.
Day 3.
Looking at the main R2D2 picture in this point, take a knife and trace out the “blocks” that you will fill in with color.
Because the icing is frozen you can trace, then correct by smoothing it out, then try again.
You can see how it’s done block by block, color by color. Getting the basic blocks is hard but if you have something to follow it’s actually a piece of cake!
Har de har har.
And this is how I learned, I haven’t ever taken any classes, just practiced on wax paper while my mom decorated cakes.
So cute and little and drawing a bear cave. My icing Picasso. She had so much fun.
And the finished product! I put it back into the freezer for another evening and pulled it out the next morning to completely defrost.
Roxanne LeTexier Kaplan says
The actor that played r2d2 just passed away today at the age of 81. Strange coincidence that you posted this today.
The Kitchen Magpie says
I saw that after :(. So sad!
Emily says
silly question, do you wrap or cover the cakes when you freeze them, during any of the steps?
packsanders says
I’m making an R2 cake for my son’s star wars party next week, and after refusing to pay $80 for a Wilton pan, came across this site and can’t wait to start making it! I know he’s going to be over the moon! Thanks!
packsanders says
I’m making an R2 cake for my son’s star wars party next week, and after refusing to pay $80 for a Wilton pan, came across this site and can’t wait to start making it! I know he’s going to be over the moon! Thanks!
Karlynn Johnston says
Oh I know, those old pans are a fortune! This was easier than I thought, I have little artistic talent when it comes to freehanding, so if I can do it, anyone can! Feel free to share pics on my Facebook page when you are done! Can’t wait to see it!
Angie says
It really is the best buttercream icing recipe! My daughter and I had lots of fun decorating this cake
for her fiance’s 30th birthday!
Angie says
It really is the best buttercream icing recipe! My daughter and I had lots of fun decorating this cake
for her fiance’s 30th birthday!
Karlynn Johnston says
Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, even grown up boys still like their R2D2 cakes. No one really ever grows out of Star Wars!
Vader says
What size of a pan did you use? Also what type of cake batter did you use then in such a large pan? Very nice job…I’m doing a ‘dry’ run before the party next week.
Vader says
What size of a pan did you use? Also what type of cake batter did you use then in such a large pan? Very nice job…I’m doing a ‘dry’ run before the party next week.
Karlynn Johnston says
I used a 16 inch square pan and this https://kitchenmagpie.com/old-fashioned-chocolate-cake and made one and a half times the recipe with a little left over.
Vera Lima says
if I wanted to put a filling in the cake when in this process should I do it? Do you think that it will still turn out okay with the filling defrosting on the day of the party?
Vera Lima says
if I wanted to put a filling in the cake when in this process should I do it? Do you think that it will still turn out okay with the filling defrosting on the day of the party?
Karlynn Johnston says
Bakeries freeze almost anything you can think of, so a filling should be completely fine frozen, as long as it’s not whipped cream or something that would go grainy after being frozen. Chocolate, fruit, all those types of fillings freeze quite lovely!
A Canadian Foodie says
Absolutely gorgeous! And the fun is absolutely in the making… so three days makes it such a joyous labour of love to ne’er be forgotten by the children… I love the icing work beside you. The left over cake can also be used to make cake pops. You have probably seen them around… too bad you didn’t do the cake a week ahead and freeze it, then you could have made cake pops as take home gifts. I AM KIDDING!
But, I did go to a little class at Christmas in November (yet to be posted) and she took these left over bits and mixed them with butter frosting (just a little) until they formed into nice balls, then she stuck a lollipop stick in each and froze them. They are then dipped in dark milk or white chocolate and rolled in nuts or sprinkles or coconut and they are, unfortunately, absolutely delicious. Not one bit good for you – but, hey… how often would you ever make these?
Would be great for Valentine’s Cards… instead of a card, that is.
🙂
Valerie