I had kind of a rush cake request this past week; "rush" meaning that we didn't settle on a design till Tuesday for a cake that was needed for yesterday morning. Typically I work with people a few weeks in advance to settle on designs and flavors, which gives me lots of time to think through details and timing - especially helpful when you only bake and decorate during naptimes and bedtimes!
But for yesterday's cake, I simply found a few poker-inspired images on Pinterest last weekend, and this one by Cake Works Bakery in Wyoming was decided upon on Tuesday. I wasn't a big fan of the oversized red Rice Krispies treat dice on top, so I suggested going without, which I think turned out nice and clean.
I made those playing cards and the 40 cake topper out of modeling chocolate, which continues to be an indispensable medium in my baking toolkit! Those playing cards would have wilted and sagged like nobody's business if I had made them out of fondant or gumpaste.
Even made out of modeling chocolate though, those cards were precariously balanced on the cake in a gravity-defying stunt, secured to the cake only by their slim edges making contact with the fondant. I have to admit that I worried about them surviving the drive all the way to the party yesterday. But (sigh of relief) I heard they made it no problem!