Spider-Man Cake

There are many times when we fight with every fiber of our being to avoid becoming like our parents. To some, it’s the ultimate idea of failure. We don’t want to be nags, and we don’t want to be old and stuffy. Some of us even dedicate our entire lives to acting in ways we think are opposite from what our parents would do.

To some degree, maybe that’s been me. Maybe there have been little qualities I’ve tried to avoid bubbling up through my Bierstine blood. But in many ways, I strive to be like my parents. What’s the point in avoiding the inevitable anyway? I’d like to think that winding up like they are isn’t the worst thing I can become.

Father Cookie celebrated his birthday this Saturday, and throughout my entire life, he’s been the hardest-working man I know. He is where my determination and motivation stem from. He taught me the importance of making what you want happen and not letting life turn you into a victim.

Among these outstanding qualities, I also learned a thing or two about embracing my nerdiness. Did I try to quiet my corny sense of humor that I learned from him? No. Did I push down the love of Marvel comics as I’ve gotten older? Heck no.

These little quirks remind me of the man who raised me, and they make me who I am. That’s why I knew a Marvel cake would be perfect for commemorating Father Cookie’s birthday, a Spider-Man Cake to be more specific. This cake is surprisingly simple, with basic shapes that compose it. The end result is striking, bound to impress the comic book lover in your life.

I don’t care if you’re a kid, an adult, a boy, or a girl – anybody can appreciate a sick superhero cake like this. I truly believe no gift holds the same wow factor as a handmade, personal cake like this. It’s better yet if it reflects an interest you and the birthday boy share.

Here’s to Father Cookie and all the things that make him the dad I love. The cake was a hit from the second he saw it, and my signature vanilla buttercream made it a favorite to eat too.

A Few Tips Before You Get Cooking:

1. I used Wilton red food dye to achieve the bright hue.
2. That said, be careful with red dye. Depending on what kind you use, if you use too much, it’ll have a bad after taste.
3. Another option is to use red fondant and lay it over plain white frosting.
4. I use the Wilton frosting because my Wilton tips attach right to them.
5. For an extra clean decorating job, slip pieces of parchment paper under the bare cake so that they stick out. When you’re done frosting, gently pull them away and take the mess with you.

Spider-Man Cake
By The Smart Cookie Cook

Ingredients:

• 9×13 cake, any flavor (I recommend this recipe)

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

• 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
• 5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. heavy cream
• 2 tsp. vanilla extra
• Red food dye

Décor

• Parchment paper
• Black Wilton Ready-to-Use frosting
• White Wilton Ready-to-Use frosting
• Blue Wilton Ready-to-Use frosting (only necessary for writing)
• Round frosting tip

Directions:

1. Place cake on a cutting board. Lay a piece of parchment paper over the cake. Reference a picture of Spider-Man to lightly draw the shape of Spider-Man’s face on the parchment paper so that it fits within the size of the cake.
2. Take the paper off of the cake and cut out the shape. Lay it back over the cake and carefully cut around it. Gently pull away extra cake and discard scraps (or snack on them). Place cake in fridge.
   
3. To make the frosting, place butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer. Start on low speed then turn up to medium as the sugar starts to incorporate. Continue like this, adding 2 cups at a time, until all sugar is incorporated. Add vanilla, cream, and red food dye and beat on high until fluffy, about 1 minute. If it’s too thick, add 1 tbsp. more cream. The amount of dye will depend on how red you want it.
4. Spread the frosting in an even layer on top of the cake. Smooth out the top and then the sides.
   
5. Use the black fitted with the round tip to draw a straight black vertical line right down the middle of the cake.From here, draw black lines equidistant from each other, branching out from the center of the cake. Work all the way around, 360 degrees.
   
   
   
   
6. For the eyes, use the black to draw two large triangles centered towards the top of the cake. The top of each line should be lined up with one of the lines you’ve already drawn on the face. The bottom long side of the eye should be slightly curved. Make the edges very thick.
7. Use the white to fill in the center of the eyes.
   
8. Use the black to finish drawing the webs once the eyes are done. Connect each long line with slightly curved lines equidistant from each other.
9. You can finish here, or use the blue to write a message.
10. Store cake in an air-tight container in the fridge.