Soccer Ball Cake

Last week I got an order for a soccer ball birthday cake for the 3 year old son of an attorney at Bryan's office. I have done baseballs before but hadn't ever made a soccer ball cake. I figured, how hard can it be because the instructions and pattern came along with the pan. Well, it was harder than I anticipated and I am lucky to be married to Bryan because otherwise I would have thrown it in the trash!

The cakes were easy to bake and worked out great, but getting the pattern on the soccer ball and getting it round, wasn't easy. I used the enclosed pattern a few times to trace onto the ball but it wasn't working. Bryan tried and found that the patterns were off. He drew it and then the two of us tried to trace the pattern so it looked good. Then I began to ice it with the star tip. When I was halfway finished, Bryan noticed a huge bulge on one side of the ball. I was ready to call the customer and tell her I couldn't do it. But I built up that side with enough icing that it worked out. She was pretty impressed when she came to pick it up and later emailed me to tell me it was a hit and tasted great. That's what saves me...my cakes taste great so even if they may have a flaw or two, all people remember is the taste.

But I have sworn off soccer balls...until someone else order one ;)