
07/06/2025
Sewing and Needle Cake
Serves: 12–16
Difficulty: Intermediate – requires basic fondant sculpting
Theme: Hobby / Pastel / Soft style
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🧁 Ingredients
For the Vanilla Cake (Spool Base)
2 ¾ cups (340g) all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups (400g) granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup (240ml) whole milk
For the Buttercream Frosting
1 ½ cups (340g) unsalted butter, softened
5 cups (600g) powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3–4 tbsp milk or cream
Gel food coloring: soft pink, mint, lavender, pale blue
For the Fondant Decorations
1 lb (450g) white fondant
Gel food coloring (same as above)
Edible silver dust or gray gel color (for needle and scissors)
Small amount of black fondant (for scissor handles)
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🧵 Instructions
1. Bake the Cakes
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line three 6-inch round cake pans.
2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-5 mins).
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Add vanilla.
5. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, beginning and ending with flour.
6. Divide evenly between pans. Bake for 25–30 minutes. Cool completely.
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2. Make the Buttercream
1. Beat softened butter until creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar gradually.
3. Add vanilla and milk; beat until fluffy.
4. Divide into small bowls and tint with pastel gel colors (one soft color for frosting, others for "thread").
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3. Assemble the Spool Cake
1. Stack the 3 cakes with a thin layer of pastel-colored buttercream between.
2. Carve slightly around the middle to give a spool-like shape.
3. Frost the entire cake with a thin crumb coat, then chill for 20 mins.
4. Apply a second smooth coat of pastel buttercream.
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4. Decorate (Thread, Needle, Scissors)
Fondant Thread:
Roll pastel-colored fondant into long, thin ropes.
Wrap around the center of the cake like thread.
Spool Ends:
Use a round cookie cutter to cut two discs from colored fondant for top and bottom “spool ends.” Place on top and base of cake.
Needle:
Shape a gray fondant cylinder into a long needle; flatten one end and pierce a hole using a toothpick.
Paint lightly with silver dust or gel.
Scissors:
Form two blades from gray fondant; shape black fondant into two loops for handles and attach. Let dry before placing on cake board.
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5. Final Touches
Pipe a border if desired.
Arrange the fondant needle and scissors beside the spool.
Optional: Add a fondant "measuring tape" or cute stitched fondant flowers.
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🎨 Color Palette
Pastel pink (main frosting)
Mint green, lavender, baby blue (thread details)
Soft gray and black (tools)