Caleb Foster
A nail varnish cake is a fun and colourful dessert that is perfect for a bachelorette spa party or a sleepover. The cake is designed to look like a nail polish bottle, complete with a brush handle and dripping nail polish. While the construction of the cake requires multiple steps, it is a simple and enjoyable project for bakers of all skill levels.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oven temperature | 350˚F |
| Cake pan size | 6-inch and 7-inch round pans |
| Cake type | Boxed cake mix or homemade |
| Frosting | Store-bought or homemade |
| Bottle shape | Carved using a serrated knife |
| Crumb coat | Thin layer of frosting, refrigerated for 30 minutes |
| Food coloring | Tint frosting if desired |
| Nail polish bottle handle | Melted butter, marshmallows, and Rice Krispies cereal |
| Fondant thickness | ¼ to ⅛ inch |
| Fondant colour | Black |
| Cake flavour | Pink ombre vanilla cake with Italian meringue buttercream |
| Cake brush handle | Chocolate cake with chocolate ganache |
| Chocolate cake | Black chocolate cake rounds |
| Simple syrup | Sprinkled on cake rounds |
| Filling | Black chocolate ganache |
| Dowels | ½” dowels for support |
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What You'll Learn
Shaping the nail polish bottle
Once your cakes are baked, it's time to assemble and shape them into the nail polish bottle. Start by removing your black chocolate cakes from the pans and using a ruler and a serrated knife to level them. Leave these cake rounds intact, without cutting them into thinner layers. Sprinkle the layers with simple syrup and allow it to soak in completely before decorating.
Spread a layer of black chocolate ganache on the first cake round using a small offset spatula. Continue stacking and filling the cakes, inserting five ½” dowels and a cake board for support. This stacked portion will form the cap of your nail polish bottle. Chill the assembled cake in the fridge for about 20 minutes.
Now, you can shape the bottle. Retrieve your pink vanilla cake from the fridge and begin to carve away any caramelization from the sides using a serrated knife. Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting, creating a "crumb" coat. This can be messy, but it will help to refine the shape of the nail polish bottle. Chill the frosted cake in the refrigerator until firm, for at least 30 minutes.
Take the remaining frosting and tint it with food colouring, if desired. Use a large scoop of this frosting to further refine and sculpt the shape of the bottle, returning the cake to the refrigerator as needed to help it harden and set the shape.
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![CAKE Super Dry Top Coat - Non-Toxiic, Fast Drying, Superior Protection, Chip Resistant Clear Nail Polish Top Coat and Base Coat, Insta Dry, Treatment & Color [0.5 fl oz]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81X10fBVbnL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Creating the crumb coat
Firstly, prepare your cake mix and bake your cake layers as directed. You will need to create a bottle shape, so use cake pans of different sizes or carefully shave down your cakes with a serrated knife to achieve this. For a nail varnish cake, you will want a sloped bottle shape.
Once your cakes are baked and shaped, it is time to assemble them. For a nail varnish bottle, stack and fill your cake layers, inserting dowels and a cake board for support. This will form the main structure of your bottle shape. If you are creating a simple round cake, you can skip this step.
Before applying the crumb coat, it is a good idea to chill your cake in the fridge for about 20 minutes to set the shape. This will make it easier to work with and reduce crumbs when you start frosting.
Now, it's time to apply the crumb coat itself. Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting. This layer can be messy, as it is just the base for subsequent layers. Use a simple buttercream frosting, or a coloured frosting if you want a vibrant base. Return the cake to the refrigerator and chill until the crumb coat is firm, which will take at least 30 minutes.
At this stage, you can use the remaining frosting to refine the shape of the nail polish bottle. Take it out of the fridge and use a large scoop of frosting to smooth over any imperfections. Return it to the refrigerator again to harden and set the shape.
Your crumb coat is now complete, and you can move on to decorating your nail varnish cake. This is where you can get creative, adding details such as a bottle handle, fondant details, and lustre dust for a glossy finish. Enjoy decorating your nail varnish cake!
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Making the bottle handle
To make the handle of the nail varnish cake, you will need butter, marshmallows, Rice Krispies cereal, black fondant, and confectioners' sugar.
First, melt the butter and marshmallows in a large pot. Add the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until combined. Transfer the mixture to a piece of parchment paper and shape it into a cylinder, slightly smaller than the top of your cake. This will form the base of the handle.
Next, roll out a piece of black fondant on a surface dusted with confectioners' sugar to about 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick. Wrap this fondant around the cylinder, smoothing it into the ridges with your fingertips. You can use a bottle neck or a brush dowel as the handle, depending on the design you want. If using a brush dowel, roll a blob of fondant that is the height between the center of your cap cake and the serving surface, and insert the dowel into it.
For a more decorative handle, you can create diagonal spirals around the neck of the bottle using tubes of fondant softened with vegetable shortening. Attach these with clear piping gel. You can also paint the handle with a mixture of luster dust and clear food-grade alcohol to give it a glossy or metallic finish. Allow any paint or decorations to dry completely before placing the handle on top of your cake.
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Adding the finishing touches
Now that your cake is assembled, it's time to add the final touches to make it look like a nail varnish bottle.
First, cover the whole cake with a thin layer of frosting, which can be messy as it is just your "crumb" coat. Place the cake in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up. If you desire, tint the remaining frosting with food colouring. Use a big scoop of frosting to refine the shape of the nail polish bottle, then return the cake to the refrigerator to harden.
Next, create the bottle handle by melting butter and marshmallows in a large pot. Add Rice Krispies cereal and stir until combined. Transfer the mixture to a piece of parchment paper and shape it into a cylinder, slightly smaller than the top of your cake. Dust a work surface with confectioners' sugar and roll out a piece of black fondant to about 1/4 to 1/8 inch thick. Cover the cylinder with the fondant and smooth out any ridges with your fingertips. Place the handle on top of the cake.
For an extra touch of glamour, add some gold leaf, edible glitter, or an edible printed label with a fun pun. There you have it—a nail varnish cake that's almost too pretty to eat!
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Using edible glitter
Edible glitter is a fun way to decorate your cake and make it more glamorous, eye-catching, and fun. You can either make your own edible glitter at home or purchase it pre-made.
If you want to make your own, there are a few different methods you can try. One method is to use gelatin. Start by sprinkling unflavoured gelatin powder into a bowl of water and stirring until it thickens. Then, place the mixture in the microwave and heat in short increments until it melts. Skim off any white foam that forms on the top. Next, pour the gelatin onto a surface, such as a cutting mat or texture sheet, and let it dry. Finally, break the dried gelatin into small pieces to create your edible glitter.
Another method is to mix raw sugar or cornstarch with food colouring. Preheat your oven and mix the sugar or cornstarch with a few drops of food colouring in a small bowl. You can then bake the mixture to create your edible glitter.
Once you have your edible glitter, you can apply it to your cake using a few different methods. One way is to use "icing glue" or a thin layer of shortening, piping gel, or a corn syrup/water blend to adhere the glitter to the cake's surface. You can also mix the edible glitter with a small amount of flavouring extract or clear spirit to create a paint that can be brushed onto the cake.
It's important to note that not all glitter is edible. Disco dust, for example, is non-toxic but should not be consumed. Always use glitter specifically labelled as "edible" for your cake decorations.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need cake mix, frosting, butter, marshmallows, Rice Krispies, black fondant, pink fondant, gum paste, silver and pink luster dust, clear piping gel, food colouring, and clear food-grade alcohol.
You will need cake pans, a refrigerator, a large pot, parchment paper, a rolling pin, a serrated knife, and a ruler.
Preheat your oven to 350˚F and prepare the cake mix according to the label. You will need to bake a round cake that can be shaped into a nail polish bottle using a serrated knife.
Melt butter and marshmallows in a large pot, then add Rice Krispies and stir until combined. Transfer the mixture to parchment paper and shape it into a cylinder. Roll out black fondant and wrap it around the cylinder to create the brush handle.
Cover the cake with a thin layer of frosting, then refrigerate until firm. Tint the remaining frosting with food colouring if desired, and use it to refine the shape of the nail polish bottle. Add the brush handle to the top of the cake and secure it with frosting. Use pink fondant to cover the bottle neck and smooth it with your fingertips.
