Woodland Cake Tutorial: Buttercream Mushrooms, Edible Moss, and Chocolate Bark

Woodland and fairy-themed cakes have taken the baking world by storm, and it’s not hard to see why. They are just too darn cute and trendy!! In this post, I wanted to make a step-by-step guide to share the details for creating these charming cakes. I will be focusing on the three key elements that make them so enchanting: buttercream mushrooms, edible sponge moss, and chocolate bark. So, whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out, let’s get ready to whip up some woodland magic! 🍄🌿🍫

Buttercream Mushrooms

Meringue mushrooms are a long-time favourite in the caking world, but this buttercream mushroom recipe offers a quicker and more accessible alternative. While both options will bring a whimsical woodland charm to your desserts, these buttercream mushrooms are easier to make and will save time. So, whether you’re pressed for time or just looking for a simpler way to add the final touches to your cake, these buttercream mushrooms are your answer!

Ingredients:

Buttercream frosting (my recipe is here).
Red food colouring (I use Colour Mill – you can use code STEPH10 for 10% off your order).
White non-pareils
Edible glitter (optional)

Instructions:

Begin by splitting your buttercream frosting in half. To one half, add red food colouring and mix until you achieve an even red hue.
For the mushroom stalks, fit the end of a piping bag with a large round tip and pipe long, upright stalks of white frosting onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. These will be the stems of your mushrooms.
For the mushroom caps, fit the end of another piping bag with a large round tip and pipe low, wide bulbs of the red frosting. These will form the caps of your mushrooms.
Top the red frosting caps with small white nonpareil sprinkles to add texture and detail. Feel free to add a little glitter here too!
Place both the mushroom caps and stalks into the freezer for at least 20 minutes to firm up.
Once the mushroom stalks are set, use a sharp knife to trim off the tops, making them flat.
Add a small dab of frosting to the top of each mushroom stalk and then attach a mushroom cap on top.
Keep your buttercream mushrooms chilled until you’re ready to adorn your cake. They’ll add a whimsical touch that’s sure to delight! 🍄🍰

Edible Moss

Creating the edible sponge moss is a breeze. It’s basically just a microwave sponge cake!

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 drop of green food coloring
3 tablespoons flour
1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder

Instructions:

Begin by whisking together the egg and sugar in a mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Add in the maple syrup and a drop of green food coloring, and give it another good whisk.
Sift in the flour and baking powder, then carefully fold the ingredients together until well combined.
Divide the batter evenly into two mugs.
Microwave each mug for 1 minute.

Voila! You’ve just created the perfect edible moss for your woodland cake. It’s easy, quick, and adds a wonderful touch of greenery to your magical dessert. 🌿🍰

Chocolate Bark

To make the chocolate bark, spread the melted chocolate evenly on a sheet of parchment paper, shaping it into a rectangular form using a spatula. Roll up the chocolate, along with the parchment paper, and refrigerate for at least half an hour until it’s set. Unroll the chocolate, and it will naturally break into long, bark-like strips that you can use to decorate the cake. For added texture, brush the chocolate bark with melted chocolate using a silicone pastry brush.

Assembly

Now that you have all the elements, assembly is easy! Starting with a chilled cake, grab your chocolate shards and firmly press them onto the cake’s sides, creating that tree stump appearance. Brush melted chocolate over the bark for stability and texture, then dust the top of the cake with cocoa powder to enhance its woodland aesthetic. Next, strategically place the buttercream mushrooms and edible moss on top of the cake and along its base.