Bucky the Pirate Ship Cake: Jake and the Neverland Pirates Birthday Party

My 4-year-old is currently on a "Jake and the Neverland Pirates" kick and wanted his 4th birthday party centered around Jake and his crew. After I'd started pinning cakes and party supply ideas on Pinterest, a friend of mine messaged me from a garage sale where they were selling unopened Jake and the Neverland Pirate party supplies for 16 people...for $6. Yes, please! With the plates, napkins, tablecloth, party blowers, and even a birthday badge taken care of, all we were in need of was a cake! I ended up taking an afternoon off from work to work on this beast but the look on Ryan's face was totally worth it! Here is a little info on the whole piratey process.

 

I started with two 9x13 chocolate cakes. I used the "Super Moist Chocolate Cake" recipe from Cake Mix Doctor

and baked them the night before, then cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap and put in freezer. Frozen cake is easier to cut and shape and keeps the crumbs out of the icing. I also prepared the cake board by wrapping it with blue plastic tablecloth and laying out waxed paper strips to set the cake on (easily pull them out after you're finished frosting the sides.) 

The next day, I narrowed the bottom cake by cutting a few inch strip from one end, then rounded the front end. The second cake was narrowed, then sliced into 3 parts- a rectangle for the back deck, a skinny rectangle for the top deck, and a front deck with a rounded front.  I used blue tinted buttercream frosting to stick these together, which made a pretty layered look when the cake was cut open.

Next, I frosted the entire cake with Fluffy Chocolate Frosting (again from Cake Mix Doctor). I used an angled spreader to make smooth lines. I also used a serrated knife to round off the corners of a graham cracker and stuck it in the back for the back part of the ship. From there, it was just a lot of piping. I used a flat frosting tip to pipe chocolate "boards" around the outside of the ship, but this wasn't very noticeable. I used yellow and blue buttercream and leftover chocolate to pipe the following: yellow pip edging, bell, sword and scroll emblem, windows on the side, a door in the center, and portholes in the ship. I also added white and blue candles so Ryan had something to blow out. 

 I used mini Kit-Kats cut in half for the posts and Keebler Fudge Sticks for the railings on the front and back decks. The sail is just plain paper that I printed and stuck on a wooden skewer (for kabobs).  Ryan wanted an island for Captain Hook and Smee, so I laid down some yellow frosting and pressed crushed graham cracker crumbs into it. The waves were just piped with a double leaf tip and I added Ryan's name on a map with frosting.

The characters were purchased on Amazon as part of his birthday present.

When Ryan came back from grandma's and saw the final result, he said it was "Awesome!"

 I was happy to make him even more excited for his party. Here's a little preview of the party decor with the cake as a centerpiece: