Gilbert the Goblin Cake Decorating and Baking Tutorial

Tutorial Preview

Join NOW to access 1661 courses Watch Now
14 Day FREE Trial
Gilbert the Goblin
with Karen Keaney
Skill level: Advanced
HD Lessons: 15
Decorating time: 1 Day
Now Playing
10:37

Highlights

Here, we’ve carefully selected the key parts from the entire tutorial and condensed it into an 10 min long video. More than enough to get you started without taking too much time.

Now Playing
04:52

1. Making the stand

In the first lesson, Karen shows us how to assemble the stand, before working on the Goblin head.

Now Playing
19:28

2. Building up the face

In this lesson, Karen starts on the face and builds it up with sausages and large pieces of modelling chocolate. She uses a sugar shaper and a dresden tool to smooth and create shape, as well as a small ball tool.

Now Playing
12:27

3. Building up the head and ears

Karen now focuses on the the back of the head. She makes sure everything is the right size and shape, and then shows us how to create cool goblin ears without any support.

Now Playing
21:18

4. Finishing the face

Karen finishes off building up the features, using little sausages and balls of modelling chocolate and blending them into the brow, cheeks and nose. Next up – creating the body.

Now Playing
15:48

5. Carving the body

Karen cuts and carves the cake underneath the head to form the upper body of the goblin using a nice long serrated knife.

Now Playing
11:49

6. Ganaching the body

Here Karen adds a nice thick layer of ganache to the entire body, smoothing it all off with acetate smoothers as she goes. To get it extra smooth you can either use your hands with some warm water, or you can go over it with a brush and warm water.

Now Playing
29:24

7. Covering the head

Karen starts off by adding sausages of modelling chocolate to form the neck and then adds a large piece of sugarpaste covering the entire head. She then brings the detail back out using her hands and modelling tools – beginning to add some character.

Now Playing
19:17

8. Painting the head pt 1

Karen gets the dusts and alcohol out and proceeds to bring Gilbert to life with amazing flesh tones. She then moves onto the eyes and gives some great tips for all different levels.

Now Playing
08:15

9. Painting the head pt 2

The key here is diluting the paint heavily to make it more of a highlighter than a thick colour. You want to just slightly warm the tone of the sugarpaste to give a flesh effect.

Now Playing
07:55

10. Covering the board

Karen now adds four sections of sugarpaste which she blends together using her hands and acetate smoothers.

Now Playing
20:43

11. Adding the clothes

Time to add the confectioners glaze to the eyes, and get the airbrush out to add character to the clothes.

Now Playing
10:48

12. Finishing touches

Karen finishes Gilbert’s clothes and eyes, and uses a little airbrush work to finish it all off.

Now Playing
01:14

13. Other ideas

Karen shares some other ideas you can try out during this project. We’re sure you’ve some of your own, and we’d love to see what brilliant alterations you’ve made.

Share your pics with us on our Facebook page.

Now Playing
03:39

14. Pro lesson

In this lesson, Paul shares some insider information about the cost to make this cake, as well as pricing, portions and other vital information for any professional cake designer.

This incredible tutorial by the award-winning Karen Keaney will help you create Gilbert – a cake with a face few could forget!
Gilbert the Goblin is perfect for enthusiasts of fantasy stories, such as Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, and would be fantastic for Halloween or an elaborate birthday celebration.
Take a look at this tutorial to learn how to do advanced modelling with modelling chocolate, realistic edible painting, create realistic textures, cake carving, make edible clothes with sugarpaste and much more. With the skills learned you’ll soon take your cake game to the next level.
We’d love to see your take on Gilbert the Goblin – so make sure you share your snaps with us on our Facebook page.
Karen Keaney

Karen Keaney

Karen Keaney is a multi award winning cake decorator and owner of her custom cake decorating business, Roses and Bows Cakery. Known for her airbrushing skills, sculpted cakes and her unique approach to cake design, Karen's cake designs are unique and instantly recognizable.
14 Day Free Trial