SHE TAKES THE CAKE

From King Charles and Disney characters to dogs and horses, this British bakers creations always rise to the occasion

- JANICE BECKETT-MSIZA

SHE thought she may have bitten off more than she could chew when she started her project but everyone who sees her towering creation agrees it takes the cake.

Cake artist Emma Jayne Morris life-size edible version of King Charles was unveiled at a recent cake competition in England and viewers were in agreement: the ambitious British baker had risen to the occasion.

In fact, you could call her the queen of the king cake.

Standing almost 1,8m tall and weighing over 60kg, the gaint confectionary masterpiece is a remarkably life-like replica of King Charles, showing the new monarch as he appeared at his coronation this year, complete with orb, sceptre and sparkling jewel-encrusted crown.

But making it was hardly a piece of cake. It took Emma 53), whos from Wales, 10 days from start to finish, and when it was finally ready to go on display at the Cake International Show in Birmingham, she was so tired she says

she needed matchsticks to keep her Th eyes open. a FRUMI DIVIDUAL

Emma started by sculpting the kings C NT)! FY head from Rice Krispies and marshmallows before moving on to the face, which was crafted out of modelling chocolate.

To get the detail exactly right, she studied photographs of Charles’ face from multiple angles. Emma says his edible eyes were the most difficult part of the project.

“I needed a full day, believe it or not, just for two eyeballs.”

They’re made out of modelling paste and filled with piping gel. To get the eyeballs to dry, Emma resorted to putting them in an air fryer in dehydration mode for an entire day. All of this was necessary to make them look as realistic as possible, she says.