A cake for avid readers, or perhaps a subtle hint to someone who does not read enough 

HUNGRY BOOKWORM CAKE 

MATERIALS

• 18cm ( 7in ) square cake
• 30cm ( 12in ) square cake board  
• 1.25kg ( 2½lb ) sugarpaste / rolled fondant .  
• green, blue, yellow, black & orange food coloring pastes
• icing/confectioners' sugar in a sugar shaker
• 375g ( 12oz / 1½ cups ) buttercream
• sugar glue 

EQUIPMENT

• large rolling pin
• sharp knife
• cake smoother.
• 1cm ( ½ in ) , 2cm ( ¾ in ) & 4cm ( 1½in ) circle cutters
• length of raw spaghetti 

HUNGRY BOOKWORM CAKE METHOD:

Color, then roll out 440g ( 14oz ) of green sugarpaste and cover the cake board Put aside to dry reserving the trimmings from around the edge of the cake board Trim the crust from the cake and slice the top flat. Cutaway 2 5cm ( 1in ) from one side of the cake to make an oblong book shape. Cut a layer in the cake and sandwich it together with buttercream, then spread a layer of buttercream over the surface of the cake

Position the cake on the cake board Roll out 220g ( 7oz ) of white sugarpaste and cut strips to fit around three sides of the cake, leaving the book to bind the edge uncovered Mark the page lines in the white sugarpaste with the back of a knife.

Color, then roll out 410g ( 13oz ) of blue sugarpaste and cut a piece slightly larger than the top of the cake and the book bind the edge. Position the cake, using the cake smoother to create a smooth surface. Trim the trimmings so that they fit around the cake base, and secure with sugar glue. Remove two circles of sugarpaste from the top Colour, then thinly roll out 7g ( ¼ oz ) of black sugarpaste and cut circles to fill the spaces.

Color yellow to make the worm.Using a 60g(2oz) model a fat teardrop shape for the worm's head. Indent the smile by pressing the 2cm (3/4 in ) circle cutter in at an angle. Push a 10cm ( 4in ) length of raw spaghetti into the large hole down to the base of the cake to support the worm's head. Moisten with sugar glue then carefully push the head into position on the spaghetti. Roll the remaining yellow into a sausage tapering in at one end and stick in position coming out of the smaller hole

.

Roll out the green trimmings Cut a circle for the hat rim with the large cutter and put it aside to set then model the top of the hat. Put aside two tiny balls of white for the eyes, then color the remaining sugarpaste orange Roll out and cut a strip for the hat.

Model two flattened balls of black sugarpaste and cut out the center of each using  the smallest circle cutter Leave to set for at least ten minutes, then stick in place as the worm's glasses Roll two white balls for the eyes and two tiny black balls for the pupils Thinly roll out the orange sugarpaste and cut strips to edge the cake and board

 USEFUL TIP

 A special birthday message can be added to the cake to look like the title of the book.

Also Read: DIPPY DINOSAUR CAKE