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Updated on December 2, 2021 by · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Live Oak Tree Cake Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

Guest instructor Sara Weber from Sara's Sweets in Austin, Texas is back with another lovely nature-inspired cake tutorial.

In this tutorial, Sara demonstrates how to create a Live Oak tree cake design, complete with a tree swing and all sorts of natural details.

1:46:12 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • How to create a sculpted cake that looks like a Live Oak tree
  • Learn tips and tricks on how to create the leaves for the live oak tree and a tip on how to make the leaves in bulk
  • How to create your own impression mat for making the tree bark
  • Tips on how to paint rich colors onto the tree to reflect nature
  • How to create the tree swing detail

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Cake Structure 0:10
  2. Stacking the cake 9:36
  3. Adding the limbs 14:52
  4. Building up branch base 28:30
  5. Making the leaves 30:23
  6. Coloring the leaves 40:11
  7. Carving the cake 46:43
  8. Ganache crumbcoat 55:51
  9. Final ganache crumbcoat 59:09
  10. Making a bark texture mat 1:03:09
  11. Covering the cake 1:06:54
  12. Adding bark texture 1:13:24
  13. Painting the tree 1:20:42
  14. Adding the leaves 1:26:17
  15. Finishing touches 1:37:00

More Course Preview

About Liz Marek

Liz Marek is a professional cake artist, sweet and savory recipe developer, and the founder of Sugar Geek Show, where she teaches cooking, baking and cake decorating through detailed tutorials, food science explanations, and kitchen-tested recipes. She has been creating recipes and teaching baking techniques since 2008, helping bakers of all skill levels gain the confidence to make professional-quality desserts at home.

Liz is known for breaking down complex cooking and baking concepts into simple, approachable methods. Her work focuses on helping people understand not just how a recipe works, but why it works. Through Sugar Geek Show, she shares step-by-step recipes, cake decorating tutorials, and practical baking guides designed to make professional techniques accessible to everyone.

Over the years, Liz has taught thousands of students through online tutorials, classes, and educational content focused on real kitchen results. Her recipes are carefully tested and written to help people succeed the first time they make them.

When she’s not developing recipes or teaching baking techniques, Liz also hosts curated travel experiences for women through her travel brand Soul Sisters.

You can find Liz’s latest recipes, baking tutorials, and food science tips at Sugar Geek Show.