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

Monster Cake Tutorial

Skill level: Intermediate

In this tutorial, Liz Marek breaks down how to create a cute cartoon monster from a picture. You will learn how to scale a reference picture, how to plan out the internal structure to make the cake gravity-defying, and how to carve and add details to the cake.

This cake structure is perfect for the beginning cake decorator who wants to jump into learning more about cake structures, but doesn't know where to start. There's many tips and tricks to cover in this tutorial, so let's get our tools together and let's get started!

1:17:33 Minutes of Instruction

What You Will Learn

  • Learn how to scale a picture reference and plan for structure
  • How to cut wood for custom cake boards and how to cut threaded rod
  • Learn how to use armature wire for complex shapes and structures
  • Several tips and tricks on how to carve and cover the cake
  • Learn how to make a large shiny isomalt eyeball

Tutorial Chapters

  1. Planning & scaling 0:38
  2. Cutting threaded rod & wood 7:15
  3. Structure assembly 9:18
  4. Making armature arms 12:06
  5. Adding rice cereal treats 18:44
  6. Carving rice cereal treats 21:04
  7. Stacking & carving cake 21:23
  8. Smooth ganache layer 23:53
  9. Modeling chocolate 26:08
  10. Isomalt eye 29:25
  11. Covering the cake 36:02
  12. Details & Smoothing seams 49:56
  13. Adding the eye 55:09
  14. Legs & feet 59:11
  15. Arms & horns 1:05:22
  16. Adding teeth 1:13:51

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.