Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

A quick look into the world of competitive cake decorating entertained attendees of this month’s Tasty Topic Talk luncheon hosted by the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Oct. 28. This event’s tasty topic involved a two-layer white cake, buttercream icing and fondant as local cake artist Mike Elder carved and decorated a cake during a live demonstration while talking about his business, Black Sheep Custom Cakes.

Elder may be best known in Historic Northeast as a mural artist who painted one section of the infamous “truck-eating bridge” last year, but before that opportunity came along, he was sculpting custom cakes —- a career move that’s taken him around the world and in front of television cameras to create uniquely-shaped cakes of all sizes.

As Elder rolled out orange fondant —- an edible substance used to create a smooth, moldable surface —- he talked about how he got involved in cake decorating. Once an owner of a hot rod shop, he often helped his mother at her bakery by rolling out fondant. What started as a hobby soon took over, as he used his experience working with metal and other materials but now with cake, icing and fondant.

Elder answered questions about his experiences working with known food personalities, such as Gordon Ramsey and Duff Goldman, and the cakes he’s created for celebrities, sports figures and special occasions. During an event in November 2020, Elder and a team of 9 assistants created two racecars and earned two Guinness World Records: Longest Distance Covered by an Edible Vehicle and Fastest Edible Vehicle. Both cars were 90 percent edible, the percentage needed to qualify for those titles.

His completed creation- a Jack O’Lantern with a witch’s hat- took about 30 minutes to complete. Attendees admired the cake but no one wanted to cut into it-  Elder stated that cakes covered in fondant can last weeks or up to a year, depending on the type of cake.

To read more about Elder’s record-breaking cake creations visit:

For more information about Elder’s custom cakes, visit http://blacksheepcakes.com