Nintendo Game Boy

To follow up my son’s Atari 2600 cake for his 14th birthday, I surprised him for his 15th with a Nintendo Game Boy! Both my husband and son are avid retro game collectors and it’s so fun to make these treasures out of cake and sugar. : )

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Notes from the Kitchen

This cake will be much larger than an actual Game Boy, but I still wanted to make sure it was to scale.

This cake will be much larger than an actual Game Boy, but I still wanted to make sure it was to scale.

The screen is the only thing not edible on the cake. I designed the image in Adobe Illustrator and then my husband etched the design in a piece of neon acrylic using his CNC machine. :)

The screen is the only thing not edible on the cake. I designed the image in Adobe Illustrator and then my husband etched the design in a piece of neon acrylic using his CNC machine. :)

There are a few really important steps when making a cake that is meant to look like a familiar object. And COLOR is one of them! Color is so important. I spent a lot of care mixing the colors of fondant for this project.

There are a few really important steps when making a cake that is meant to look like a familiar object. And COLOR is one of them! Color is so important. I spent a lot of care mixing the colors of fondant for this project.

I baked two half-sheet cakes (12 x 18), one vanilla and one strawberry. Fat Daddio pans are the best!

I baked two half-sheet cakes (12 x 18), one vanilla and one strawberry. Fat Daddio pans are the best!

I filled the cakes with vanilla buttercream, stacked and then trimmed the edges to be 9.5 x 15.5 in.

I filled the cakes with vanilla buttercream, stacked and then trimmed the edges to be 9.5 x 15.5 in.

I then flipped the cakes onto the cake board.

I then flipped the cakes onto the cake board.

I cut out shapes from index cards to use as markers once I applied fondant.

I cut out shapes from index cards to use as markers once I applied fondant.

I carved the cake a bit to have rounded edges and the signature lower right corner.

I carved the cake a bit to have rounded edges and the signature lower right corner.

I then coated the whole cake with vanilla buttercream, rolled out a large piece of grey fondant and placed it over the cake.

I then coated the whole cake with vanilla buttercream, rolled out a large piece of grey fondant and placed it over the cake.

Using my trusty pizza cutter, I trimmed away the excess fondant around the sides.

Using my trusty pizza cutter, I trimmed away the excess fondant around the sides.

I gently placed the index card templates on top of the fondant — I have to work fast before the fondant sets too much and this is the time to add some of the details.

I gently placed the index card templates on top of the fondant — I have to work fast before the fondant sets too much and this is the time to add some of the details.

I used my ball tool to press in the areas for the buttons, etc.

I used my ball tool to press in the areas for the buttons, etc.

I cut out and added the grey area behind the screen.

I cut out and added the grey area behind the screen.

And then cut out and placed the black panel that will lie directly behind the screen.

And then cut out and placed the black panel that will lie directly behind the screen.

I then airbrushed the whole cake with pearl sheen, taking it from matte to awesome.

I then airbrushed the whole cake with pearl sheen, taking it from matte to awesome.

I created the buttons.

I created the buttons.

I placed the buttons and then painted them delicately with luster dust.

I placed the buttons and then painted them delicately with luster dust.

I placed the screen on top of the black fondant - look at how it shines!

I placed the screen on top of the black fondant - look at how it shines!

Close-up of detail : )

Close-up of detail : )

Finished result

Finished result

The cake on the table at the party!

The cake on the table at the party!