Create a Colorful Cake Illustration

Some times we had a hard time when comes to create an illustration and we don't have good painting skill or drawing skill (sometimes I do feel that way). Then we try to make our illustration in AI.
Do you guys know how far actually we can go by using AI?
I found this tutorial: http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/icon-design/create-a-colorful-cake-illustration-in-photoshop/
Yes the author used photoshop for the tut but he is making it complicated. This tut fits AI (not for certain part such as warp transform).

This how far we can go on AI, good work worth spending time on it.

here is the link again :http://psd.tutsplus.com/tutorials/icon-design/create-a-colorful-cake-illustration-in-photoshop/