Anyone in here decorate cakes?

[scarlett873]

Wow those cupcakes look so yummy(both sets!). First class was fun. I was a bit surprised at all the stuff I was talked into buying...no wonder the class is cheap, they make their money selling you everything else ...lol.

We have to make the character cake for class two on Thursday. I bought the race car because I figure with two little boys who love hot wheels it would always come in handy for parties.

I will post pics of my first attempts after class on Thursday!

Ebay is your friend...lol...I have found some pans that way and saved a bit of money at times! You will buy lots of stuff...some of it you'll use constantly and some of it, you'll pull it out of your box in a few years and think...what did I do with this? I do it all the time...lol

There are some great websites out there for supplies too. Some of my favorites are Country Kitchen and Sugarcraft. I'm lucky enough to live near both stores, although, i've only been to CK. Each store is about 2 hours away from me. CK is one of those stores that you literally could spend hours upon hours in there just looking at everything. Some of the things they have come up with are just mind-boggling!

And lucky you to get to use a character cake instead of the rainbow cake! My character cakes aren't especially great...lol...I will say that my favorite "character" pan is the topsy turvy one. I've done that cake many, many times. There's so many different ways to decorate it!

On that giant cupcake pan, I did find that it takes a bit more than one cake mix...assuming you are using cake mix, that is. I can't remember if it took 2 full mixes though...so maybe have a regular cupcake pan nearby in case you have extra!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

...I will say that my favorite "character" pan is the topsy turvy one. I've done that cake many, many times. There's so many different ways to decorate it!

On that giant cupcake pan, I did find that it takes a bit more than one cake mix...assuming you are using cake mix, that is. I can't remember if it took 2 full mixes though...so maybe have a regular cupcake pan nearby in case you have extra!

The topsy turvy one...is it this one? **I didn't do this, I took it from the wilton site**

I just bought this one too!! I need to find another birthday or special occasion to use it for! My family is all caked out, lol.

 

[ahutton]

I've still got the cake bug, and like everyone else have been looking for a good recipe. I'm going to try that one you recommended, Brandie. It sounds good. I'm tired of the basic Wilton stuff - it is too sweet.

I made a Cars cake for Michael's 3rd birthday. I used Alton Brown's Cream Cheese frosting and it was very good, but too soft. And I had a cake issue, it split and made a canyon. Good think I was feeling creative and worked that into the cake. I also used some premade sugar decorations for the sides and in the canyon. I think if I had added more sugar, and maybe meringue powder it would have been easier to work with. I still think it came out cute.

I can't get the picture to post - I think it is too big... But here is a link. I'll see if I can figure this out after I've got some work done.
http://public.fotki.com/ahutton1/2008/january-2008/january2008005.html

Now that I've seen other results from Wilton 2 I'm inspired to do it. I've found that while I spent at least a couple hundred dollars on stuff in the beginning for a tool kit, colors, pans and such... I've not spent that same money for birthday cakes, work cakes and such over the last year. And I've finally found something artistic I can actually do!!

 

[scarlett873]

The topsy turvy one...is it this one? **I didn't do this, I took it from the wilton site**

I just bought this one too!! I need to find another birthday or special occasion to use it for! My family is all caked out, lol.

Yes! That's the one! I love that pan...the only problem is that sometimes the corners tend to crack between the "tiers". Other than that, you can do so much with it!

I've still got the cake bug, and like everyone else have been looking for a good recipe. I'm going to try that one you recommended, Brandie. It sounds good. I'm tired of the basic Wilton stuff - it is too sweet.

I made a Cars cake for Michael's 3rd birthday. I used Alton Brown's Cream Cheese frosting and it was very good, but too soft. And I had a cake issue, it split and made a canyon. Good think I was feeling creative and worked that into the cake. I also used some premade sugar decorations for the sides and in the canyon. I think if I had added more sugar, and maybe meringue powder it would have been easier to work with. I still think it came out cute.

I can't get the picture to post - I think it is too big... But here is a link. I'll see if I can figure this out after I've got some work done.
http://public.fotki.com/ahutton1/2008/january-2008/january2008005.html

Now that I've seen other results from Wilton 2 I'm inspired to do it. I've found that while I spent at least a couple hundred dollars on stuff in the beginning for a tool kit, colors, pans and such... I've not spent that same money for birthday cakes, work cakes and such over the last year. And I've finally found something artistic I can actually do!!

Very cute cake!! And i'm totally in agreeance with you on that. I spent oodles of money on just "stuff" and now I don't spend hardly anything, aside from ingredients or cake boards!

I'm working on trying to find a commerical type kitchen so that I can actually get licensed and do cakes legitamently. I'd like to advertise for cakes in my neighborhood, but just don't feel right doing that when i'm not yet licensed. I don't necessarily want to do ginormous wedding cakes right now, but party cakes or smaller occasion cakes would be fun. We live in a HUGE housing development (like 800+ houses) with no nearby bakeries. It's 10 miles to the nearest grocery store right now. And by the time a grocery store is built near us, I will hopefully have a client base that I can maintain and not lose them to the neighborhood grocery store bakery.

 

[ahutton]

Sounds like a great business opportunity. My cousin and his wife live nearby I believe... I'll make sure to point her to you for the kids birthdays this summer!

OT but... Is your log date that close??? It has been so long since I've seen an update.

 

[scarlett873]

We'll be waiting a while yet for our referral from China. The log in date is just when China logged our file in...I guess you could say it's our place in line! They've just started referring families who were logged in in January of 2006. It took China 7 months to refer children to families with log in dates from Nov 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005. It's a long, slow, painful process right now...lol

And thanks for the business referrals...lol...i've only been doing cakes for co-workers and for one of our neighbors. So we'll see if I can get myself together to do this for others soon! (Bridget's inspired me!)

 

[MosMom]

I have a lot of convo to catch up on. First, so very cute cupcakes!! No more snowmen though! Only spring butterflies and flowers from now on! (I'm so tired of snow)

MrsKreamer, good luck on your character cake. Be sure to post pictures!

ahutton, I like your Cars cake! I think the "canyon" fits nicely with the theme. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have thought you carved it out to fit with the Radiator Springs look.

Brandie, good luck with the kitchen! I know how you feel being nervous to advertise without being licensed. You think that they really don't care but you just never know. I don't think the powers that be will come looking for you but I do think competition might turn you in.

I just finished this baby shower cake this morning. I had to slam on the brakes for a damn squirrel and it ended up getting wrinkled a bit. Nothing that would ruin it but still. URGH!

8" X 3" deep two layer choco cake. Baby is rice krispy treat.

 

[scarlett873]

I have a lot of convo to catch up on. First, so very cute cupcakes!! No more snowmen though! Only spring butterflies and flowers from now on! (I'm so tired of snow)

MrsKreamer, good luck on your character cake. Be sure to post pictures!

ahutton, I like your Cars cake! I think the "canyon" fits nicely with the theme. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have thought you carved it out to fit with the Radiator Springs look.

Brandie, good luck with the kitchen! I know how you feel being nervous to advertise without being licensed. You think that they really don't care but you just never know. I don't think the powers that be will come looking for you but I do think competition might turn you in.

I just finished this baby shower cake this morning. I had to slam on the brakes for a damn squirrel and it ended up getting wrinkled a bit. Nothing that would ruin it but still. URGH!

8" X 3" deep two layer choco cake. Baby is rice krispy treat.

That totally looks like a baby went head first into the cake! Very realistic feet and legs! Super cute!!

 

[Trish Bessette]

I have a lot of convo to catch up on. First, so very cute cupcakes!! No more snowmen though! Only spring butterflies and flowers from now on! (I'm so tired of snow)

MrsKreamer, good luck on your character cake. Be sure to post pictures!

ahutton, I like your Cars cake! I think the "canyon" fits nicely with the theme. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have thought you carved it out to fit with the Radiator Springs look.

Brandie, good luck with the kitchen! I know how you feel being nervous to advertise without being licensed. You think that they really don't care but you just never know. I don't think the powers that be will come looking for you but I do think competition might turn you in.

I just finished this baby shower cake this morning. I had to slam on the brakes for a damn squirrel and it ended up getting wrinkled a bit. Nothing that would ruin it but still. URGH!

8" X 3" deep two layer choco cake. Baby is rice krispy treat.

That is BEYOND amazing!!! You are so talented!!!!

 

[MosMom]

Almost too realistic. Makes it almost creepy. Mmmmmm baby toes! I always joke I want to eat baby toes too!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

That cake is amazing Mo's Mom!!! wow!

 

[MrsKreamer]

Mosmom

 

[ahutton]

That baby cake is beyond amaizing!

BTW - I got a helpful tip for cakes sliding in your holder. I started buying the larger cake circles, the 9" I believe... They are wide enough that they *just* fit inside my round cake holder and they won't slide. If I then anchor my cake with icing to the cake circle it doesn't slide. just watch for fruit filled cakes as they have been known to slide off their bottom layer if the filling is too soft. I do a layer of medium consistency buttercream both under and over my fruit now, and use sweetened, frozen fruit that I have allowed to drain for an hour or more. Less sliding. Tastes pretty good too.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I asked on cake central, but when I went to check the post it said not topics exist So, does anyone here know of a butter only buttercream that crusts?
If you do, please pm me, I need to do a cake for this weekend (last minute...a total of 3 cakes!) geesh.

 

[scarlett873]

I have yet to figure out a butter only buttercream that will crust. I've tried adding meringue powder, but no luck. I'm wondering if maybe a liquid would help...

 

[MosMom]

CakeCentral is having some major issues. It is really frustrating.

They don't want shortening at all? You can add creme bouquet or extra butter flavoring to get that flavor. If it doesn't need to be white, I will use butter crisco, creme bouquet and butter flavoring. It really cuts the greasy feeling and makes it taste totally buttery. Very very good.

However, if they have an issue with shortening and specifically requested you not use it...better not use it.

If you are going to cover the cake in fondant, it doesn't necessarily need to crust. You just can't put a large amount of icing on the outside or your fondant will get the wiggles.

 

[MosMom]

Oh, and you think people on the DIS can be snarky? Wooowee! I've seen some real winners on the CC boards. There are some real cranky unfriendly old biddies over there.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Oh, and you think people on the DIS can be snarky? Wooowee! I've seen some real winners on the CC boards. There are some real cranky unfriendly old biddies over there.

I totally agree! And they don't like the bumps or saves!

 

[scarlett873]

The only board I tend to frequent over there has to do with Cake Business. Some of those folks are just not as friendly...lol

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Would anyone share their mmf recipe??? I figured I'd give this a shot since the real butter icing won't really crust, never worked with it before (thankfully its for a friend). I know the recipe is on this thread somewhere, but I don't have time to go search for it.

Thanks!

***actually, I found this, is this similar to what you guys normally do?***
http://www.cakecentral.com/article47-How-to-Make-and-Decorate-with-Marshmallow-Fondant-MMF.html