Graduation cake?

[jeeperwy]

I want a tiered cake (2) covered in fondant and with fondant/gum paste decorations. The only person I can find locally that isn't already booked charges over $200 and the cake is really dry! I know I could get a regular cake at SAMs club but I don't think they can decorate it the way I want. I have decorated cakes with Wilton tips before but have never worked with fondant. Is it really difficult? What would you do? Should I try it and possibly be out a lot of $, or just get the plain cake?

Thanks!!
Kari

 

[NewRVLady]

Fondant isn't something I would tackle without a class

In my town every grocery store does cakes and all 5 bakeries...you really canr find a cake anywhere but Sam's??

 

[Kellydelly]

I would get a boring but yummy regular cake . I was so bummed when my neighbor didn't serve any cake at all at her son's graduation party. I had never been to a graduation party without one before. I have never had a cake with fondant, but I've heard it is mostly decorative and doesn't taste good anyway?

 

[Egdisney]

I want a tiered cake (2) covered in fondant and with fondant/gum paste decorations. The only person I can find locally that isn't already booked charges over $200 and the cake is really dry! I know I could get a regular cake at SAMs club but I don't think they can decorate it the way I want. I have decorated cakes with Wilton tips before but have never worked with fondant. Is it really difficult? What would you do? Should I try it and possibly be out a lot of $, or just get the plain cake? Thanks!! Kari

What are you going to do with a $200 cake that nobody eats? Pretty cakes are nice, but I want cake to taste good. So does everyone else I know.

 

[Gigi22]

Could you negotiate a cheaper price if you supply the cake to be decorated?

 

[clh2]

I would get a boring but yummy regular cake . I was so bummed when my neighbor didn't serve any cake at all at her son's graduation party. I had never been to a graduation party without one before. I have never had a cake with fondant, but I've heard it is mostly decorative and doesn't taste good anyway?

This. We actually had 2cakes for DD due to the number of guests. One cat in HS colors, the other in her college colors. One was a banana cake, the other was marble. Yum!

 

[minmate]

I am a cake decorator hobbyist. Very few people like the taste of fondant. I almost never decorate in fondant anymore if I can help it. Even wedding cakes with fondant often have sheet cakes that are used for the actual consumption.

I encourage you to get a regular sheet cake and either have it decorated in a way they can do it or research if there's a cake supply store nearby and go but your own decoration a to put on it.

Other option might be to get a smaller fondant cake, say in the shape of a grad hat, that you can just place next to or in top of the sheet cake.

 

[kymom99]

Could you get a regular, tasty big cake and then get some fancy cupcakes to place around the cake? Photo cakes are nice for graduations.

 

[usd2bmd]

I understand that fondant makes a cake look nice...but you have to peel it all off before you can eat it anyway, because most people don't like it. My DD is graduating this year and we are getting a full sheet from BJ's. they can coordinate the colors to her high school and put her picture on it.

I wouldn't spend $200 on a cake that people won't want to eat. But that is just my opinion.

 

[LMN]

Congrats on your graduate! Personally I would prefer a yummy buttercream icing instead of fondant. Wouldn't cost as much either. If you have your heart set on fondant, could you find a decorator that would decorate your Sam's cake? Just an idea...

 

[mousefan5]

My son is graduating this year also. I plan on getting a ton of cupcakes in school colors. Less of a hassle during the party.

 

[bababear_50]

My son is graduating this year also. I plan on getting a ton of cupcakes in school colors. Less of a hassle during the party.

I think this is a great idea
look at this link

https://www.google.ca/search?q=cupc...jo2AWvoYDoAQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=596


I think I could even make these



Hugs Mel

 

[dawnball]

I've done relatively simple things with marshmallow fondant - working with it is a lot like working with playdough. I found it generally easier than buttercream, and my daughter eats it cheerfully.

That said - I wouldn't want my first experience with fondant to be making my kid's graduation cake. I never have enough refrigerator space or time when parties arrive, and cakes are pretty time consuming.

I'll also vote for "tastes good" over pretty.

 

[Styx Fan]

I don't know about your area, but mine we have a couple of nice baking supply stores that always have names of home cake decorators. Maybe they can recommend someone? The really nice one has some very, very talented bakers that either work in the retail part of the store or give lessons and also sell on the side.

 

[jeeperwy]

Thank you all so much! Your advice was what I needed to hear! Sometimes I think I spend too much time online and see all these cool things when sometimes simple is just better!!! I'm going to SAMs to see what they can do since they have the best tasting cakes in town. I'll post a picture when we have the dinner next month. (Can't believe there is only 1 month til graduation!)

Again thanks for talking me down!!
Kari

 

[Debbie7452]

If you need a lot of cake you can have them stack two sheet cakes one on top of the other. It makes an impressive cake. I did this with one white layer and one chocolate layer. It is really easy to slice and serve, also! I think it cost about $50 from the grocery store bakery.

 

[elgerber]

I agree with everyone else. We had 2 cakes from Costco, I LOVE having an excuse to buy them, because I love them!
For the cute factor, I made these, which were a HUGE hit!
http://spoonful.com/parties/graduation-cap-pops

 

[southlakejr]

If you are still set on fondant... marshmallow fondant is very easy to work with, and actually tastes pretty good. However, I wouldn't attempt to color it very vividly for your first time out the gates. They also sell sheets of fondant at craft stores like Michaels and Joann, but they are not particularly tasty.

I bake cakes as a hobby, and prefer using fondant because I find it easier than frosting. If you are going to color the fondant, powder colorants are best, followed by the gel (IMHO). I prefer gum paste for decorations like flowers, etc.

 

[SnowBelleAlice]

My aunt is extremely talented and crafty, she creates marshmallow fondant cakes *Frozen, Tinker Bell, Duck Dynasty, American Girl, etc* they take her about 10 hours, she charges between $150-200 and said she should charge more.
Yesterday at our Easter celebration at her house I told her I might need a Frozen cake in early July *for my DD's birthday

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Just another perspective....

We did gourmet cookie platters for our sons' graduations and people were thrilled to have something different rather than "more cake". Leftovers freeze well and you could have as much variety as you want.

Congrats on your grad!!