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Need help with a timeline

post #1 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:32pm
Thread Starter 
My son's 7th bday is Sunday. I'm having lots of family over & I'm making 2 shaped cakes. Please help me with a timeline. Of course I have lots of food to cook for dinner also. So as much as I can do ahead of time is great.
How soon ahead can I make the cakes?
What do I do with them after I make them?
How soon can I make & color icing?
How soon is too soon to decorate them?
Do you store the cake in refrigerator after you make it?
Thanks for everyone's help!!
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post #2 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Quote:

How soon ahead can I make the cakes?


You can make the cakes right now and freeze them- make sure that they are fully cooled and well wrapped. I first wrap mine in saran wrap and then in freezer paper.
Quote:
Quote:

How soon can I make & color icing?


You can make the icing the day before decorating or the same day as you decorate.
Quote:
Quote:

How soon is too soon to decorate them?


You could decorate the cakes up to 2 days in advance if you would like.

Quote:
Quote:

Do you store the cake in refrigerator after you make it?


Are you talking about a fully decorated cake? If so, yes you can if you want, but otherwise you can leave the cake sitting out on the counter. Make sure that either way you have the cake(s) covered.
Of course this will also depend on what type of icing you use. If it's dream whip icing- you might want to put it in the fridge. But a buttercream or fondant cover cake will be fine left on the counter.
Hope this helps!
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
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"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
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post #3 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by midwestmom

My son's 7th bday is Sunday. I'm having lots of family over & I'm making 2 shaped cakes. Please help me with a timeline. Of course I have lots of food to cook for dinner also. So as much as I can do ahead of time is great.
How soon ahead can I make the cakes?
What do I do with them after I make them?
How soon can I make & color icing?
How soon is too soon to decorate them?
Do you store the cake in refrigerator after you make it?
Thanks for everyone's help!!



Fire up the oven!

The sooner you color your icing the better, especially is you want more virbrant colors.

You can most definitely start baking today, once the cakes are cooled you can start decorating tonight, if the party is THIS coming Sunday! Once decorated store at room temp (if using a stable icing!) and put in a bakery box or some type of cake carrier! Now...go get started!! icon_biggrin.gif
Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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post #4 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:51pm
My son's 2nd birthday is on Saturday so I'm in the same position as you! I got all my advice from the forums too. People told me to bake them ASAP and then freeze. I will be taking mine out to defrost tonight and then decorating tomorrow. I'm just leaving mine out once decorated in a cake box. Everyone here said that it would be fine since I'm using a buttercream icing. I hope everything goes well for you and I would love to see your cakes posted here when you finish! Have fun!

Alisa
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post #5 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
after you bake them & cool them & then wrap in saran wrap, does the saran wrap not stick to the cake when you take it off??

any tips for covering? I don't have cakes boxes. these are kinda big so it won't fit in the round cake carrier i have. i'm making r2d2 & boba fett.
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post #6 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
also, if frozen, do you take them straight out of the freezer & decorate?
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post #7 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:56pm
Thread Starter 
[quote


(if using a stable icing!) [/quote]

I've only made 2 character cakes (my ONLY decorating experience) and I've use the recipe on the pan instructions.
Is that what you would recommend?
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post #8 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:58pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Alisa,
I've made a Dora cake & a Scooby cake & they both turned out really well. They are so much fun to make & the kids really love them. I get a little stressed out thinking about making them. If I didn't have dinner to prepare also it wouldn't be so bad. I don't have any type of cake box to store them in so I'm not sure what to do there. I think I may have put toothpicks in Scooby & put saran wrap on him. I'm surprising him, so it will also be hard to hide two fairly big cakes.
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post #9 of 18
3/31/05 at 12:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by midwestmom

after you bake them & cool them & then wrap in saran wrap, does the saran wrap not stick to the cake when you take it off??

any tips for covering? I don't have cakes boxes. these are kinda big so it won't fit in the round cake carrier i have. i'm making r2d2 & boba fett.


Nope.
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
post #10 of 18
3/31/05 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by midwestmom

[quote


(if using a stable icing!)



I've only made 2 character cakes (my ONLY decorating experience) and I've use the recipe on the pan instructions.
Is that what you would recommend?[/quote]
That would work fine for your needs. Also if you go into the Recipes area on this site and then go under frostings, you will find all kinds of recipes for frostings.
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
post #11 of 18
3/31/05 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by midwestmom

also, if frozen, do you take them straight out of the freezer & decorate?


No defrost them first. Place them on the counter, leaving them wrapped and they should defrost in about an hour. Which is the right amount of time to get your icing into bags and get your cake board ready.
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
post #12 of 18
3/31/05 at 1:03pm
Now...to hide them.... maybe you could go to the grocery store and get an empty box and place the cakes in there. Cut one side open so that you can remove the cakes in and out of the boxes with ease.
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
post #13 of 18
3/31/05 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the help icon_smile.gif
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post #14 of 18
3/31/05 at 1:16pm
Boy mOuse you are on top of things today.. thumbs_up.gif ok hmmmm Here is my problem. I am making a tiered cake for my nieces Sweet Sixteen on April 22. If you look in my photos their is a practice pic I did for the LC cake contest. That is exactly what I am making only changing the design a bit. I am doing a castle top with the a walk way coming down the front. When do I start mine? I will have only from 9-12 the day of to set up or to decorate at the hall. so here I go again.. when do I start baking...should I decorate this a day ahead? which buttercream recipe do you recommend that does NOT crust.. and of course do I shoot myself right at the moment my nerves are stretch to their limits or after? icon_cry.gificon_cry.gif
LMAO..Just kidding..I love life!!
A woman is like a bag of Tea.
You don't know how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
Sweet Days and Happy Baking!
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A woman is like a bag of Tea.
You don't know how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
Sweet Days and Happy Baking!
Reply
post #15 of 18
3/31/05 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by briansbaker

Boy mOuse you are on top of things today.. thumbs_up.gif ok hmmmm Here is my problem. I am making a tiered cake for my nieces Sweet Sixteen on April 22. If you look in my photos their is a practice pic I did for the LC cake contest. That is exactly what I am making only changing the design a bit. I am doing a castle top with the a walk way coming down the front. When do I start mine? I will have only from 9-12 the day of to set up or to decorate at the hall. so here I go again.. when do I start baking...should I decorate this a day ahead? which buttercream recipe do you recommend that does NOT crust.. and of course do I shoot myself right at the moment my nerves are stretch to their limits or after? icon_cry.gificon_cry.gif
LMAO..Just kidding..I love life!!


I would bake your cakes at least the Sunday before the event and then freeze them. Then at least get all the tiers assembled individually the day before, filling, icing etc. That way that morning when you can get into the place where the event will take place, all you will have to do and stack all your tiers together, touch up anything and then add your decorations.
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
"To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask? ~ John Rohn"
"Action is the foundational key to all success. ~ Pablo Picasso"
Reply
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