My friend wants me to help her make a cake, but the only day we can do it is 2 days prior to her daughter's birthday. Will it stay fresh? It's an Elmo character cake. Which leads me to question #2...We want to put the Elmo head on top of a 16 inch square pan cake. Do we need to use dowels for support? Is it okay to have the cake assembled and decorated that far in advance? How do we store it?

Thank you, all.
Angie

I would put it in a box and probably cover it with saran wrap & stick it in the fridge. It should be perfectly fine. I usually decorate teh night before, but have done it two days before if it is a large wedding cake.

As for stacking, I would cut a cake board in the shape of the elmo pan & cover in wax or parchment paper so the icing and moisture do not weaken it. Place a few dowels in the bottom cake & you are set. Be sure to post picks!

BellaRosa

Thank you so much for your reply! My friend is relying on my new-found love of cakes to get us through, and while I appreciate her confidence I am worried about how helpful I will be. Again, thank you so much for the reply. I will definitely post a pic when all is done. Then I can worry about my own little one's first birthday cake.

Angie

You can make it ahead with no problem but it's better if you don't put it in the fridge it gets to hard. I worked in a bakery and and we always had it a few days ahead in large food safe bins ,there is usually enough shortening in it to preserve the butter.

Okay. So if we put it in a box and wrap the box as well, it should be fine somewhere safe in the house where her nearly 2 year old won't get to it.

Thank you!
angie

Going backwards to the baking part-make sure you use a couple of greased, floured flower nails in the 16in pan so you get even baking!

Can't wait to see the pics!

You read my mind!! I was just about to ask if I should use a nail as a heating element!! Thank you!

I'll post our creation....bad or good!
Thank you.
angie

GMTA!! I would use two with a cake that size. It might be overkill but I'm overly cautious! Good luck!!!!

Angie..I have often baked 2 days ahead of time and kept covered in a box and all was well. Best of luck! Dodi..I am SO happy to have learned that flower nail technique from you guys, on here. I was using the bake-even strips but was getting a strange smell that was permeating into my cakes! Or at least it was in my mind!!!

I learned it here too!! I have even started using it in my 8in cakes (thanks Stephanie214)! I'm always amazed how well it works.

What is the flower nail technique??

You take a flower nail grease and flour it and place it with the flat side down in the middle of the cake pan and then pour your batter in. This helps the cake cook more evenly. It is recommended on 10in or larger cakes but like I said I use it in smaller cakes too and for big cakes I'll use 2. After you flip the cake out of the pan you remove the nail.

Also, Welcome to CC!!

OT, and sorry to be butting in here....but I don't have any flower nails. Can I use the heating core from the wonder mold in the center of a 12" petal pan? I don't mind the hole since I'm putting another smaller cake on top of it.

Asking a question is never butting in!! You could try it but I don't think it will stand up in the batter. It seems like it would end up falling over and resting on top of your batter or sinking down in it sideways. If you have a wal-mart nearby, they carry flower nails for under a $1. I like to use the #7 size.

Hope this helps!

You ladies are just awesome and a WEALTH of information!

Okay, I'll look for the flower nails. How many in the 12" petal pan? Is it just the center where there's a problem?

I love this site! I am so inspired to make my daughter a beautiful Belle princess cake for her birthday!

Thanks again.

I have been guilty of overkill before so I might use two. Yep, it helps the middle get done!

Thank you, I think you are right...I will need 2. I'm getting nervous. I don't want Elmo's head to sink into the cake. How many dowel rods should I use?

Angie

No, no Elmo will not sink!!! Never fear! Cut a board to fit and place elmo on that. I'm not sure how big elmo is but just remembering what I have seen of him-look at the pan and imagine how many you might need-at least one on each end then as the cake gets wider toward the middle you'll need more. They can be spaced out. They don't have to be right next to each other. Take a look at this:

http://cakecentral.com/article23-Teired-Stacked-Cake-Construction.html

At the bottom, it talks number of dowels!

Thank you. That is a great article! I can't wait to get started!

Angie