I just finished my first paid cake. It was also my first 3 tiered stacked cake. Granted it was for my grandmother's 90th birthday, but hey, they payed me for it! Anywho... I learned several things in the process.
1. trust yourself (myself heh, heh). I decided since this was a big deal cake (my whole family would be viewing my work for the first time, at a big deal event) I decided to buy the fondant rather than make it. I bought Penittence, thinking it would be easier to work with (I wanted satin ice but my local shop doesn't carry the white). It was not difficult, but I found Michele Fosters recipe to be equally easy and about 10X more tasty when I add flavoring. Should have made my own and saved myself a bunch of cashola. The Penittence had a very chemical taste and smell.
2. buy cake boxes that are bigger than your actual cake. DUH!! I bought a 6" box for my 6" cake. Wasn't going to fit without touching the sides. That cost me a trip to Michaels.
3. I'm a chicken...I decided to not transport it stacked. I wasn't going to risk losing this baby and I was afraid of the center dowel. It went together fine at the party, though I used the trick where you leave your dowels sticking up a bit so you don't mess up your icing when you drop the tiers on and the weight of the cake did not push the dowels in enough so I had to fill the gap with a bunch of buttercream border that I was not very skilled at until the third layer.
4. Double chocolate layer cake is awesome! Everybody loved it.
I know I learned a bunch more in the process of putting this cake together, but it's just not coming to mind right now. You probably dont' care anyway. I'm just collecting my thoughts. Thanks for listening. Here's a peek at my cake.
beautiful cake and congratulations on your first paid cake.
Very beautiful! Would never have known that it was your first paid cake. Keep up the great work!
What a gorgeous cake! I'm sure your grandmother was thrilled - who wouldn't be? Congrats on your first paid cake - pretty cool!
Your cake is beautiful, congrats!!!! I'd like to know the dowel trick to, please share....
congrats on a job well done, but what is the dowl trick for stacking?
I've read here to leave the dowels sticking up about an inch and that gives you some room to place your next teir without smudging your icing on your lower tier. the weight of the top teir is supposed to press the dowels down so that the the top teir rests gently on the lower tier. Mine dropped, but not enough to completely close the gap between the tiers. My cake had been in the fridge so my fondant was soft from condensation. If my fondant was dry I probably could have put a little pressure on it to press it down. Live and learn...
congrats on a job well done, but what is the dowl trick for stacking?
I've read here to leave the dowels sticking up about an inch and that gives you some room to place your next teir without smudging your icing on your lower tier. the weight of the top teir is supposed to press the dowels down so that the the top teir rests gently on the lower tier. Mine dropped, but not enough to completely close the gap between the tiers. My cake had been in the fridge so my fondant was soft from condensation. If my fondant was dry I probably could have put a little pressure on it to press it down. Live and learn... thanks for your compliments!
Great cake! Your Grandmother probably thought that was very special.
You did a wonderful job! Congratulations. You should be very proud.
You did a wonderful job! Congratulations. You should be very proud.
You did a wonderful job! Congratulations. You should be very proud.
Great post! Being a seim-beginner the 'lessons learned' posts are always my favorite.
I just remembered another lesson learned...When cutting dowels, allow for the width of the saw. My second, third, etc. dowels were coming out too short. I realized that if I placed the saw blade right on my marked line, the dowls were too short because of the width of the blade. I had to place the saw to the side of the line so that it looked like it would cut a hair long. If they were a little long I just rubbed them on a sanding block till they were just the right height.
Congratulations!! Your cake is beautiful. What a blessing to have a grandmother who is 90 years old. Enjoy her and get as much family information from her as you can so your children and grandchildren can someday enjoy. Take lots of pictures!! Do a scrapbook about her. That's all that stay, unfortunately I was too young when both my grandmothers died and don't have that.
BLESSINGS
That is such a cute cake! I love all the pink!
(sorry if this has already been said! LOL)I think for next time you do the dowels with the fondant putting the cake on top of one another is not as bad as doing butter cream. The fondant doesn't mess up as much so you could do a shorter dowel above the cake the next time.
Great cake! btw
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