Never ever EVER try too many new things at once! I've been trying to keep this cake upright, all layers lined up, and somehow smooth for the last 3 hours. Tried a new filling, and the layers are sliding. Tried adding half and half to the frosting instead of water, and it turned out REALLY good but terrible t work with - almost like whipped cream, air bubbles all over, isn't crusting right - takes 45 min to get a slight crust. I'm at my witts end! I doweled the layers together with 6 dowels on a 10 inch cake, and the very top layer is still sliding on me Chocolate crumbs in the frosting AFTER TWO crumb coats.

This is a two tier, my first. The top tier is done, and I'm happy with the improvizations and the final. The bottom tier is driving me NUTS! Would happily cover with fondant, but she wants bc.

If it would make it easier, I'd just go ahead and cover it with fondant and tell her that when it's time to cut, just peel it all off. I'm sorry this is happening to you. I hope everything turns out alright.

I don't know where to start but I will try.

Did you put a dam around the edge of your cake before you added your filling it helps to stop the cake from sliding. Did you put a dowl through the centre of the entire cake that also gives it more strength and helps to prevent slippage. Did you add merangue in the buttercream that you used to ice it with maybe with the half and half you should of added more merangue sometimes that helps to stabalize the icing.

Try taking a deep breath and checking your problems over for a solution sometimes we sort of panic when things start to go wrong. But I know what you feel like I've been there. Good luck!

Kathy

Set down have a good cry get it all out, get it together and say "I can fix this". Do whatever it takes, it may not be the cake you had in mind but I'm sure you will come up with a subsitute. It can be fixed.

Mmmm, have you tried refrigerating that bad boy?

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance

We've all experienced days like this, haven't we? I am sorry, I know how stressful it can be. If you have time you may have to start over with a different icing. I don't know how you can keep it in place if even all the doweling isn't doing it for you. I want every cake I do to turn out perfect, they just don't sometimes. I did two yesterday that I wasn't altogether happy with, luckily they were donations for a good cause and she was happy enough with them. If at the end of the day and you are still not happy with it, offer her a small discount or a free 6" cake for some other occasion in the future.

It's in the refrigerator now. The icing is trying to fall off the cake! Smooshing it on with clean, gloved hands. Going to try a white chocolate wrap to hold it together. This sucker has to travel almost 3 hours through hills tomorrow!

This is why I don't sell yet.

Here it is. White chocolate wrap on bottom, bc on top, both with gold luster dust.At least it will taste good.

wow, is all that purple piped on little strings?? Must have taken you forever!! I think it came out great...I'm sure you were glad to see it out the door!

Ooohhhh, sparkly!!! Girls love sparklies

It looks very presentable, even though it might not be what you pictured in your mind's eye

Good luck on you road trip!

I'm having the same problem with my ( insert favorite bad word here) icing! Even with the crumb coat - that 6 inch round always gives me trouble. I took JanH's advice and popped that bad boy (teeheehee) in the deep freezer ( needed more drastic help than the fridge) for about 5 mins and WOOHOO- it smoothed out just fine! So- I feel for ya. Glad yours worked out, too!!

Amy

lilmiss - I was afraid of freezing it but will have to try next time!

I think it was trying new icing. My old standby has never done me wrong! I tried it on another cake from extra batter, and it did the same thing.

Thanks for the support to get me through this today.

Sorry you had such a bad time with this. But, when it comes to "never-evers," I would never EVER try anything new on anyone outside the family. I make lots of practice cakes to test recipes and techniques. Often, 90% of the cake goes into the trash, but for me, it's worth it to be confident about the outcome. Many times I've sent things to the trash bin and was glad that I hadn't used whatever the experiment was on a friend's birthday cake!

We have all been there, had a similar experience with my Thanksgiving cake. I was not happy with it at all, to me it was a mess. It tasted good tho'.

June