My Newest "trick"

Decorating By leah_s Updated 27 May 2016 , 11:41pm by leah_s

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solascakes Posted 30 May 2009 , 4:58pm
post #31 of 197

Wow that's a great tip.

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leah_s Posted 31 May 2009 , 12:08am
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I used to use pans and books, but the tiles work better as the weight is better distributed. As txnonnie says, go to your local hardware or tile store and buy an ugly discount tile for $1.

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funbun Posted 1 Jun 2009 , 12:06am
post #33 of 197

Great idea! Was using books before.

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txnonnie Posted 1 Jun 2009 , 1:55pm
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I tried this trick on Saturday. I had some leftover tiles, however, I could not locate them quickly. Instead I had a serving plate still in the box and was larger than the 12x12 cake so I used the platter. Worked great. Much quicker than waiting over night for the cake to settle. Thanks for the tip!!!

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cheatize Posted 3 Jun 2009 , 4:56am
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I've been leveling my cakes like this for a couple of years because my knife leveling skills leave a lot to be desired. I love it! However, I read a post somewhere (cannot even begin to remember where) and the poster was up in arms about it. "Do not smoosh your cake! You're ruining it! You're making it too dense! You make us look bad!" Quite a few people agreed with the poster.

What would rather have- a level cake that's also dense enough to hold together a bit better or a big ol' humped cake?

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marmalade1687 Posted 3 Jun 2009 , 11:58am
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As far as I understand, this trick is not for leveling, it is for getting the excess air out of the filling before icing the cake so that you don't get the ugly "bulge" once you have completed decorating.

I use my Agbay for leveling icon_biggrin.gif , and I just tried this new method (thanks Leahs!) for a 6" round birthday cake, and it worked like a charm - no ugly bulge!

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leah_s Posted 3 Jun 2009 , 2:26pm
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Yes, marmalade1687, my "trick" has nothing to do with leveling. That's what my Agbay is for!

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marmalade1687 Posted 3 Jun 2009 , 2:54pm
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Hey, I'm just not a pretty face - I know a few things! icon_lol.gif Although almost every time I log on here I learn something new - hee hee! icon_rolleyes.gif

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sadsmile Posted 3 Jun 2009 , 3:06pm
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That's cool! Iv'e been using a cake pan with a bag of lentils in it. It's gonna settle anyway. Just helping gravity along to settling point in a timely manor before decorating. I worry about not getting the tile placed evenly on the cake and causing the tile to lean to one side and pulling the cake down on that side. Does eyeballing it do it for ya?

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leah_s Posted 5 Jun 2009 , 12:46am
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Well, I use a tile the same size or larger than the cake.

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2txmedics Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 4:17pm
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Ok, now this is interesting...Im assuming *dummy me*...that the reason for doing this is to get the air out of the cake?...and settle it? It wont dry the cake out? Told you, dummy me....lol

So take it out of the oven let it cool and then do this? or crumb coat it, let it dry and then do it? Sorry lost....having a Freeze moment in my head...hmmmm have alot of those!

Thanks awesome info!!!!

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leah_s Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 5:01pm
post #42 of 197

take the cake out of the oven.
Let cool.
level.
Torte if you're going to and fill.
Wrap in plastic wrap.
Place tile on top.
Let sit a room temp.
Wait.

I rarely crumb coat, and if I do, it is immediately before regular icing.

What about this process could possibly dry out the cake?

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catlharper Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 5:20pm
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Leah, you had mentioned this in a previous post so this past weekend when I had a wedding cake to do I torted, filled, crumbcoated the sides of the cake and then set a large pie plate on top of the cake for the two hours...then crumbcoated the top and put the fondant on and lo and behold, not only were there no bulges I had no problem with gas bubbles either! Whoo Hoo! Easiest time with fondant EVER! Thank you SO much for the tip! ( I will be going out to buy the tile tho and will wrap it in plastic wrap for the 12x12 cake I have coming up this summer!LOL!) So thank you thank you thank you!

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DebbyJG Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 5:51pm
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How do you keep the plastic wrap from sticking to your crumb coat, if you do a crumb coat? (Which I always do because since I make scratch cakes, if I don't crumb coat them as soon as the cake cools, I start losing moistness too quickly.)
I would think parchment between your cake and the tile would work better and not stick like plastic wrap would. Or does it just not stick once the crumb coat is dry?
This is all new to me, though. Anyone ever have this issue?

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Chippi Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 6:16pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rylan

Nice tip. Maybe a book would work too.




Rylan your cakes never have a buldge what is your trick??? icon_smile.gif

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Chippi Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 6:17pm
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I have a ton of tiles leftover in my garage.....I knew I saved them for some reason! Thanks Leah

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newmansmom2004 Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 6:34pm
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Some of those beautiful decorative 12 x 12 tiles make very nice cake plates, too. Just purchase inexpensive "feet" (drawer pulls) and use silicone gel to adhere them to the bottom of the tile and voila!

Just make sure your cake is on a board or something and not directly on the tile itself as some of the tiles are probably not food safe.

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aundrea Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 6:39pm
post #48 of 197

this sounds like a great trick-thanks for sharing.
question: wrapping with platic wrap. is it loose or tight on the cake.
i too wouldnt crumb croat until after settled.

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tonedna Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 7:00pm
post #49 of 197

I use that tip too leah, is the best!.. I use the dam too, but I think sometimes the problem with the bulge comes from too much filling in the cake. Specially those of custards an Jellies.
In a one tier it might be fine, but when you do more than one tier, the weight of the upper cakes will be a problem on those soft fillings.
Edna icon_biggrin.gif

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Rylan Posted 14 Mar 2010 , 9:29pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chippi



Rylan your cakes never have a buldge what is your trick??? icon_smile.gif




Ganache is my only trick. I no longer dam, I no longer let it set...just ganache.

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tavyheather Posted 17 Mar 2010 , 4:33am
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I saw u mentioned this ceramic tile thing on another thread a few days ago...we were at Lowes over the wknd and I grabbed a tile on our way out and my DH asked what it was for..he humored me as I excitedly explained your secret method..and he grabbed a marble tile and said, "hey, get this one, it's cheaper"..to which I barked at him, "NO! she said ceramic, I don't want to smash the cake!!" I now have a random ceramic tile sitting in the cabinet...using it tomorrow..can't wait! Thanks for the tip icon_biggrin.gif

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leah_s Posted 17 Mar 2010 , 12:49pm
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Good call. Marble has got to be waaay heavy. IMO, ceramic is just the right weight.

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Chippi Posted 17 Mar 2010 , 1:09pm
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I guess you could use the marble on the "SMASH" cake! icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

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cakegrandma Posted 17 Mar 2010 , 2:00pm
post #54 of 197

I had a 11x15 cake to do for my granddaughter's BD this past weekend and I did not want the bulges that I sometimes get between the layers. I tried a variation of this method, and mixed Marshmallow Fluff with my buttercream and after piping the dam and laying the top cake on I turned the cake pan over (11x15) and put my heavy plastic flour container on it and let it set for a couple of hours. The weight was evenly distributed across the cake and the flour had to weigh about 15 pounds icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif . It worked perfectly but, I do have some tile left from the house being built and I am going to try this.
As far as filling coming out when you try to compress the layers, do not spread the filling to the edges of the dam and do not overload the filling between the layers. The weight of the tile will spread it out nicely for you. Another idea (from someone on CC, don't remember who) is to use cake with your icing and make a dam with that mixture so there is cake in every bite. thumbs_up.gif
evelyn

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leah_s Posted 17 Mar 2010 , 2:44pm
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Yeah, I've used canned food, books, etc, until I saw a ceramic tile sitting in the basement. Perfect size, perfect weight.

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2txmedics Posted 18 Mar 2010 , 2:53am
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oh gosh, bad, bad and BAD...first we go into home depot/lowes to look for cake boards, and to make cake stands, and now ceramic tiles!!! and a scraper for cakes, foam roller....
Hmmmm no wonder honey is getting upset, MY TOOL BOX IS BIGGER AND BETTER!!!!! and I cant stay out of the Hardware stores.....

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bobwonderbuns Posted 18 Mar 2010 , 3:12am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2txmedics

oh gosh, bad, bad and BAD...first we go into home depot/lowes to look for cake boards, and to make cake stands, and now ceramic tiles!!! and a scraper for cakes, foam roller....
Hmmmm no wonder honey is getting upset, MY TOOL BOX IS BIGGER AND BETTER!!!!! and I cant stay out of the Hardware stores.....




ha ha ha!! You too?? icon_lol.gif

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iamcakin Posted 20 Mar 2010 , 1:52am
post #58 of 197
Quote:
Originally Posted by keeshonjohnson

You guys ROCK!
I am super new at this, and have never even pushed down on my cakes. Have always been so gentle with them, now I know the proper way to fix them up :0)




Remember you are the boss of your cakes, they are NOT the boss of you! icon_wink.gif

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Cupcakemom Posted 24 Mar 2010 , 1:53am
post #59 of 197

Thanks for sharing Leah!

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allkidzmom1 Posted 24 Mar 2010 , 2:54pm
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thanks for the GREAT tip!!

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