I Really Want To Make Some Christmas Bauble Cakes!!!

Decorating By jojo76 Updated 9 Nov 2009 , 9:59pm by ibmoser

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jojo76 Posted 6 Nov 2009 , 2:21pm
post #1 of 33

Like these.....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cupcakeenvy/3119105513/in/set-72157600491847114/
Actually this whole site is amazing, I love all her cakes!! Anyway, what do I need? Mini round pans??? Would it be possible to make these from two cupcakes stuck together, do you think?
And also, HOW do you go about covering a sphere of cake with fondant, where would the join be and how would you get it smooth? Is there a tutorial on this anywhere? I would love to make these as christmas presents............ icon_biggrin.gif

32 replies
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confectionsofahousewife Posted 6 Nov 2009 , 11:04pm
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I want to do these too! I just bought the Wilton mini ball pan today. From what I've read you can do this two ways. You can stick half a sphere onto a cupcake or you can stick two half-spheres together for a ball shape. I plan on sticking together two halves from the wilton pan. We'll see. I'm going to practice this weekend and see how it turns out.

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jojo76 Posted 6 Nov 2009 , 11:30pm
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ooooooh, I discovered that pan today too, I am going to have to get one a well! How exciting that you're trying this this weekend! If you get a chance, would you be able to come back and tell me how you get on?? Good luck!

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tracey1970 Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 1:43am
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That pic is of a cupcake with a mini-ball pan half on top. I have made a larger sized ornament out of the larger sized sports ball pan (it's in my photos), and I made a golf ball out of the same pan covered in fondant (in my photos). Covering a ball in fondant is the same as covering any cake in fondant = lots of gentle smoothing. Good luck!

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 4:03am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jojo76

ooooooh, I discovered that pan today too, I am going to have to get one a well! How exciting that you're trying this this weekend! If you get a chance, would you be able to come back and tell me how you get on?? Good luck!




Yep, I'll let you know!

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jojo76 Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 1:56pm
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ahaa thanks Tracey 1970 for shedding some light on how to do this, I love your blue ornament, very pretty! I didn't realise she'd used a cupcake for the bottom part, that sound a bit easier than trying to stick two round halves together...
confectionsofahousewife - i am waiting eagerly to hear how you get on! icon_smile.gif

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ninatat Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 4:07pm
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Hi all, how big are the balls, and the mini ball pan is there only 1 or is it like a cupcake pan, i'm confused as usual lol.

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 6:33pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ninatat

Hi all, how big are the balls, and the mini ball pan is there only 1 or is it like a cupcake pan, i'm confused as usual lol.




The mini ball pan has six half spheres that are about 3" in diameter. If you put two of the halves together, it should be about the size of a "regular" christmas ornament making it more realistic. Same if you put half a sphere on top of a cupcake. It looks like a regular ornament.

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jojo76 Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 8:34pm
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So, if you made the kind where you put one spere on top of a normal cupcake, do you take the normal cupcake out of its case and level it, use buttercream to stick spere on the top, then sugarpaste over the whole thing? (Im confusing myself now as well lol!).

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jojo76 Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 8:35pm
post #10 of 33

spere?? I mean sphere, obviously!!

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sugarandslice Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 9:11pm
post #11 of 33

There's some help here:

http://cakecentral.com/articles/123/christmas-ornament-cupcakes

And here are the search results I got a while ago:

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&meta=search&type=full&search=ornaments

I can't wait to give these a try either. Luckily I got my mini ball pan at US prices; here is Australia I couldn't find it for less than $49!

HTH

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 10:02pm
post #12 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by jojo76

So, if you made the kind where you put one spere on top of a normal cupcake, do you take the normal cupcake out of its case and level it, use buttercream to stick spere on the top, then sugarpaste over the whole thing? (Im confusing myself now as well lol!).




I'm not sure. I would say level the cupcake as best you can and put buttercream on it. I would definitely leave the cupcake in its case so its easier to eat. Not sure if it would be best to cover the half sphere before or after you stick it onto the cupcake. Hmmm.... Trial and error I guess. I haven't gotten a chance to try these yet. I plan on baking them either tonite or tomorrow morning. I spent today making cookies instead!

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ibmoser Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 11:07pm
post #13 of 33

Well, I baked in the Wilton mini-ball pan yesterday. I slightly overfilled so that I could trim to a flat half-sphere. I used BC as a filling, smushed two together, twisted a little to settle them together snugly, and then used Toba's "spackle" made with the trimmings and BC to fill the seam. They are chilling now but look pretty good. They are about 3" in diameter - a formidable single serving LOL. I'm going to try covering one in BC and another in white chocolate ganache to see which works better for me as a base for fondant. I tried poured fondant on one - that has possibilities if I can get the temperature of the cake and the thickness of the poured fondant worked out icon_rolleyes.gif , but this first one has a bad case of cellulite icon_lol.gif .

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jojo76 Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 11:15pm
post #14 of 33

SugarandSlice, thanks for the links, omg, some of those cakes are so beautiful, I hope I can do some half as good as those even!

So today I made a dummy cake, in this theme with baubles (is it just in the UK we call them this?) on the top. It's in my photos. I can see after looking at the link I need more practice!

icon_sad.gificon_eek.gificon_biggrin.gif

confectionsofahousewife I think cover with fondant before you stick it on and maybe put a band or other embelishment round to cover the join after?

Ibmoser,ooooh sounds exciting, think you should post some pics (especially of the cellulitey one
icon_lol.gif ) Let us know how you go on............

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jojo76 Posted 7 Nov 2009 , 11:16pm
post #15 of 33

what is Toba's spackle?

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PinkLisa Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 12:15am
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It appears to me that the OP's picture was a total sphere not a half circle added to a cupcake. I checked out more photos from cakeenvy and she showed side views and it was definitely not a cupcake.

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ibmoser Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 12:28am
post #17 of 33

Chef Toba Garrett uses what she calls spackle to fill and firm problem areas like holes, small damage to the outside, or to fill between layers. She uses cake trimmings and smashes them up in her slightly-thinned icing - almost like making cake balls but no liquid. It works very well to give a smooth exterior.

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 1:13am
post #18 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by ibmoser

Well, I baked in the Wilton mini-ball pan yesterday. I slightly overfilled so that I could trim to a flat half-sphere. I used BC as a filling, smushed two together, twisted a little to settle them together snugly, and then used Toba's "spackle" made with the trimmings and BC to fill the seam. They are chilling now but look pretty good. They are about 3" in diameter - a formidable single serving LOL. I'm going to try covering one in BC and another in white chocolate ganache to see which works better for me as a base for fondant. I tried poured fondant on one - that has possibilities if I can get the temperature of the cake and the thickness of the poured fondant worked out icon_rolleyes.gif , but this first one has a bad case of cellulite icon_lol.gif .



Yay, so glad you tried it. I am going to bake them tonite or tomorrow. I have never tried poured fondant, is it easy? Let us know how the bc and chocolate ganache go. I have never used ganache either but if it works well I'd love to try it! Are you going to try covering any in regular fondant. That is my plan assuming its not too difficult. I'm still a fondant novice!

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jojo76 Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 9:15am
post #19 of 33

Hi, pinklisa, yes I think you could be right, must be two spheres stuck together, I think I may go for the cupcake with sphere on top option, since it looks a bit easier...
Thanks for the info on Spackle, Ibmoser, that sounds useful, I have a particular cake which always has problem areas once I trim it as it is quite crumbly...this sound perfect to fill in any holes around the bottom! icon_smile.gif

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ninatat Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 2:54pm
post #20 of 33

Hi i just got my county kitchen catalog free , and it has a pan with the 6 half's in it, instead of 2 it siliconflex 2x1 $18.25 the 4 is 2 3/4 by 1 3/8 same price with 6 , and 1 1/4 x1/2 has 24. all the same price is the 2/3/4 the one i would want, to be about the size of an ornament Thanks

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ibmoser Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 6:30pm
post #21 of 33

Ninatat - thanks for the info on the smaller pans. The Wilton mini-ball makes larger ornaments than I want. Here are a few pics. I wasted no supplies or time decorating (like I needed to actually say that LOL). They are 3" in diameter. I used the "Durable Cake" recipe here on CC

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/1972/durable-cake-for-3d-and-wedding-cakes

They are flattening out a bit with the weight of fondant but are still pretty round after 24 hours. I'll try pound cake or mud cake next time. I tried both BC and ganache as a base for the fondant. The ganache is a little firmer but the BC is easier to smooth on the rounded shape - at least for me. I quickly took some leftover pink fondant and popped a few plunger blossoms and a fondant string bow - no centers or clean-up, but the decorations do tend to draw the eye away from other imperfections, so I think this will work with a little practice and a smaller size.

ETA - oooops, only one pic posted, but it the final one - the others were "in process" and unnecessary anyway. icon_redface.gif
LL

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 6:50pm
post #22 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by ibmoser

Ninatat - thanks for the info on the smaller pans. The Wilton mini-ball makes larger ornaments than I want. Here are a few pics. I wasted no supplies or time decorating (like I needed to actually say that LOL). They are 3" in diameter. I used the "Durable Cake" recipe here on CC

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/1972/durable-cake-for-3d-and-wedding-cakes

They are flattening out a bit with the weight of fondant but are still pretty round after 24 hours. I'll try pound cake or mud cake next time. I tried both BC and ganache as a base for the fondant. The ganache is a little firmer but the BC is easier to smooth on the rounded shape - at least for me. I quickly took some leftover pink fondant and popped a few plunger blossoms and a fondant string bow - no centers or clean-up, but the decorations do tend to draw the eye away from other imperfections, so I think this will work with a little practice and a smaller size.

ETA - oooops, only one pic posted, but it the final one - the others were "in process" and unnecessary anyway. icon_redface.gif




They turned out cute! HOw did you get the fondant on there? I haven't tried it yet, mine are currently baking. HOw did you get the fondant to not have pleats in it and how did you get the sides to come together?

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ibmoser Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 7:17pm
post #23 of 33

I rolled out a circle about 8" in diameter and a little thicker than usual. I actually weighed the fondant. I started with 8 oz and "reclaimed" 3 oz, so each cake took about 5 oz. Place the rolled-out fondant over the top of the cake and smooth down just like a regular cake. You can actually pick these balls up and hold them upside down, cradled in the palm of your hand. I smoothed everything to the bottom - there were no sides to come together. Just keep pulling out and smoothing down. I trimmed about 1/2" away from the very bottom, picked it up and pulled the edges underneath. The bottom ain't pretty, but it's the bottom LOL! I did have one pleat in the first one, but the second one was better. I was working on room-temp cake - I'm sure chilled would have been easier.

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 8:45pm
post #24 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by ibmoser

I rolled out a circle about 8" in diameter and a little thicker than usual. I actually weighed the fondant. I started with 8 oz and "reclaimed" 3 oz, so each cake took about 5 oz. Place the rolled-out fondant over the top of the cake and smooth down just like a regular cake. You can actually pick these balls up and hold them upside down, cradled in the palm of your hand. I smoothed everything to the bottom - there were no sides to come together. Just keep pulling out and smoothing down. I trimmed about 1/2" away from the very bottom, picked it up and pulled the edges underneath. The bottom ain't pretty, but it's the bottom LOL! I did have one pleat in the first one, but the second one was better. I was working on room-temp cake - I'm sure chilled would have been easier.




Excellent. Thanks for that. I am getting ready to cover mine in fondant. They are iced in bc now. I can't imagine how you were able to smooth the bc. Mine looks like a mess. I am letting set a little bit right now and am goig to viva it here in a while. How did you get the bc smooth? Did you ice the whole thing? I just kept sticking my fingers in it everywhere when I tried to turn it over to do the bottom.

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ibmoser Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 8:54pm
post #25 of 33

I did not BC the very bottom, and I used a piece of acetate paper to smooth the contours. I let it crust completely, then smoothed a bit more with Viva. Mist lightly and cover. You'll be surprised how the fondant will smooth around the sphere. Just lift away and smooth down. A bit of moisture will seal the edges in on the bottom even though there is no BC. If you have a styrofoam ball around the house and a handful of leftover fondant, try covering that first. Much easier because it is firm, but same process.

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jojo76 Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 9:07pm
post #26 of 33

it looks really good Ibmoser, I love the colours you chose! It's covered really well, too, I'm heartened by your saying it's not difficult to do. Your instructions are awesome, I love that you have even weighed the fondant - it's going to make it easier for us to figure out now!
Now I need to order some pans..........

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 8 Nov 2009 , 9:26pm
post #27 of 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by ibmoser

I did not BC the very bottom, and I used a piece of acetate paper to smooth the contours. I let it crust completely, then smoothed a bit more with Viva. Mist lightly and cover. You'll be surprised how the fondant will smooth around the sphere. Just lift away and smooth down. A bit of moisture will seal the edges in on the bottom even though there is no BC. If you have a styrofoam ball around the house and a handful of leftover fondant, try covering that first. Much easier because it is firm, but same process.




Hmm. Too late. I already bc'd the bottom! I'm too impatient to let everything crust completely. It takes a while because I ice my cakes while they are frozen. I smoothed as best I could with viva. Now I'm going to cover! I'll let everyone know when I'm done. Yours turned out great btw! Thanks for the info on fondant covering.

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confectionsofahousewife Posted 9 Nov 2009 , 12:07am
post #28 of 33

OK. They are done. I only did three, the rest are in the freezer. I used the "A better white scratch cake" recipe that I have been trying out lately and plain vanilla buttercream. I made half a batch of the cake batter and it made 17 half spheres (using the Wilton mini ball pan). I like the size of these. They are just about the same size as a regular christmas ornament. I covered them in Fondarific. I did not take time to decorate them as I would if I were giving them as gifts. So, here they are...

ETA: They are definitely a bit lumpy. Need to smooth the buttercream better next time!
LL

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ibmoser Posted 9 Nov 2009 , 12:46am
post #29 of 33

Great job thumbs_up.gif I'm going to order the 2" diameter pan to see how that size works. Larger may be easier icon_lol.gif Thanks for the pics -

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ninatat Posted 9 Nov 2009 , 3:56am
post #30 of 33

hm what size is usually used, and what name of pan thanks

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