How Do I Handle This? Canned Frosting On Wedding Cake!

Decorating By bunnypatchbaker Updated 23 Jun 2010 , 2:45pm by JaeRodriguez

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cheeseball Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 5:27pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KHalstead

I used canned chocolate icing on these cupcakes (requested) and it handled very well. I actually bought a LOT more cans than I needed and used some leftovers to ice a small cake just for my family to eat and it smoothed really well, actually better than my regular icing...it did take a little longer to crust but it definitely crusted after about half an hour and I was able to smooth with a paint roller. so it's definitely possible to fill this request..........maybe suggest the chocolate chips be added as a "sprinkle" after the cake is iced?




I was curious about the logistics of it...isn't canned icing way softer and slippery? I just figured that large tiers would slide apart with that type of filling/frosting.

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DeeDelightful Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 5:44pm
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Not to mention the money she is going to WASTE on her wedding cake, just for him to eat ONE slice. Because no one else is going to eat all of that nasty icing.

The message won't make it all over the reception hall that she specially requested FLUFFY Whipped Choco Chip Confetti icing all over her cake. People will think that's YOUR signature icing.

I think you can convince her to compromise. If not, i'd rather go out on a limb and make it a filling anyway. I'm sure she is has no idea that you cannot smooth the canned icing, so she still expects the look of a smoothed buttercream cake. Ice/decorate in your icing and fill with her canned icing (mixed with yours) OR make the smallest tier iced in the canned stuff.

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leah_s Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 5:57pm
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I find it interesting that in the other situation, four previous bakers had turned down the customer's request to use canned frosting before finding one who would do it. Is this like those toothpaste commercials where 4 out of 5 dentists surveyed recommends XYZ Toothpaste?

Yaknow, 4 out of 5 bakeries refuse to use canned frosting. icon_smile.gif

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cathyscakes Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 6:16pm
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I know its their day, but I just can't understand this. It just sounds like a grooms cake to me. It always amazes me that brides come up with these requests. Don't they consider the guests tastes. Like the brides that want a sugar free cake, or gluten free cake, why wouldn't they just have one tier in their choice and then consider the guests. Make the bride and groom and the guests happy.
I know you are wanting ideas on how to make this work, but its really hard. Unless you make it look like a homemade cake. I think it would just look better like that, swirls of frosting done with a knife, like the old way of frosting a cake.

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endymion Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 6:30pm
post #65 of 135

I don't think "consideration of the guests" is really the big issue, because you really have no idea what the guests' tastes are. I know a lot of people grew up eating canned frosting and actually like the flavor BETTER than other types of frosting that we may say are "superior".

For example, this groom seems to like canned better than "fancy", which suggests perhaps his mother and family feel the same way -- otherwise he would not have developed a taste for the stuff. I often have people ask me to use canned OR any recipe that has no Crisco in it -- they can taste/feel the Crisco and hate it. To each his own....

The issue is whether the OP thinks the way the cake looks or tastes will tarnish their reputation as a baker. If so, don't do it... or figure out a way to do it that is less likely to affect reputation. (Put up a little sign that says, "canned frosting per bride and groom's request" OR ask the bride and groom sign a contract not to mention your bakery's name OR have a verbal announcement re: they forced you to use canned, or whatever.)

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thecakemaker Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 6:51pm
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I think that sometimes the brides worry too much about what the guests tastes might be. I met with a bride last week that was so confused that even after meeting with 4 bakers she had no idea what she wanted because so many people were telling her what "they" wanted instead of letting her go with what her and her fiance wanted.

I helped a friend make a wedding cake a couple months ago that we both thought was pretty ugly - design and color wise and we were pretty sure that when the bride saw the end product would absolutely hate it. She wrote us the nicest letter telling us that it was the most beautiful cake that she had ever seen and was more perfect than she could have ever dreamed!

Keep in mind that it's her day and her perfect cake and give her what she wants. You can't please everybody so just please the one(s) that matter!

Debbie

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Meowcakes Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 7:07pm
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I can't believe anyone would actually consider this. I would think you would want to establish what you use and not get credit for "canned" frosting, cause it's what the bride wants. How crazy. "That's the lady that uses canned frosting. Can you believe she actually charged for that?!"

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JanH Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 7:21pm
post #68 of 135

Matters of taste and personal preference aside...

If you have a contract with the bride which states canned frosting is the icing of choice and you renege - that's grounds for a lawsuit.

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dreamcakesmom Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 7:21pm
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Although the experience and profit of doing a wedding cake is hard to turn down I would pass on this if she is not willing to compromise. The best I would say I can do for her is use it as a filling only

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mayo2222 Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 7:54pm
post #70 of 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by bunnypatchbaker

thanks for all the great suggestions. Especially to those of you who really read what I wrote. She is NOT interested in a groom's cake, anything with fondant and she does not have a problem with my buttercream. She has eaten it and likes it but this is something special she wants to do for her groom.

I appreciate the photos - one of them looks like it might have used this very frosting! No one wants to be trashed all over town for bad work but at the end of the day it is THEIR day. I am just trying my best to figure out how to make their cake as special as any other wedding cake while helping the bride to surprise her groom.

It would never be my first choice to ice any cake with canned frosting but I am not the one paying for it. Price is not an issue with the bride. Keep the great ideas coming! icon_biggrin.gif




I don't know if there are any more ideas other than those already offered. Given your comments you could:

1. Do the cake as requested and try to mitigate the flaws caused by the candies.
2. Use the grooms "special frosting" as the filling
3. Use the canned frosting for just the top tier and try matching your BC color to the canned.
5. Not do the cake

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Sucrea Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 8:04pm
post #71 of 135

Wow, I am really surprised at how rude some people can be. Someone asked for help and it is like she is being persecuted for trying to help a bride make the day extra special for her groom.

I say do a trial cake for the bride and see if this is what she really wants. She may change her mind. If not, do your best to make her and her fiance's day special or tell her that you are sorry that you won't be able to help her with her request.

Either way you should be upfront with her. Don't show up with a cake that she didn't ask for. Remember she will probably let her fiance know that he has a surprise at the reception. What a disappointment that would be on THEIR day if you didn't follow through.

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JGMB Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 8:39pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by endymion

Do you think the bride would go for a REALLY funky cake with a topper that is a carved replica of the can of frosting (done in your own way... with fondant or whatever you need to make it look good)?

That way, it is obvious to everyone that the canned frosting is an inside joke between the bride and the groom... The rest of the cake can be HIS frosting... But should not affect your reputation.




I LOVE this idea -- the bride gets her request, everyone gets a laugh, and your reputation stays intact!

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KHalstead Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 11:36pm
post #73 of 135

lol@leahs and the 4 out of 5 bakers.

You know, just to add something interesting.......the person that wanted the canned icing on the cupcakes wound up paying MORE for them than if they just had them with my buttercream because the store bought buttercream was actually MORE expensive for me to buy than my regular bc is. I pay about $.30 a cup for my buttercream and the canned stuff is like $2 a can for barely 2 cups!

So honestly, this bride will be "wasting" her money in more ways than one.

If you do go ahead with her request, make sure you figure up how much it will cost you!!

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liha21 Posted 13 Apr 2010 , 11:53pm
post #74 of 135

Make a 6" cake for her and ice it in that stuff and take it to her. Now ask her if that is how she wants her wedding cake to look? Perhaps she isn't thinking of how bad it will look.

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heavenlys Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 12:10am
post #75 of 135

I am not very familar with canned frosting. One concern I would have is how easily it would melt off a the side of a cake. Canned icing is not designed for tiered cakes.

I have seen cakes with big piped s's on the sides. Looked for a pic but couldn't find it. Anyway with the piping it would cover if you can't smooth base icing perfect. Not sure how pipable his choice fo icing is though.

Good luck.

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terrylee Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 12:34am
post #76 of 135

It's their day.....I would do it..but like suggested above... I would try and convince her of doing the bottom tier in the canned frosting, because that's the one they cut and taste..... and the rest of the cake in your buttercream to match the canned. Suggest a sample tasting to help her to decide.....a lot of the times the icing (any icing) is left on the plate anyways.... I'm sure your cake and filling will hold it's own.....

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m1m Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 12:50am
post #77 of 135

Please let us know what you end up deciding.

Good luck with everything.

icon_smile.gif

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Jennifair Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:09am
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My husband wanted this exact same thing. My own wedding cake was the first cake I ever made and I'm still a newbie. It is not the look or the texture of the frosting with chips that he wanted, but the taste. He's a guy, he could care less about how it looks. He just loves the canned rainbow chip frosting. I used it only as a filling on our cake and I'm not a fan, but I wouldn't trade the smile on his face when we cut into our cake for all the tea in china.

I can't imagine that the bride doesn't know how silly this stuff looks. And if she's anything like me, she will be explaining the rainbow chip frosting to everyone at the reception. I say go for it, all she wants to do is make him happy, and I would think the suggestions about swirling the frosting is the way to go. I don't doubt that you'll make a perfectly beautiful cake and make the bride and groom happy. =)

Let us all know how it turns out and good luck!

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SugarFrosted Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:50am
post #79 of 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeeDelightful

Not to mention the money she is going to WASTE on her wedding cake, just for him to eat ONE slice.




Over the years, whenever the subject of wedding cake has come up, so many women I know, have complained that no matter how big the wedding cake was, the only portion of it they got was the ONE BITE her groom shoved in her face after the cake was cut.

Chances are this will be no different, the groom will SEE the cake, get ONE BITE, and then the couple will be so busy with the rest of the reception (receiving line, etc) that they may not even see the cake again, much less get to eat it or any of the other food.

jmho

Good Luck, OP!

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Chasey Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 12:33pm
post #80 of 135

I keep reading this thread and looking for more suggestions for you!

I 100% agree with Jennifair's post (but I said that early on so you already got my 2 cents! icon_biggrin.gif )

SugarFrosted is exactly right about most likely getting one bite and then that's it! icon_cry.gif Maybe if you used that explanation with the bride she would agree to just the top tier being in his favorite icing since that is the one going home with them. It would be a shame to be worrying about a big cake covered in canned frosting if he didn't get to eat any of it!

When are you meeting with the bride again?

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Kitagrl Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 12:57pm
post #81 of 135

I would do the compromise thing...see if the bride would let me use my own buttercream, adding tiny chips, for most tiers and icing the top tier in his canned stuff. That way, he gets his canned stuff and she gets the "look" she is going for...yet all the other guests will not mind the taste of the homemade kind (actually I would bring the bride a sample of buttercream mixed with chips, and the canned stuff, and have her do a taste test!!!!)

Maybe make the cake a homemade "funfetti" too...with jimmies...

I think the cake would look so fun "homestyle iced" with bead borders and then some fun, brightly colored flowers, a few scattered on each tier. I would just try to make sure that most of the tiers actually tasted good...I think if you show the bride it will save her $100 and please the guests more to do mostly homemade, with the *look* of the canned, she will go for it, especially if one tier has the canned stuff.

Who knows, maybe he will convert to homemade!

As a last resort, if she demands to pay an extra $100 and have you do all canned...I'd probably do it BUT I would make a pretty little plaque (like in museums) explaining the history behind the cake....saying that the cake design is a gift to her husband because of his love of that particular frosting. The guests will read that as they look at the cake and they will understand it was purposely chosen by the bride...and the baker is off the hook.

If you are a professional, the skill in using the icing and the taste in using flowers and whatever else will show through, and when they read the explanation, they will completely understand, plus they will know that you are a baker that accomodates brides!

I'm not saying its an easy decision and I can see both sides...but I would at least try to work with this bride. Sometimes its the most unique requests that attract the most attention...actually if this cake were pulled off just right, I could see it making a magazine as a special feature on how the bride made her wedding cake as a gift for her new husband!

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chassidyg Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 12:57pm
post #82 of 135

I thought I had posted on this, but dont see it!

I actually love that frosting, I tend to um...eat it with a spoon straight out of the can though icon_smile.gif It's got a yummy creamy taste to it. However, I would be worried about how sticky and creamy it is though. It's hard to spread on a cake, Ive used it on a small cake for my kids for dinner (they dont like bc, they liked canned icing), and it makes every crumb and everything come off the cake.For my family, I dont care. But for a wedding cake, that may be difficult, you would almost have to stiffen it up a little bit, hopefully without altering the taste of it.

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mayo2222 Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:06pm
post #83 of 135

Maybe you could cover the entire cake in in BC and then cascade the canned frosting in strips down the cake and that way only a few pieces actually have the canned frosting on it. Hopefully that makes sense

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SecretAgentCakeBaker Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:06pm
post #84 of 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by chassidyg

it makes every crumb and everything come off the cake.For my family, I dont care. But for a wedding cake, that may be difficult, you would almost have to stiffen it up a little bit, hopefully without altering the taste of it.




I wonder, if you did a crumb coat in regular buttercream first, perhaps it would make the canned frosting spread easier?

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Kitagrl Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:10pm
post #85 of 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbaranne

Quote:
Originally Posted by chassidyg

it makes every crumb and everything come off the cake.For my family, I dont care. But for a wedding cake, that may be difficult, you would almost have to stiffen it up a little bit, hopefully without altering the taste of it.



I wonder, if you did a crumb coat in regular buttercream first, perhaps it would make the canned frosting spread easier?




I thought about this too! Fill and crumb coat with homemade...that way too, people could eat the "good parts" and leave the outside, similar to what they do with fondant anyway.

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Shelle_75 Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:14pm
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I only got up to page 3 of the responses, but here's my 2¢ worth:

I would do it, and I would make it (somehow) look awesome. I don't think you will be trashed all over town as the person who uses cheesy canned frosting. I think, if you give her what she asked for and she loves it, you will be praised all over town for bending over backwards to make your customers happy.

Of course, I'm not a "professional".

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chassidyg Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 1:36pm
post #87 of 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitagrl

Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbaranne

Quote:
Originally Posted by chassidyg

it makes every crumb and everything come off the cake.For my family, I dont care. But for a wedding cake, that may be difficult, you would almost have to stiffen it up a little bit, hopefully without altering the taste of it.



I wonder, if you did a crumb coat in regular buttercream first, perhaps it would make the canned frosting spread easier?



I thought about this too! Fill and crumb coat with homemade...that way too, people could eat the "good parts" and leave the outside, similar to what they do with fondant anyway.




It would almost have to be crumbcoated and then be cold, and then put on the rainbow chip. I know Ive pulled chunks out of cakes spreading it on when they were completely cooled, again though, only made for my kids, so it didnt matter to me. another thing, with where I live (central florida) it would melt off the cake. The OP is going to have to be asking about where it will be sitting, and for how long.

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Kitagrl Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 2:16pm
post #88 of 135

Yes I would definitely ice it cold, and keep it cold until delivery..but then I do that anyway.

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herdream Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 2:33pm
post #89 of 135
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jennifair

My husband wanted this exact same thing. My own wedding cake was the first cake I ever made and I'm still a newbie. It is not the look or the texture of the frosting with chips that he wanted, but the taste. He's a guy, he could care less about how it looks. He just loves the canned rainbow chip frosting. I used it only as a filling on our cake and I'm not a fan, but I wouldn't trade the smile on his face when we cut into our cake for all the tea in china.

I can't imagine that the bride doesn't know how silly this stuff looks. And if she's anything like me, she will be explaining the rainbow chip frosting to everyone at the reception. I say go for it, all she wants to do is make him happy, and I would think the suggestions about swirling the frosting is the way to go. I don't doubt that you'll make a perfectly beautiful cake and make the bride and groom happy. =)

Let us all know how it turns out and good luck!




Well said
......and this is the reason why you should honor her request thumbs_up.gif

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Peridot Posted 14 Apr 2010 , 3:41pm
post #90 of 135

Have read all of the posts...humm.....I would do what the bride wanted. It's their day, their money and their cake. I would not alter what she wanted or try and convince her of anything. If you feel you can't live with that then it's simple - don't do the cake.

And I actually like canned frosting - especially chocolate! And I have used canned frosting as filling in the past and the cakes tasted GREAT!!!

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