I say you make the cake, and since your mom agreed to this, she can do what she said and "take care" of the other treats needed. There are brownie mixes, rice krispy treats, all sorts of things you could suggest to her. But you only agreed to do a cake for your bro. Tell her your going out of your way just to put other people's names on the cake, since that is not what you agreed to in the first place.
Let her scramble. Why should she get out of this when she was the one who told the other parents she would 'take care of it?"

And why is YOUR MOM deciding on all the designs and not your BROTHER, the person you actually promised this to? I mean, I know he's younger and all, but is he aware that your mom wants a million tiny cupcakes and all their names on a squished sheetcake? No doubt he's seen the fun cakes you do and wants something like that.

I love the cereal treats idea! That would actually be really fun (Froot Loops, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Cocoa Krispies...)

First: sorry, Joanne, I didn't see your post about the individual cakes when I posted my reply! Not trying to steal your idea .

Second: if you promised only your brother, that means only that the cost of his cake is on you. For the rest, I would tell Mom that you never promised those other guys, so her promise to "take care of the cake" is on her and give her a FULL list of what is needed and point her to the grocery and cake supply store. Then and only then would I start the baking for her. Also, since she promised these cakes without asking you first, she would definitely be at home with me helping with mixing and other such things.

One more thing about the RKT idea...you can add sprinkles or M&M's in the school colors to the mix, if you want to tie that in.

And, depending on how high you stack it and how "moist" you treats are, you may want to put a little circle of wax paper between the layers/tiers. You know, not enough to show, but enought to help keep it from being one BIG treat tower!!

Haven't read this whole thread, so if someone has already said this then sorry for the repeat. PUT YOUR MOM TO WORK! Assign her a certain number of mini cuppies (half of them if you are smart) that she is required to bake. Supply her with the recipe and then make her bring you the cupcakes so you can ice/decorate them. Bet her tune changes and the guest list begins to become much smaller

Oh dear! Things certainly did get out of hand quickly didnt they?!? That has to be terrible! And if your mum is anything like mine, she'll take it all personally!
My mum has decided shes getting married in 7 weeks. SEVEN WEEKS!! And she wanted me to make the cake. Showed me a picture. A buttercream, fondant, gum paste concoction of 4 hexagonal tiers! HECK NO!
I JUST started decorating, Ive made a grand total of 1 batch of Fondant, and never even touched gum paste! When I explained it to her, she said "but I thought youd like the publicity". UGGGGHHH

Well, I know this suggestion will probably get me lots of jeers, but have you thought of buying undecorated cakes from Sam's or Costco? I know we all know we bake better than that, but if all you have to do is decorate the cakes, then it won't be as time consuming.

I think that your mom is really taking advantage of your thoughtful gift for your brother....

just a suggestion.

I agree with everyone else--you're being taken advantage of! I've been there, done that, but never to this extreme. I think you should come up with an idea that works for you---I do like the individual sheet cake idea! Price it out and deduct the cost of your brother's cake since you said you would provide that. Let her know that this is what you can do and this is how much $$$ you need to cover the cakes for the other boys. And have fun with it! If you want to make a special cake for your brother, do it! You're doing all this work at least enjoy the outcome!

And yeah, NO MINI CUPPIES---just tell her that won't work. I think when I've made them, it's usually 3 to 4 times as many as regular cupcakes. That's waaaaay too much work when there are so many more easier and cuter options out there!

I'm sure you already figured it out but your being taken advantage of. I know it's your mom and she may not understand what it takes to feed 400 guests but, that is a huge expense for free! If I were you I would tell her that you will bake enough cake to feed 100 and she could figure out the rest. She could make cookies and alter the recipe slightly. Like a basic chocolate chip cookie and add sprinkles, m&ms, butterscotch chips, cinnamon chips, or white chocolate chunks.

If you decide to do the cakes, I wouldn't even decorate them. I'd use sprinkles with the school colors for each of the boys and then make your brother a grand cake. You promised him a nice cake not the other boys. Make a little gumpaste plaque for each of the boys cake and call it a day.

Totally agree with what some others have said: do the cake foryour brother as promised, and let your mom handle the rest. It's crazy insane for anyone to expect you to do cakes or treats for FIVE boys FREE of CHARGE all by yourself. I'd tell them I'm happy to do brother's cake, but beyond that they're on their own.

There's taking advantage, then there's TAKING ADVANTAGE!

Best of luck and let us know how it turns out!

You're definitely going to have to grow a pair for this one - no way should you be expected to bake cakes for these other boys without some sort of compensation. Your promise was for your brother - and didn't extend to his BFFs. I'd be extremely irritated if my mom made promises on my behalf - making her sound so generous as if she were footing the bill for these five cakes so she won't have to contribute to the rest of the party - and it's all at your expense. I hope you have a serious talk with her.

Where is she going to PUT 400 people?

Butterpatty,
I agree with you. Make the cake promised to the brother as a gift. Then let Mom or the other parents pay for the rest.

Yeah, so you promised your brother a cake. Give him "a" cake, that doesn't mean you promised to serve the whole town. Don't the other 4 guys have family that will pitch in? Make it a dessert potluck.

Also, I really question the 400 count. I mean even if the get 400 people show a lot of them will be just making an appearance (especially on a Tuesday night?). Not everyone eats cake. If you don't want to hassle with the family, I would just show up with cake for 200 (regular cupcakes and a sheet cake or two) and not say a word, and it would probably be fine. It's not like they are going to count.

And if they ask, I would just say..."Oh I just baked as much as I could, I don't think my oven ever got turned off, I was up til all hours. I never want to do this again. My back is killing me. Do you have any Motrin?"

From what I'm guessing, the other 4 sets of parents are covering food and drinks possibly? or a dj & the hall? Therefore, since your mom volunteered to take care of the cake, I'm also guessing she figured she'd pawn it on you and get off cheaply. I'd be having her cough up some money, and before the talk, I'd take the going rate, and write up what you would charge to sell those, and then say 400 cupcakes or slices of cake is $_______ & I'm only going to be charging you $_______ for the ingridents.

I say you sit down with your mother & ask her if this party is for the teenage boys or for her? If it's for the boys, make what the boys would be happy with & I'm pretty sure that wouldn't be dainty little mini cupcakes. If she wants a party with mini cupcakes, maybe she should have a tea party for her & her closest friends. Just my two cents

True, if she doesn't help and doesn't pay she can't choose the designs. I think minis are plain crazy, first because of the quantity, second because of the age of the guests. What is the rest of the menu btw, is it sophisticated or teenage favorites - pizza, fries, burgers ?
I think you should do big cuppies, uncomplicated - with some ganache and sprinkles or sheets. With funding and with helpers!
If your mom dreams minies, make a dozen for her birthday .

Okay, I went to my parents' house this morning in hopes of talking to the two of them together. My mom had called me yesterday to try to go to the local cake shop for the dessert towers she wants for the minis. I was at a graduation party when she called, so I told her I'd give her a call later. When I got there this morning, I found out my dad left last night to go visit family in Michigan, and my mom assumed that I was there to take her to the cake shop for the towers.

I had already made a spreadsheet on my laptop, which I took with me, so I had her sit down and go through the numbers with me. We have decided on two half sheets, and 100 minis, plus she bought me a second mini pan and the towers and all the ingredients. That's going to be only 4 trips through the oven, 100 plain buttercream blobs, and then decorating, which is what I wanted to do in the first place, so I'm okay with this plan.

We also talked about the design she had suggested for the original half sheet, and she understands that I think that's a very boring design, so she's open to whatever else I can come up with. So now I get to create two half sheet designs, and I can incorporate the ideas I had already been working on, so I'm back to being excited about this project.

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and thoughts, and helping me feel sure that I wasn't being unreasonable in this whole thing!

alls i can say is... dam cake muggles...

Whatever happened?! I have to know! What did you end up making, did your mom help and how did it turn out? Thanks!

It's been a long time since this original post, but I got an email saying I had a response, so I came on here and was reminded of my frustration! I thought I'd add an update as to how it all turned out.

I ended up making 2 half sheets, plus (I think) 144 minis. My BF (now DH) helped so much with my craziness, and helped me take them and set them all up that night. As it turns out, my predictions were spot on, and that was not nearly enough cake, but it's what my mom and I agreed on.

Actually, they didn't have enough of anything. It was a 3 hour open house, they ran out of food within a half hour, and had to send someone out for pizzas, which they ran out of in another half hour, so they went back out for party subs, which were demolished immediately. The cakes/minis lasted no time at all, but I did get a lot of compliments on them from the people who got to them in time! I was not overjoyed with how my decorating turned out, but given the amount of work I put into them and the fact that the boys loved all the personal touches on each cake, I was quite pleased in the end.

Nice! Thanks for the update. I'm not even certain how I stumbled onto your first post but after being sucked in I HAD to know...My middle child just graduated high school this June as well and all the parties she went to are crazy...the parents are all invited as well as the student friends as well as the family. Huge, expensive things. We did a nice Graduation Breakfast for 25 of her girlfriends and they loved it. Granted, there weren't the grad presents from other parents that are typically expected around here but the girls enjoyed themselves and my daughter appreciated it.

Thanks for giving the rest of the story. You did a great job and responded as best you could in that situation. I bet you learned a lot from that experience though

Congrats on the marriage Glad everything for your part worked out okay!

I have read this saga with amazement and horror!
Is this an extreme case or have other members had similiar experiences?
Am really interested.