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I threw a tantrum & my cakes~

post #1 of 35
6/20/10 at 10:06am
Thread Starter 
Greetings all,
I'm almost embarrassed icon_redface.gif to share my story with you, but I am anyway.

I baked 6 mini pina colada round cakes and tried to stack them so I can make my hubby a mini golf bag cake for Father's day. I made homemade MMF using MM fluff, confectioner's sugar and my KA w/the dough hook icon_mad.gificon_mad.gificon_mad.gif Needless to say, I suck! This was my 2nd attempt at making MMF w/2 different methods: (1st time I did it the traditional way w/melted MM in the microwave yada, yada, yada. the 2nd time I used MM Fluff). Both attempts, I failed miserably! icon_cry.gif


I did a crumb-coat and put the cakes in the freezer to harden over night (it was 12 am when I finished baking these 6 cakes). Once they hardened the next morning, I rolled out my MMF I made the day before and attempted to cover my stacked & doweled cakes. The cakes started leaning, although I put wooden skewers (shish kabob type) through them. Which was fine b/c I was planning on putting the "golf bag legs" on the back of the cake once it was done. So, the leaning wasn't a problem.

Well, fast forward, the MMF started tearing horribly, and I got so furious that I picked up that delicious cake and slammed it on my floor. The darn cake didn't explode like I wanted it to, so I pick it up and threw it in the trash. I then proceeded to go into my cake cabinet & drawers and started throwing all of my cake decorating products away and I swore off baking cakes for my family icon_cry.gificon_cry.gif

My hubby tried to console me & stop me from throwing everything away and giving up on my hobby. He took all of my cake supplies out the garbage. I just got really frustrated b/c I'm a perfectionist & I really wanted to make this darn golf bag cake for him b/c he loves golf.

I'm just thankful that I had baked 8 cupcakes with the left over batter. Do anyone have any suggestions as to why my cake & fondant was acting retarded?
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
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Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
post #2 of 35
6/20/10 at 10:21am
First of all (HUGS)...sounds like you needed one. Two things were working against you...sounds like the fondant was too thin and the gravity of such a tall cake just pulled it right down and right off. You would need thicker fondant to even stand a chance...and it sounds like maybe your fondant was too thin in consistancy...you may have needed more powdered sugar. Now if there was any heat or humidity mixed into that whole process then you added more fuel for the fire and it doesn't sound like you stood a chance! Very tall cakes are SUCH a challenge.

Cat
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post #3 of 35
6/20/10 at 10:43am
Awww no fun!!!!

I never cover a frozen cake....I cover chilled, but I'd think frozen would be too drastic of a temperature difference.

To do a cylinder shape with fondant, I actually roll it out the length (height) of the cylinder and then wrap it around horizontally. The back will have a seam, but its the back, and you can "caulk" that with royal icing, and smooth it with your finger. Especially with a golf bag you could have easily left a "lip" of fondant sticking up over the top as well.

Don't worry I feel like throwing things too sometimes! (And sometimes I do, but just not when my hubby is looking, because then he gets irritated haha)
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post #4 of 35
6/20/10 at 12:19pm
I don't cover a frozen cake because it can settle while thawing as well as cause gas bubbles...not fun. I always bake/freeze/torte/fill/crumbcoat then let the cake come to room temp and settle for AT LEAST 2 hours if not more. And, yes, I have done the strip around a tall cake before and got marginal results due to the heat of the day...the fondant puddled a little bit..however on a golf bag that would have actually added to the leather effect of the bag!
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post #5 of 35
6/20/10 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of your replies. I don't know why I'm not getting my reply notifications. OK, next time, I'll allow my cake to come to room temp 1st. It was already hot in my house. I was in my sun-room decorating the cake @ the table.

The next time (if there is a next time), I'll wrap the fondant around as suggested. I tried putting it over top and it broke/cracked. I did have to do it in two sections, but it was a FAIL! Thank God, I don't sell my cakes. I just bake for my family. But I still try to do a good job at it.

Did I stack it correctly? I wish I would have had a photo, but I was so disgusted at how my cake looked.
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
post #6 of 35
6/20/10 at 12:36pm
If you had 6 cakes, all 2 inches high, you need a cake board under each 4 inches of cake and at least 2 dowels in the bottom "tier" and in the 2nd "tier", and then a single dowel going thru the entire height of the cylinder.

Crumb coat the cylinder and put in the fridge for at least 15 mins. Roll out a piece of fondant (a good, sturdy fondant!) that is thicker than normal--at least 1/4th inch thick--and, placing the cake cylinder on it's side, roll the fondant and cake together. Overlap the seam a bit and then cut away the extra with a sharp knife. Using crisco on your fingers, blend the seam together as best you can--hide it with a contrasting stripe later.

HTH
Rae
I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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I love you, but your emergency is not my crisis!

They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.--Terry Pratchett (b.194
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post #7 of 35
6/20/10 at 12:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artese



I got so furious that I picked up that delicious cake and slammed it on my floor. The darn cake didn't explode like I wanted it to,



I'm sorry, but this sentence made me crack up! Isn't it irritating when our dramatic displays of emotion don't turn out like we want them to?
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #8 of 35
6/20/10 at 12:49pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the tips/advice. I honestly didn't think my 6 mini cakes would give me such a hard time. I think there were like 4 or 5 inch cakes. It was way smaller than the 6 inch cake, bu slightly bigger than a cupcake.

costumeczar, thank you for making me laugh. You are right, it adds fuel to the fire when our dramatic expectations are not met. icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif I'm still chuckling too.
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
post #9 of 35
6/21/10 at 3:19pm
My my, can't wait till you hit menopause~
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post #10 of 35
6/21/10 at 3:35pm
So sorry to hear you had trouble. I have days where the cake and icing doesn't want to co-operate and swear I'll never do another cake, but I always go back to it. It's in my blood! Also sorry the cake didn't explode when it hit the floor, maybe you should have called Duff. He likes to blow up cakes! LOL
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post #11 of 35
6/21/10 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
@vtcake-I have at least another 26 + years for that. But once it hits, watch out!

LSW929, it's OK. I'm sorry that I threw my tantrum & 2ndly, I'm sorry that I didn't just put the store bought fondant on there in the 1st place (I had it on hand too). The cake was good too. I'll try again for my hubby's 29th birthday, which is next Wednesday (6/30).

Let's pray that it comes out right. I'm going to do the golf bag cake OR a golf field cake w/gumpaste figures. I haven't decided yet. Wish me luck~
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
post #12 of 35
6/21/10 at 5:39pm
For a cake that tall, I'd also use stronger dowels than the little toothpick-thin shish-kabob things. I honestly wouldn't trust those to stack 2 cupcakes together.
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post #13 of 35
6/21/10 at 5:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

For a cake that tall, I'd also use stronger dowels than the little toothpick-thin shish-kabob things. I honestly wouldn't trust those to stack 2 cupcakes together.



LOL! I LOVE YOUR QUOTES! Thank you. I will go out and buy some stronger supports tomorrow. Sometimes, I hate being a perfectionist and other times it's great. Oh well, that's the way the good Lord made me.

Can anyone recommend a great cake stacking instructional dvd? I want to take the Wilton class, but my hubby may get deployed and I don't have a sitter to watch my kiddos while I go to the class that is 50 miles from my home icon_cry.gificon_cry.gificon_cry.gif
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
Angelfire3
A woman is like a teabag. You don't know her strength until she's in hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt

God Is Greater Than Any Problem That You Have.
Reply
post #14 of 35
6/21/10 at 5:48pm
Is "perfectionism" a new trend or something? icon_confused.gif This is about the 4th thread I've read TODAY from people who describe themselves as "a perfectionist!"

I only knew of one "perfect" person. It was ...... um ..... oh what was his name..... you know, that one guy? ..... they made a movie about him .... oh yeah!!!!!


JESUS CHRIST!


And ya know what? I ain't Him! icon_lol.gificon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

I'm not poking fun (ok....maybe a little!) but I'm just saying stop being so hard on yourself. We all know that no one is perfect, so don't make it hard on yoruself by setting unattainable standards! Just enjoy the process! thumbs_up.gif
Cake Cutting Guide: http://cateritsimple.blogspot.com/search/label/cake%20comb
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www.cateritsimple.blogspot.com
http://debiswritingcollection.blogspot.com/
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/55969028@N00/
www.cateritsimple.blogspot.com
http://debiswritingcollection.blogspot.com/
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post #15 of 35
6/21/10 at 6:17pm
Hi, I'm VERY new here, and to decorating, but I had to reply. The first 3-4 times I used MMF I had pretty bad results. One thing I have found is that you need to roll it much thicker than you think, because it stretches ALOT when you move it to cover cakes. It thins out as you smooth it. I probably only roll it to about 3/4" thick before transferring it.

I roll it out extra thick for ball and cylinder shapes (at LEAST 2"), and kind of lift it and set it over my fist to let it stretch it into that shape a bit. Then I transfer it to the crumb-coated cake and smooth it down. You get much less tearing that way.

Just my experience, but I used to get a lot of tearing too and I had to speak up, I SO know the feeling of frustration! You can look at my pics, I think I'm getting much better at it! HTH icon_smile.gif
~Nikki
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~Nikki
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