Advice Suggestions On Cake

Decorating By JodieB Updated 23 Sep 2012 , 5:23pm by JodieB

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JodieB Posted 22 Sep 2012 , 9:35pm
post #1 of 5

Hello!

I am pretty new to baking and I would like some constructive criticism. I made this cake for my neighbors 5 year old daughter and I'm nervous! So I was hoping anyone with constructive criticism, suggestions, advice, could share. Please let me know what you think. I had a really hard time covering chocolate cake with light colored buttercream. NExt time I may just do fondant. I still am going to fix the pink tops on the turrets they're not on permanently yet. I'm also going to fill the board with green icing (unless someone has a better suggestion). I'm also not sure where to add Happy birthday. Any thoughts? Thank you so much! I appreciate you looking!

If the picture didnt attach right you can see it in my gallery at
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2406155/princess-cake
LL

4 replies
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kakeladi Posted 22 Sep 2012 , 9:51pm
post #2 of 5

Add the message to the board. Pipe grass w/tip 233 (or just spatula it on roughly), then pipe the message in the 'grass'.

Not a bad jobicon_smile.gif Yes, you need to work on getting the icing on better. It is no harder to ice choco cake than any other flavor/color. I have a feeling the icing you used was not thin and creamy enough so you had problems spreading it. You may just need another recipe rather than resort to fondanticon_smile.gif
Did you use a crumb coat? That's a thin layer of b'cream that is allow to dry to the touch at room temp for say 10 minutes. If it is still wet (comes off on your finger when you touch it) then your icing isn't dry enough or is a non crusting recipe. Crumb coated cakes DO NOT!! need to be refrigerated! It should dry at room temp in a short amount of time. A really good crumbcoat is to take about 1/4 to 1/3 cup and melt it in the MicroWave oven - that should only take about 5 - no more than 10 second then you have to work quickly to spread it on/all over the cake. It will dry quickly into a glaze - sort of like a glazed donut icon_smile.gif This will seal in the crumbs from the cake. (Any leftover melted icing must be thrown out - it cannot be melted again or used in any way so melt a small amount at a time. How much depends on the size of the cake you are going to cover.)
Lastly, finish off the board edge w/a thin ribbon to 'hide' the fact that it's cardboard and it should look fine,.

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JodieB Posted 22 Sep 2012 , 11:09pm
post #3 of 5

Thank you for your reply! Ya you're probably right, my frosting was too thick to coat on nice and even. I will definitely have to try that crumb coat option next time! I kept frosting and frosting and getting crumbs in the frosting. Good idea about the ribbon too. Thanks so much!

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DeniseNH Posted 23 Sep 2012 , 12:53am
post #4 of 5

That's truly adorable and you can tell it was made with a lot of love. I wanted to reach into the picture and adjust the turet roof on the front left but you said you'd do that. I would write in white icing on the front walk then pipe the green lawn. Would be cute to attach a little princess figurine to the top of the castle. Otherwise she's one very lucky little girl. Great Job!!!!

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JodieB Posted 23 Sep 2012 , 5:23pm
post #5 of 5

Thanks so much ladies! I learn from every cake. I can't wait to try the glaze crumb coat next time! This time I just tried to add detail to cover up my frosting! lol. This was the finished product.
LL

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