Ready made Cake Bases Good or bad

Not sure what you mean?

I do both, it depends on the cake and the timing and situation.  Making them yourself isn't difficult, it just adds time.  The nice thing about making them yourself is that you can customize what you put on them and what you make them out of, again that depends on how big the cake will be and the design.

Oh, you're talking about cake mixes? No. Never.

Many of us thought you were asking about cake drums - you know the base the cake sits on.

I assume you mean cake drums, and no, I don't. I think they are a waste of money. I see the large ones for $6, when I can get a stack of 50 boards for $18, and make my own, with 4 stacked up. 

I misunderstood your question!  I too thought you were talking about cake drums.

I make all of my cakes from scratch, however, I am tempted to try the WASC cake in the gourmet flavors thread that starts with a boxed cake and adds other ingredients to it.  I haven't done that yet because I have been sticking to basic flavours so far, but my next cake is a baby shower and I will be doing a pink champagne cake with pear buttercream icing, I'll be using a recipe I found on this site, can't wait to try it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by damien 

Does anyone use cake bases readymade for cake decorating rather than make their own

Lots of people use commercially prepared dry cake mixes as a "base", then add any number of ingredients to improve the flavor and texture.  (Classic example:  the 1996 book by Anne Byrn:  The Cake Mix Doctor).

Many, many bakers, both hobby and professional use dry cake mixes.  Many, many bakers, both hobby and professional bake from scratch.  Both are ok.  If you are doing cakes for fun--HAVE FUN!  Do whatever you want!  If you wish to start a business doing cakes for a profit, then find what's works best to produce tasty, profitable cakes.

I thought the OP was talking about the ready made and decorated cakes The Cake Boss now has in the grocery stores...They look terrible by the way...my 15 year old could do a better job decorating these things! I'd never buy one lol

I recently made up a red velvet mud cake mix that came as a freebie.  All the ladies at the knitting group I go to loved it.  I thought it was absolutely disgusting; too sweet with an underlying chemical taste.  So each to their own, though I am beginning to think that there is no accounting for some peoples taste!!!

where are you located ?