Home-made cakes thread 2

nat82

I couldn't justify spending a lot on a mixer which is why I went for the Prospero. I haven't used a kitchen aid or Firecracker so can't comment on them but for the money the Prospero has been fantastic x

VfM4meplse

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

BBC Good Food wedding cake instructions are good for assembly etc. They saved my sanity when I made my brother's wedding cake.

I love the look of this - simple but so pretty.

I'm finally getting there with my baking - bought a cooling rack the other day (don't ask, it's only taken me 11 years) so I might feel inspired to ice a cake before I get stuck into it . I also bought some jasmine flavouring from Hoo Hing yesterday and am looking forward to trying it out, next time I make rice pudding I'll probably add a dose.

I'm also interested in the responses to the mixer q - was considering buying one on offer from Aldi not so long ago but decided I wanted more powerful than 600w. I love the look of the artisan ones but cannot justify spending hundreds on something I'm going to use for cakes!

Nanamia

Like you other ladies I couldn't justify a kitchenaid But I love the prospero:) absolutely adore it. I had a twin motor breville before and thought I loved that! But burnt out two motors within a few months:( I've had the kenwood prospero since early janruary and polish it daily:)

VfM4meplse

makeyourmummyproud wrote: »

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10860/easy-vanilla-cake. I tried this recipe and I absolutely love the taste but my problem, it was dry. I beushed it with sugar syrup as what the recipe suggest but I don't know where the problem was. What you reckon ladies?

I've looked at the recipe, IMO it's the extra 85g of plain flour that is making it dry. I also think that adding a sugar syrup is going to make it too sweet, esp if the cake is going to be iced. I would be tempted to add a good slug of flavourless oil to the basic cake recipe and avoid the syrup (perversley I'm scientific about everything but baking).

Nanamia wrote: »

I've had the kenwood prospero since early janruary and polish it daily:)

I refuse to polish anything unless it's going to stand to attention!

Monkeymagic

Evening all. Not called in for few days as laptop picked up virus:(. Luckily someone much cleverer than me on techy forum helped me sort it out
Funky cupcakes bindiboo, especially as made in middle of the night!
Nanamia, Minnie is gorgeous and love the wedding cakes. How did you do the white detail on top? is that piped royal icing or v thin sugarpaste?
I am working on my basketball cake for weekend. just finished 'painting' the wooden floor base for the court. bit anxious bout this one as will need carving which i havent done before. any tips?

nat82

Monkeymagic - can you freeze the cake beforehand so that it's easier to carve? x

Monkeymagic

Hi Nat, yes they are in the freezer now. They are the Lindys chocolate fudge ones so just worried they are a bit crumbly (well my test one was). Not carved before, should i do while it is rock solid or let it warm up a bit?

britbok

Nanamia love the wedding cake and Minnie, she's lovely.

Bindiboo the cupcakes look great.

I have the Prospero and love it, couldn't afford a kitchenaid so have no idea what they are like.

Have just made Lindy's chocolate fudge cake and I must say it is a good chocolate cake, will definitely make that again

nat82

Maybe let it soften a little? I've only ever carved madeira cake.

I've got the Good Food rich chocolate cake in the oven just now. The recipe is quite similar to the Lindy's one so hopefully it will taste as good! It's for the bottom tier of a wedding cake. Going to make my lemon cake tomorrow and carrot cake on thursday. I'm so worried about decorating it and it getting to the venue in one piece. The bride is collecting it on Friday. Eek!

Nanamia

Monkeymagic it's a long boring story. The cakes themselves were M&S already coated with fondant I just tickled them up a bit. It looked piped I think but a bit weird!