Home-made cakes thread 2

awesome2_2

Thriftygifty wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I've been a lurker for awhile now and everyones cakes look great, all very talented people and friendly! I'm a fairly new baker and I would say very hit 'n miss baking some suck and some turn out well. So I was wondering if anyone would be able to answer a few questions that are going to sound very dumb...

When I bake cupcake the cases come out greasy, why is this? Is it because the cases are cheap (Ikea) or they have to much fat in the cakes?

Also I noticed on another post that about cupcakes looking like volcanos someone said its because the ovens to hot, so i'm gonna give it ago turning down the oven.

Also Kevies cupcakes for SIL wedding were fantastic I was wanting to make something like them for our wedding next year but i'm not sure how far in advance I could make them? Do you think I could make the sponge cupcakes like 3 days in advance and ice them the day before or could I ice them a few days before? What do you reckon? I have loads of questions but thought ide start at the beginning and pop in if I have questions.

I'm not sure how to upload photos but once i've figured it out I will.

Thanks

Hi Thrifty
Welome to the thread, I use the Adsa muffin cases they are great if you are just starting out and dont get the grease marks on them. The volcano cupcakes you are asking about is easily solved once you have put your mix in the cases and levelled them take a teaspoon and press the back of it in the mix to make a dent this will stop them domming.
You can freeze your cakes if they are not iced and they taste just as good defrosted, I would probable ice them maybe two days before if stored well they will keep fresh
Hope this helps:o

nat82

I've just used Lakeland cupcake cases (144 coloured ones at £5.99 I think) and they're the best ones I've used. Grease proof AND they didn't peel away from the side.

I also use the Carnation tinned caramel and just add some to normal buttercream, it's delicious!

Just been asked to make 20 cupcakes - 10 Manchester City and 10 JLS - any suggestions???

mandragora_2

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Ice-cream cupcakes here! Thanks to all for the help - what I've learned is:
make as for a normal sponge cake mix (175 gr flour etc makes about 15 cakes, as they take quite a lot of mix); fill to about the first line around the cone, bake at 170 deg for around 25mins, put the cones into a cupcake tin, but I found that putting a regular cake liner (as for a fairy cake) in the bottom of each tin stopped the bottoms getting 'greasy' during baking; put a small hole in the bottom of each case when it comes out of the oven to keep it crisp. I transported mine in the trays you get miniplants in when you buy plants - that worked a treat. Thanks to all for help and advice - they went down really well. Sorry the top piccy is so big - will now try to reduce it!

moosetastic

nat82 wrote: »

I've just used Lakeland cupcake cases (144 coloured ones at £5.99 I think) and they're the best ones I've used. Grease proof AND they didn't peel away from the side.

I also use the Carnation tinned caramel and just add some to normal buttercream, it's delicious!

Just been asked to make 20 cupcakes - 10 Manchester City and 10 JLS - any suggestions???

JLS cupcakes - their names (Aston, Oritse, Marvin and JB), use their 4 colours, red (oritse), green (Marvin), yellow (JB) and blue (Aston), musical notes, there are some good rice paper toppers on ebay - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-JLS-LIMITED-EDITION-12-FAIRY-CAKE-MUFFIN-TOPPERS-SEE-LISTING-/290695232606?pt=Uk_Crafts_Cake_Decorating_MJ&hash=item43aec93c5e

Man city cupcakes, blue (obviously) could you make some sugarpaste little shirts and footballs??

Mandragora, those are brilliant!!

Thrifty, I use muffin cases from Home Bargains, they never let me down. If not, I second the ones from Asda, they are half white and half brown, and they are my back up cases.

becs

Kevie192 wrote: »

Ooh, I remember going to that place with my mum when I was younger! Not been there in years though because I don't drive and I don't think any buses run that way...

I buy a lot of my cake stuff from Loose's Cookshop in Norwich but their sugarpaste is quite expensive.

Might just have to get some white from Tesco and colour myself...

Ooh I love that shop! I coud spend all day in there! Shame I'm an hour and a half away!

becs

Re cupcake cases I always use the Dr Oetker muffin cases. Always brilliant! I also measure out mix with an ice cream scoop to make thm nice and equal. I've never had the domed ones before, I wonder if the mixture consistency has anything to do with it as mine is always quite thick and sticky rather than runny.

fosters1

Hi, im hoping some of you wonderful people will be able to help, I have been following this thread for months and am totallt in awe of your beautiful cakes. I am biting the bullet and 'trying' to make a teapot shaped cake, I have a ball shaped mould that i will use for the body, would it be ok to use royal icing piped (runouts) for the spout and handle? Does anyone have a better idea? What type of mix is best for the cake? Im thinking possibly madiera? Any help from you would be appreciated. Thanks x

moosetastic

hey fosters, welcome to the mad house!!

I would think a madeira cake would be the best as it will hold its shape better and be easier to work with. If you cover it with sugarpaste, then you can model a handle and spout out of it too. this vid I found on youtube shows how to put it together, it will probably give you an idea anyway! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOhfrcj0s9o

Cake4brains

Twinkles08 wrote: »

Hello Cake4brains (love the username!),I've just taken a peek at the wedding cake you did and it's beautiful.Can I ask what size tins you used please?I have an order for a tiered cake to cater for 150 people and I'm still trying to work out whether I should go for a 12" base or 14".Are you a first time mummy?Twins blimey,good luck,double trouble but twice the fun!:rotfl:

Sorry Ive taken so long to reply Twinkles, it was 6, 8, 10 and 12" cakes. The bride hired the tins for me so not sure how much they were. There were at least 180 people at the wedding. HTH

Yes first time mum-to-be, cant wait :T

Twinkles08

Hey Cakes4brains,thanks that's really helpful.

This is my latest cake project,which is for the school cake stall today.It's chocolate fudge-yummy!