Home-made cakes thread 2

mr_knight

Hello. Moosetastic suggested joining this thread as I am hoping to make my babies first birthday cake. I'll have a read through the thread and I'm sure I'll have lost of questions on where to buy things etc. Thanks in advance.

mr_knight

Legendmum wrote: »

And these are a pic of my first ever cake with fondant!

How did you do the letters. I've been looking at the pictures and I think even more simple than a telly tubby cake is a normal round sponge with ready to roll icing (sugarpaste??) and some writing and simple decorations. I really like the teddy bear picnic on the first page (I'd buy the teddies I think). Buying a mold or cutters for lettering would be an investment as I could use it every year. I'm a little bit excited at the prospect of having a go.

Also where is the cheapest place online to but icing, molds/cutters, cake toppers etc.

Thanks

carlymummy

carlymummy

mr_knight wrote: »

How did you do the letters. I've been looking at the pictures and I think even more simple than a telly tubby cake is a normal round sponge with ready to roll icing (sugarpaste??) and some writing and simple decorations. I really like the teddy bear picnic on the first page (I'd buy the teddies I think). Buying a mold or cutters for lettering would be an investment as I could use it every year. I'm a little bit excited at the prospect of having a go.

Also where is the cheapest place online to but icing, molds/cutters, cake toppers etc.

Thanks

Hi
I buy my fondant from Asda usually and colour it myself unless very dark colours they are hard to colour yourself, I sometimes buy the small packs with a few colours in they sell them in the supermarkets too.
I got my tappits from ebay but on the works they have a set that has letter stencils in it was only £2.99. Hope that helps a bit x

moosetastic

mr_knight wrote: »

How did you do the letters. I've been looking at the pictures and I think even more simple than a telly tubby cake is a normal round sponge with ready to roll icing (sugarpaste??) and some writing and simple decorations. I really like the teddy bear picnic on the first page (I'd buy the teddies I think). Buying a mold or cutters for lettering would be an investment as I could use it every year. I'm a little bit excited at the prospect of having a go.

Also where is the cheapest place online to but icing, molds/cutters, cake toppers etc.

Thanks

Hey there Mr Knight, you found the thread! :T

For sugarpaste, most of the supermarkets now sell ready to roll icing, tesco does it in a variety of colours, and Lakeland sell it as well. If you are doing an 8" cake you will need 1kg to cover it. Its cheaper on the internet at places like the craft company but I would always try ebay as well.

As for letters and things, you can buy tappits or clikstix, it depends on how much you want to spend. I've also got a set of alphabet cookie cutters from ebay, they were only a couple of pounds, and I use them all the time. These are the ones I have (they are from Malaysia so will take 3 - 4 weeks to come ) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alphabet-Birthday-Cookie-Cutter-Fondant-Cutters-Sugarcraft-/170900791128?pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item27ca7b1f58

Just had a quick google and there is a set at Dunelm for £3.99 for both numbers and letters. http://www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/number-and-letter-cutter-assortment-tub-108437 hmmm why didnt I go there?? :rotfl: may have to go and invest in a set of number cutters!!

For inspiration, definately look back in this thread, or the first thread (think theres a link in the 1st post) and google images of cakes as well, thats where I always get my inspiration from!

littlebit

Hey all loving the cakes not doing any myself atm (not a lot of family to bake for so i get to do it about 3-4 times a year only) so I'm just mooching about nosing at what you guys are doing , i do however have a question i was watching this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIRoqhfh_pk&feature=player_embedded you tube vid just about icing a cake it is in Italian but well you can see what she does so no words needed really, anyway she has what i assume to be syrup mix in a squeeze bottle and omg the amount she puts on seems excessive like i put mine on with a pastry brush and I'm scared of making it soggy was wondering if maybe I'm too cautious, same with her filling it seems excessive to me i put mine on quite thin as I'm worried of the layers sliding everywhere, the vid is 17 mins long but the bits I'm on about are in the first 5 mins which you can skip to if you want to take a look.
I would like a little feedback if possible

Also as a side not found this really great page on FB via another cake baking page there http://www.facebook.com/1000TutorialsAndMore fab for people wanting to get into sugar craft and decorating .. well i think so anyway

littlebit

Not sure if anyone will be about to answer this it seems dead here lately but i made some fudge well it turned out to be a lot of fudge it was a little soft but still yummy and i was thinking of adding it to a cake mix like a fudge flavoured cake and maybe peanut butter butter cream or little chunks of fudge gooey in the batter or whatever but i can not for the life of me seem to find any recipes on Google for cakes containing fudge bar the frosting any ideas please? it is mainly the ratios I'm stuck on, i think as the fudge is sweet i should reduce sugar etc or if anyone had just a recipe for fudge sponge that would be fantastic

VfM4meplse

^^^^ I have no idea, but the fudge sounds scrumptious. In your position I would probably do a Nigella and scoff it before using it for it's intended purpose!

Well done on all your creations, I've spent the last 5 mins admiring and drooling in equal measures.

I have a semi-scientific question: have heard that pureed apple / other fruits can be used as a fat substitute although these cakes do not keep for long. What's the maximum proportion of puree to fat that can be used, that still gives a good result? Have searched this thread with no joy so far. Picked he first batch of fruit from my parent's pear tree this weekend, and made a good 5L of stewed fruit with cinnamon. I froze most of it in batches but set some aside in the hope of making an extra-yummy and fibre packed sponge cake for my parent's wedding anniversary tomorrow.

nat82

Hi littlebit! I was asked to make fudge cupcakes once and couldn't find any recipes so I added some fudge chunks to my usual vanilla cupcake batter. I never tasted them but I got good feedback x

schofield8883

Hi im planning on doing my own wedding cake due to wedding budgets and the fact i love making cakes, nothing fancy because i wont have a ton of time prob something like this
http://pinterest.com/pin/209910032603109543/
my question is can i set the cake up first thing in the morning and will it be ok out all day? it will be indoors and doubt it will be too warm (june wedding). there isnt anyone else to set it up for me. how long do cakes normally sit out for? is it better to be fondant covered or buttercream covered ok? thank you