How much cake mix?

MidLifeCrisis_3

I'd like to make a cake for DD's birthday this week. She's got her heart set on a princess castle so I thought I could use an empty bean can to bake the towers. Problem is I don't know how I can work out how much cake mix I would need to put in each can. Does anyone know if there's a general rule for working out how much cake mix to put in a tin please?

Thanks in advance for any advice

MLC

PasturesNew

Simple mathematics of volume.

See how big your cake is, in volume.
See how big the can is, in volume.
Use these figures to calculate how much mix you'd need to make up to make the towers.
If you're unsure about volumes, then provide us with the following figures:

Size of your caketin, width and breadth
How deep will the mix lay in the tin?
Diameter and height of the tin.
How many towers you want to make.

themadvix

I know this isn't what you've asked, but it might help (and I've come out of lurkdom to say it!)...

Have you thought about using upturned ice cream cones for the turrets? My mum did this for my 'princess castle' cakes when I was little and it worked really well - I think she covered them in butter icing to make them pretty. Might be easier than sponge?

Vicky

MidLifeCrisis_3

I'm using 400g baked bean cans.

Size of your cake tin, width and breadth 7cm round
How deep will the mix lay in the tin? cake needs to rise to 8-10cm
Diameter and height of the tin. 10cm
How many towers you want to make. 5, but an amount for 1 or 2 would be helpful so I can work it out as I need to make the same basic victoria sponge cake for the the castle itself.

I want to avoid the problem I've had with basin cakes where I've never been sure how much mix to put in and they've always peaked badly or come out too low. If they're too high I can cut them down, but too low and I'll have to make more.

I'm using ice cream cones for the turrets, but want to make these round towers to sit them on. I thought about using bought swiss rolls, but think HM would be better, that's of course if I can get the cakes out of the cans:eek: Any tips for that too are very welcome please!!

Thanks :A

MLC

empressemma

Lakeland do something called 'cake release' which is fab, you only need a few drops per tin, spread it round with a brush, and your cake comes out really easily, I love using it!!

krlyr

You could always make a HM swiss roll - might be easier than getting the cakes out of a bean tin.
Alternatively, use a larger cake pan and cut out circles with a cookie cutter and stack into a tower. Any leftover bits of cake from between the circles could be mixed with buttercream to make cakepops - or stuff inside the icecream cones for cakey cones that can be eaten too.

krlyr

Or an alternative edible solution..
http://x.tracyprobst.com/blog/2009/08/princess-castle-cake/

MidLifeCrisis_3

Well after a little research I finally took a flier on it and used the following recipe per tin can.

Tin Can Cake Recipe

2oz/50g SR flour
2oz/50g sugar
2oz/50g butter/marg
1 egg
1/4 tsp baking powder

Brush each can with butter/marg/oil, sprinkle with flour (shaking out excess) and place a circle of baking parchment at the bottom. Beat all ingredients together and bake for approx 25 mins at 180C, check with a skewer. Leave to cool for 10 mins and turn out.

Dah dah they came out no trouble at all. Contingency plan was to open the other end of the tin can and push the cake through.

Thanks for your hints and tips as always :A

MLC

nuatha

Good luck turning them out, depends on the size of tin you've used, one trick I've found useful (having removed the base) is to use the base and and a smaller tin to ease the cake tin over (baking in a beans tin, use a tin of peas under the base and gently push the cake tin down over it.
HTH
(and makes sense)

MidLifeCrisis_3

krlyr wrote: »

use a larger cake pan and cut out circles with a cookie cutter and stack into a tower. Any leftover bits of cake from between the circles could be mixed with buttercream to make cakepops - or stuff inside the icecream cones for cakey cones that can be eaten too.

I never thought of that! Lovely and simple with the bonus of leftover cake too yummy:D