Who bakes?

erpetdoc · March 2011

I'm going to need three smash cakes in a few months. I can't believe I'm even writing anything about DD turning 1 year...but it's going to be here before I know it.

I wanted to have my former trainer do them, and she still might. But DH is reluctant to spend money on something I can make at home. Yes, I made a sheet cake for his birthday, but other than cookies and that one cake, I've never made a cake, especially not a round layer cake, before.

Any suggestions for easy recipes or tips/tricks for producing three (one for her actual birthday, one for family party, and one for pictures) cakes?

lkstor · March 2011

Ummm... Buy them.

Why do it yourself when there are pros who do it so well?

That is basically my philosophy in life And yes - I secretly want to be on the Real Housewives.

Mrs.EmmaLouise · March 2011

I vote for box cake. I've made tons of cakes/cupcakes from scratch, and honestly- the box kind tastes better and is much easier. I just do homemade frosting and call it good. A layer cake is easy enough, the hard part is making the layers flat and even- but you can pick up a leveler for that from Michaels or Joanns if you really wanted.

erpetdoc · March 2011

Mrs.EmmaLouise:
I vote for box cake. I've made tons of cakes/cupcakes from scratch, and honestly- the box kind tastes better and is much easier. I just do homemade frosting and call it good. A layer cake is easy enough, the hard part is making the layers flat and even- but you can pick up a leveler for that from Michaels or Joanns if you really wanted.

Ah yes, I should clarify.... by "making them myself," I mean using a box mix and going from there. I don't think even DH would want me to try making it truly from scratch!

Lkstor, I really, really WANT to buy them. That would be immensely easier, and look better!

lkstor · March 2011

erpetdoc:

Mrs.EmmaLouise:
I vote for box cake. I've made tons of cakes/cupcakes from scratch, and honestly- the box kind tastes better and is much easier. I just do homemade frosting and call it good. A layer cake is easy enough, the hard part is making the layers flat and even- but you can pick up a leveler for that from Michaels or Joanns if you really wanted.

Ah yes, I should clarify.... by "making them myself," I mean using a box mix and going from there. I don't think even DH would want me to try making it truly from scratch!

Lkstor, I really, really WANT to buy them. That would be immensely easier, and look better!

So... I would buy them and throw away the boxes. Put them in tupperware or something and pretend that I made them

roundtheworldgirl · March 2011

You know, it's not that hard, and you might even enjoy it! If you buy a 6" round pan, you can get three small one-layer cakes out of one box of mix. If you want them to be two layers, you'll need two boxes and you'll have some leftover. They freeze well, so you could do them ahead of time, then thaw, frost and decorate closer to the big days. (You can get four six-inch layers out of one box of mix - so it's easiest if you have enough pans to do them all at once).

Tips for the baking:

Watch the time carefully so as not to overbake. When the cakes come out of the oven, let them cool in the pans for five-10 minutes, then use a knife to separate the cake from the edge of the pan (grease and flour the pans well, and use parchment or wax paper on the bottoms of the pans to make this easier). Then overturn onto a baking rack and allow to cool completely. Wrap well in plastic wrap, then in foil to freeze.

I love to bake and I do it from scratch 90% of the time, so bear that in mind when I say that, if you do this, making your frosting from scratch will make the cake a bit more special and tasty. It's not hard, either. I like this recipe: https://www.wilton.com/recipe/Buttercream-Icing (you don't need clear vanilla - regular works just fine) or this one for chocolate: https://www.wilton.com/recipe/Chocolate-Buttercream-Icing.

You can make decorating easy by just buying some multicolored sprinkles and putting those on top, or you can buy the colored decorator's icing they sell in the baking aisle at the grocery.

I want to see PiPs of the finished cakes!

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