Cake Decorating Woes
I'm going to make all of the newbies feel better. I'm just having one of those days and I know we all have them, so it inspired me...
Don't you hate it when you think you have another bag of sugar, but you don't, and you have to run out to the store in the middle of baking?
Don't you hate it when you keep making marks in the gum paste with your nails and have to keep fixing them?
Don't you hate it when you know you can't fit a triple cake recipe in your mixer and you say the hell with it, do it any way, then have to pour everything into a big pot and break out the hand mixer to finish mixing?
This is a small list, but it all happened to me today, and it's still early!
Go ahead! Let it all out! Add your cake decorating woes below.
Don't you hate it when you think you have another bag of sugar, but you don't, and you have to run out to the store in the middle of baking?
Don't you hate it when you keep making marks in the gum paste with your nails and have to keep fixing them?
Don't you hate it when you know you can't fit a triple cake recipe in your mixer and you say the hell with it, do it any way, then have to pour everything into a big pot and break out the hand mixer to finish mixing?
This is a small list, but it all happened to me today, and it's still early!
Go ahead! Let it all out! Add your cake decorating woes below.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by lisa yanoschak on
-
how funny! i just had the sugar thing happen today. i finished a batch of cookies and went to start the icing and ooops.....no 10x in the house.......i couldn't even leave the house to get it so i sit here with unfinished cookies!
-
Permalink Reply by Mary Ann Brooks on
-
Hehe, love the stories. :)
Here was my day, and I'm NOT exaggerating! A high-school-age girl wanted me to teach her how to apply fondant, so she came over for the afternoon. At the last minute, I decided that, instead of using a dummy, I would bake a small, lemon cake with lemon filling, and teach her about the importance of having a sturdy, level cake. After all, we know that whatever your cake looks like before the fondant goes on, is what it's going to look like afterward.
Well, I was late getting the cake out of the oven, so it was still warm (and slightly overdone) when she arrived. After bragging about my baby (my Agbay leveler) being able to cut through anything like it's butter, I attempted to level my crusty cake. It looked chewed up by the time I was finished.
Then I stiffened some buttercream and explained about making a dam around the inside perimeter of the bottom layer, so that the filling wouldn't ooze out. Then I filled it with my lemon filling, which had decided not to set up. (I shouldn't have used it, but I thought, "That dam will hold anything!" Take my advice and face reality: The dam will not hold anything.) Within a couple minutes, the top tier was sliding off, and part of the damn, the filling, and the cake was on the cake board.
I then proceeded to the next step, which was to carve around the outside of the cake, to make the sides straight. Don't attempt to do this on a warm cake.
This story has a happy ending. I trashed the lemon cake and brought out the dummies! My fondant work was beautiful. :)
I'm an experienced decorator, so having a day like this was a shocker, to say the least, lol! I've learned two lessons: Don't work with a warm cake, even if it's for a quick demonstration, and if my filling doesn't set up, it's a sign that I'm supposed to use buttercream.
-
Permalink Reply by Theresa Happe on
-
I swear, I was just in a very bad mood, but you cheered me up!
Mary Ann Brooks said:Hehe, love the stories. :)
Here was my day, and I'm NOT exaggerating! A high-school-age girl wanted me to teach her how to apply fondant, so she came over for the afternoon. At the last minute, I decided that, instead of using a dummy, I would bake a small, lemon cake with lemon filling, and teach her about the importance of having a sturdy, level cake. After all, we know that whatever your cake looks like before the fondant goes on, is what it's going to look like afterward.
Well, I was late getting the cake out of the oven, so it was still warm (and slightly overdone) when she arrived. After bragging about my baby (my Agbay leveler) being able to cut through anything like it's butter, I attempted to level my crusty cake. It looked chewed up by the time I was finished.
Then I stiffened some buttercream and explained about making a dam around the inside perimeter of the bottom layer, so that the filling wouldn't ooze out. Then I filled it with my lemon filling, which had decided not to set up. (I shouldn't have used it, but I thought, "That dam will hold anything!" Take my advice and face reality: The dam will not hold anything.) Within a couple minutes, the top tier was sliding off, and part of the damn, the filling, and the cake was on the cake board.
I then proceeded to the next step, which was to carve around the outside of the cake, to make the sides straight. Don't attempt to do this on a warm cake.
This story has a happy ending. I trashed the lemon cake and brought out the dummies! My fondant work was beautiful. :)
I'm an experienced decorator, so having a day like this was a shocker, to say the least, lol! I've learned two lessons: Don't work with a warm cake, even if it's for a quick demonstration, and if my filling doesn't set up, it's a sign that I'm supposed to use buttercream.
-
-
I'm glad I cheered you up a bit. :) I felt dazed after that experience, and didn't do ANYTHING the rest of the day ... not even dishes, LOL. Guess I'd better do some cleaning tonight, though, or I'll be having flashbacks when I wake up in the morning and see the mess. 'Night all.
-
Permalink Reply by Trisha Stryjewski on
-
Oh every time I bake I swear something happens. I'm kitchen and baked challenge I swear. You should have seen me in school. I gave my classmates lots to laugh at and or cringe. My last debacle was my experimenting with the cakewich. My partner was nice enough to buy me the new cakewich mold (I love stuff like this by the way) I love making funky things. Well after the day it arrived I was determined to test it out. I decided to use the recipe on the back of the box it came in. It was a pretty standard pound cake recipe. Ok so I was off to a good start. (Last time I made pound cake it was disastrous...thanks Martha Stewart grrr) So things are going well. The batter looks good. I sprayed the mold. The oven was set so I put it in the oven. It's only supposed to take 40 minutes. An hour and half later it's just about done. My oven isn't off either. It's just a big mold and it just took longer to bake. They should have thought of that. Oh did I mention I work all day for Corporate America and I don't get home until later. So this project got off to a late start (7pm ish)
Ok so the cake is done...it actually turned out pretty good but the woes aren't over. So thinking I'm on my way I continue. Not following the cardinal rule of not cutting a warm cake I proceed. I figure it's pound cake and it's pretty darn thick so I think it will hold..... it does. Whewwwwww. I just wanted it to cool faster because it's actually coming up on my bedtime soon. My cakewich project is now looking like a really big PBnJ sandwich...made out of cake of course. Cake (bread) done, check! Ok time to make the filling. I actually stopped at the store on the way home so I thought I had everything. I'm reading the recipe for the peanut butter filling. Hmmmm where is my 10x.. not in this cabinet, not in that. Not on this shelf. Oh crap. No 10x sugar. Well I have to finish so I change my clothes, grab my keys, cursing under my breath and head to the store. I have about 15 minutes before they close. It's 5 min away. I head for the baking aisle and they are out of 10x. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. How is the grocery store...Shop Rite.... out of powdered sugar. So my last option is to head to my 24 hr Walmart and pick it up. I get to Walmart, get my non-favorite brand of 10x and head home. I now can make the filling. It's turns out. I go to measure the preserves and all is well. I'm ready to start assembling my cake. It actually turned out pretty good but nothing ever goes as planned when I make. No matter how much I prepare. I can start a whole site just on my adventures...trust me. You don't want to hear my chocolate tempering day at school. ;)
Oh and here is the cakewich...just to show that there is hope sometimes. Oh and I got to bed around 12 that night (having to get up at 4) Cakewich will be saved for weekends from now one.
-
-
It does look like pbj! When I don't have confectioner's sugar, I just make swiss buttercream icing. You just need granulated sugar, eggs, butter and flavoring.
Trisha Stryjewski said:Oh every time I bake I swear something happens. I'm kitchen and baked challenge I swear. You should have seen me in school. I gave my classmates lots to laugh at and or cringe. My last debacle was my experimenting with the cakewich. My partner was nice enough to buy me the new cakewich mold (I love stuff like this by the way) I love making funky things. Well after the day it arrived I was determined to test it out. I decided to use the recipe on the back of the box it came in. It was a pretty standard pound cake recipe. Ok so I was off to a good start. (Last time I made pound cake it was disastrous...thanks Martha Stewart grrr) So things are going well. The batter looks good. I sprayed the mold. The oven was set so I put it in the oven. It's only supposed to take 40 minutes. An hour and half later it's just about done. My oven isn't off either. It's just a big mold and it just took longer to bake. They should have thought of that. Oh did I mention I work all day for Corporate America and I don't get home until later. So this project got off to a late start (7pm ish)
Ok so the cake is done...it actually turned out pretty good but the woes aren't over. So thinking I'm on my way I continue. Not following the cardinal rule of not cutting a warm cake I proceed. I figure it's pound cake and it's pretty darn thick so I think it will hold..... it does. Whewwwwww. I just wanted it to cool faster because it's actually coming up on my bedtime soon. My cakewich project is now looking like a really big PBnJ sandwich...made out of cake of course. Cake (bread) done, check! Ok time to make the filling. I actually stopped at the store on the way home so I thought I had everything. I'm reading the recipe for the peanut butter filling. Hmmmm where is my 10x.. not in this cabinet, not in that. Not on this shelf. Oh crap. No 10x sugar. Well I have to finish so I change my clothes, grab my keys, cursing under my breath and head to the store. I have about 15 minutes before they close. It's 5 min away. I head for the baking aisle and they are out of 10x. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. How is the grocery store...Shop Rite.... out of powdered sugar. So my last option is to head to my 24 hr Walmart and pick it up. I get to Walmart, get my non-favorite brand of 10x and head home. I now can make the filling. It's turns out. I go to measure the preserves and all is well. I'm ready to start assembling my cake. It actually turned out pretty good but nothing ever goes as planned when I make. No matter how much I prepare. I can start a whole site just on my adventures...trust me. You don't want to hear my chocolate tempering day at school. ;)
Oh and here is the cakewich...just to show that there is hope sometimes. Oh and I got to bed around 12 that night (having to get up at 4) Cakewich will be saved for weekends from now one.
-
-
The peanut butter filling called for PNB, butter, vanilla, and confectioners sugar. I guess to set it apart a little from a real PBnJ and make it more cake like.
I love Swiss BC by the way!
Theresa Happe said:It does look like pbj! When I don't have confectioner's sugar, I just make swiss buttercream icing. You just need granulated sugar, eggs, butter and flavoring.
Trisha Stryjewski said:Oh every time I bake I swear something happens. I'm kitchen and baked challenge I swear. You should have seen me in school. I gave my classmates lots to laugh at and or cringe. My last debacle was my experimenting with the cakewich. My partner was nice enough to buy me the new cakewich mold (I love stuff like this by the way) I love making funky things. Well after the day it arrived I was determined to test it out. I decided to use the recipe on the back of the box it came in. It was a pretty standard pound cake recipe. Ok so I was off to a good start. (Last time I made pound cake it was disastrous...thanks Martha Stewart grrr) So things are going well. The batter looks good. I sprayed the mold. The oven was set so I put it in the oven. It's only supposed to take 40 minutes. An hour and half later it's just about done. My oven isn't off either. It's just a big mold and it just took longer to bake. They should have thought of that. Oh did I mention I work all day for Corporate America and I don't get home until later. So this project got off to a late start (7pm ish)
Ok so the cake is done...it actually turned out pretty good but the woes aren't over. So thinking I'm on my way I continue. Not following the cardinal rule of not cutting a warm cake I proceed. I figure it's pound cake and it's pretty darn thick so I think it will hold..... it does. Whewwwwww. I just wanted it to cool faster because it's actually coming up on my bedtime soon. My cakewich project is now looking like a really big PBnJ sandwich...made out of cake of course. Cake (bread) done, check! Ok time to make the filling. I actually stopped at the store on the way home so I thought I had everything. I'm reading the recipe for the peanut butter filling. Hmmmm where is my 10x.. not in this cabinet, not in that. Not on this shelf. Oh crap. No 10x sugar. Well I have to finish so I change my clothes, grab my keys, cursing under my breath and head to the store. I have about 15 minutes before they close. It's 5 min away. I head for the baking aisle and they are out of 10x. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. How is the grocery store...Shop Rite.... out of powdered sugar. So my last option is to head to my 24 hr Walmart and pick it up. I get to Walmart, get my non-favorite brand of 10x and head home. I now can make the filling. It's turns out. I go to measure the preserves and all is well. I'm ready to start assembling my cake. It actually turned out pretty good but nothing ever goes as planned when I make. No matter how much I prepare. I can start a whole site just on my adventures...trust me. You don't want to hear my chocolate tempering day at school. ;)
Oh and here is the cakewich...just to show that there is hope sometimes. Oh and I got to bed around 12 that night (having to get up at 4) Cakewich will be saved for weekends from now one.
-
Permalink Reply by Stampinsher on
-
Oh my! When I received my email that people commented on this link, I saw this picture first and said OUT LOUD, What the heck is this PBJ sandwich picture for? I was - startled. Then I laughed and thought, oops, this is probably a picture of what this person finally did instead of a cake!
Then I started to read, I can't believe this is a CAKE! I swear it looks just like PBJ sandwich. You did a fabulous job and your story is terrific. I'm still laughing!!! Thanks for sharing.
Smilin' Sher
Trisha Stryjewski said:Oh every time I bake I swear something happens. I'm kitchen and baked challenge I swear. You should have seen me in school. I gave my classmates lots to laugh at and or cringe. My last debacle was my experimenting with the cakewich. My partner was nice enough to buy me the new cakewich mold (I love stuff like this by the way) I love making funky things. Well after the day it arrived I was determined to test it out. I decided to use the recipe on the back of the box it came in. It was a pretty standard pound cake recipe. Ok so I was off to a good start. (Last time I made pound cake it was disastrous...thanks Martha Stewart grrr) So things are going well. The batter looks good. I sprayed the mold. The oven was set so I put it in the oven. It's only supposed to take 40 minutes. An hour and half later it's just about done. My oven isn't off either. It's just a big mold and it just took longer to bake. They should have thought of that. Oh did I mention I work all day for Corporate America and I don't get home until later. So this project got off to a late start (7pm ish)
Ok so the cake is done...it actually turned out pretty good but the woes aren't over. So thinking I'm on my way I continue. Not following the cardinal rule of not cutting a warm cake I proceed. I figure it's pound cake and it's pretty darn thick so I think it will hold..... it does. Whewwwwww. I just wanted it to cool faster because it's actually coming up on my bedtime soon. My cakewich project is now looking like a really big PBnJ sandwich...made out of cake of course. Cake (bread) done, check! Ok time to make the filling. I actually stopped at the store on the way home so I thought I had everything. I'm reading the recipe for the peanut butter filling. Hmmmm where is my 10x.. not in this cabinet, not in that. Not on this shelf. Oh crap. No 10x sugar. Well I have to finish so I change my clothes, grab my keys, cursing under my breath and head to the store. I have about 15 minutes before they close. It's 5 min away. I head for the baking aisle and they are out of 10x. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. How is the grocery store...Shop Rite.... out of powdered sugar. So my last option is to head to my 24 hr Walmart and pick it up. I get to Walmart, get my non-favorite brand of 10x and head home. I now can make the filling. It's turns out. I go to measure the preserves and all is well. I'm ready to start assembling my cake. It actually turned out pretty good but nothing ever goes as planned when I make. No matter how much I prepare. I can start a whole site just on my adventures...trust me. You don't want to hear my chocolate tempering day at school. ;)
Oh and here is the cakewich...just to show that there is hope sometimes. Oh and I got to bed around 12 that night (having to get up at 4) Cakewich will be saved for weekends from now one.
-
Permalink Reply by Mizztry on
-
Omg I had to post on this thread today - i had a horrible baking night :(
I have 3 cakes to work on but i decided to work on the smallest tier - 6" - thank god! The filling was mocha and yes because it was 11pm at night i took the shortcut route and DID NOT do a dam...i just filling the cake, plopped on the next layer, filled, plopped on the 3rd layer - stuck in the fridge to set. Took it out, crumb coated, set in the fridge to set. Covered in fondant! YAIE - one cake done!
WAKE up this morning to find a HUGE and i mean HUGE air bubble right at the top of the cake. I almost bursted out crying!! I now have to redo that 6" again....so much for a late night and trying to get ahead :( totally sucks!
-
Permalink Reply by June Kowalczyk on
-
Can you not just remove the fondant and replace with new?? If there are no other bulges anywhere else, that would seem the easiest thing do do...no??
-
-
Hi June...yes I will be doing that when I get home...hee hee...but I just needed to vent it out :D
Lesson learnt - dont be lazy...DAM DAM DAM! :D
-
Permalink Reply by Katy Nott on
-
Oh dear, this is such an amusing thread. Just come across it - read Terri's bit about fingernails in the icing and burst out laughing. I honestly thought I was the only person in the world that this happens too AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE LONG NAILS................
I have finally learnt to take off my bracelet with the padlock on it before I start trying to roll out. You have no idea now many times that little sucker has jammed itself right into the fondant.
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Next ›
Popular Cake Searches
© 2024 Created by Theresa Happe.
Powered by
