So discourage with my baking!

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Becker on August 2, 2011 at 11:35am

We all have delivery disasters.  In fact, I think you are not a true member of the profession until you have a horror story (OR TWO!) to tell.

 

I was delivering a poker table sculpted birthday cake.,  No biggie.  Not at all.  As I was driving it to its destination it was literally falling apart.  It was a horrible mess when I arrived.  Nothing I could do but give them a refund and drive home balling.

 

and on another day ........

 

I'm driving a 3 tier cake to a wedding 2 hours away.  I have the A/C full blast.  I'm freezing.  My cake still melted due to the sun shining through the window on it.  Luckily I got there two hours early and could kind of fix it.  I had to scrape all the icing off trying my best not to get crumbs and use the now crumb filled icing to re-ice and decorate.  It was a really fun day (NOT!).  I prayed the lights were really low during the entire reception.

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Permalink Reply by Tiffany Walker on August 2, 2011 at 11:44am

I'm sorry that happened to you : (   and yes I made my little cousin a cake for her daughter birthday, I got my children dressed then myself called the cab and waited, with in that time frame I was putting the cake in the cake box i brought not realizing it was to small so I decided to tape two ob the cake boxes together so it could protect the cake. When I got there half of the icing was gone, it was smeared form the home made box I made but what made it worse is was the front of the cake was smeared where it had her name and the little abby cabaddy candies I never got to take a picture of it, 2 show her the b4 pic....then to top it off it took me 2 days I was so mad at myself....smh I AM STILL LEARNING the next time will be BETTER is what I always tell myself....I hope this helped in some kind of way.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Drew on August 2, 2011 at 6:40pm

As you say we have all had these disasters.  This is what I have learned to keep my sanity.

 

I live in sub-tropical Brisbane and when using a buttercream I use the Wilton recipe using meringue powder and water (not milk) as this gives the buttercream a crust and it sets.

 

If making a stacked cake then as well as dowling the cake to support each tier you certainly need a dowl going through all layers which is placed in the middle of the cake and will not be seen.

 

When making stacked wedding cakes with fondant, as well as dowling the cake I mix water to some fondant in a cup to make a medium paste and I spread it on top of the bottom tier and place the upper tier on that and when this dries that cake isn't going to move anywhere.  This has to be done at least a day before so that the paste dries between the cakes.

 

For travelling.  I put a piece of cheap rubber matting in the box and place the cake on that.  Then I put a larger piece of rubber matting in the boot of my car and place the box on that.  I can travel anywhere and feel safe with the knowledge that my cake isn't going anywhere.

 

With cupcakes.  I place a small amount of either buttercream of icing on the underside of each cake and put them in the box and they won't move.  I then put a piece of rubber matting in the boot of my car and the box/s on top of that.

 

Never try new recipes at the last minute.  Never leave everything to the last minute.  Make all decorations in advance.  You can cover your cake a couple of days in advance too.  You will then enjoy the experience, which is what we all want.

 

I hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Cakes by Ronie on August 4, 2011 at 3:06pm

thanks for the tips anne! i'm a last minute person and this is something that i've had to learn while doing cakes. i'm in the process of starting my business so i'm soaking in all the information.

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