100th Birthday Cake - and the client wants me to bake the numbers themselves. Need suggestions....

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Comment by Veena Azmanov on January 11, 2012 at 1:37am

I've made a number 30 and a number 12 so far.

I do not use special pans so I baked a sheet cake for the number one, then just stack two layers and cut a small triangle to place on the top.

For the zeros I would go with the oval pans. When I made my zero I did not have an oval pan so used a round pan. Cut out the center hole then used left over two squares of a sheet cake and placed them right between the semicircle. I hope I'm making sense.

I do have pictures of my number 12 cake, so I can share with you how i made the number one. I am suppose to make a blog post on how to make a number 1,2 or 12 for my blog hence the pictures but have not been able to do that yet. But if you want send me you email and I'll share the pictures with you.

My number 12 was 80 servings and a very heavy so I had to use a big strong boards (I think it's called plywood)

You can check both pictures at my blog or my website - links below

http://veenaartofcakes.blogspot.com/

http://www.veenaartofcakes.com/

Comment by Eileen S on January 9, 2012 at 1:41pm

I would make the zeros out of oval pans - use the largest pan, then use the smallest as a template to cut out the middles (You could probably try putting the small pan in the middle during baking, but it may slide and you'd get uneven numbers.  Good Luck!

Comment by Jeannette on January 9, 2012 at 6:56am

I never thought to place the numbers beside each other.  I rather like that, instead of each number on it's own separate little board.  She has requested the "one" to be chocolate/chocolate, the first "zero" to be yellow/chocolate and the last "zero" to be yellow/buttercream.  I will frost them, then attempt fondant, which gives a smooth texture (but only if they are separate numbers).  Otherwise, they will have to be frosted as she has requested.  No clue what I'll decorate them with yet - I was thinking some sugarpaste flowers/vines.  This lady was my 5th grade teacher and she's a little' dragon' even at nearly 100 years old.  Thank you for the suggestions, Martin and Melanie!  I'll post  pictures of the final result, which will be January 28.  Happy Monday!!

Comment by Martin Brown on January 9, 2012 at 3:39am

Hi Jeannette , I have made a few number cakes and i never use number tins ! It can be quite simple to make numbers using your square and round tins in your collection .

To have enough for 75 i would probably use 2 x10 inch round sponges and 1x 6inch square .

Cut an oval template 10 " height , then use it to trim the round sponges , you don't have to cut out the center , you can just dimple the center and when decorating pipe round it to give it definition , and depending on the colours and decoration fill it with flowers or a colour to highlight it . The 1 is simple cut the 6 inch square in half , put end to end and trim off , a taster for you !!!

Have attatched a couple of pics to give you the idear,

Best of luck Martin xx:)

Comment by Melanie Kenefsky on January 9, 2012 at 3:21am

there are number pans available.  check michaels or EBAY  Other wise use rectangular and cut out the 1

then round pans and cut out the middle