help with sheet cake
I have been asked to make a cake for a retirement, to feed 80-100 people. I figured I would do a cake big enough to serve 100 just in case there are more than 80 people, and if there are only 80 then everyone can get a decent slice, not one of those stingy wedding-cake slices. Anyway, it needs to be a 2-tiered bc creation. So - 2 tiers for about 100 ppl, I figure the bottom tier needs to be a sheet cake (I have the 12x15 sheet pan, not a full sheet). So my question is, do you experts out there have any suggestions for a second tier that is NOT another sheet? I thought maybe a small or middle-sized oval pan might be nice centered atop the sheet. Any other ideas? I'm just worried this may not be enough cake, even if I do a 2-layer oval.
I would also LOVE some ideas for decorating - they don't want anything ostentatious (too bad, ostentatious is really my style! lol) but this is one of the first cakes that I will be "circulating" around town and I'd like to drum up some business. I was thinking either fondant/gumpaste daisies or buttercream roses with polka dots, but I don't want to be TOO boring! The retiree is a librarian, well-loved here in town, and I want to honor her properly.
Thanks for the help!
I would also LOVE some ideas for decorating - they don't want anything ostentatious (too bad, ostentatious is really my style! lol) but this is one of the first cakes that I will be "circulating" around town and I'd like to drum up some business. I was thinking either fondant/gumpaste daisies or buttercream roses with polka dots, but I don't want to be TOO boring! The retiree is a librarian, well-loved here in town, and I want to honor her properly.
Thanks for the help!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen Marie on
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Make a 2 tier cake to look like books...there are quite a few examples here on this site
http://www.cakeswebake.com/photo/photo/search?q=books
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Permalink Reply by Marta Phillips on
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That would be so cute! Incorporate books in some way. You could always have the sheet cake be your base cake to heelp with the # of servings.
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Permalink Reply by Diana on
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I was going to say the exact same thing! If I were making the cake, I would make the base (sheet cake) look like a desk/table top with some books stacked (the books can be your second tier). And maybe lay out some library cards?! But I don't know if that would be "too much". If so, you could maybe just do some piping and bc transfers. Just some ideas! :0) Hope this helps, somewhat! Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Cintron on
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Thank you so much for the feedback, but you guys give me WAY too much credit if you think I can do those book cakes! I actually wanted to do the bottom sheet and the second layer with the wilton book pan, but I measured them out and the book pan is either as big as or possibly slightly bigger than the 11x15 sheet pan that I have (half sheet, maybe?) and I just didn't want to invest in that many pans - as it is we are running out of kitchen space and my husband is about to throw down an ultimatum - it's me or the pans!
I decided to go with the bottom tier sheet and lay an oval nearly as big on top of that. I went with a daisy theme, something quite similar to the "daisy burst" cake on the Wilton site, and I'm going to make a "bouquet" of mini-cupcakes topped with daisies on the top. Have not yet decided if I'll stick the bouquet directly into a mini oval third tier, or use floral wire to suspend them slightly above the 2d tier.
I think those book cakes are just too cute, and I would love to learn how to do them, maybe for another time. Is there any online tutorial on this site or maybe YouTube that shows you how to do it?
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I'm sure you could have done those books! So sorry your book pan did not work, that sounded cute too. But I am a HUGE fan of daisies(I would probably use them on every cake if I could!!!) and what you are doing sounds so cute! Be sure to post a pic so we can see how it turns out! My husband has threatened my cake stuff almost every day, but he is secretly proud of me, so he lets me stay! And remember- confidence my dear! You will be doing books very soon!!!
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Book cakes look fairly simple to me even though I havent done them but I bet if you messaged a few of the people who posted pics they would help you. Looks to me like just a rectangle covered in fondant on 3 sides to look like the binding and then colored to resemble books......think I am gonna have to make one lol!
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You will eventually get the "book" case down! It's really not as hard as you might think. But I am really loving the "daisy burst" idea! I think they will absolutely love it! Please do post pictures as soon as you are finished. I cannot wait to see! It's funny, seems like every husband has something to say about all the cake pans, money spent on cake supplies and the HUGE mess we make in the kitchen, but yes, secretly deep down inside, I think they are proud of us! :-) That's just a man for ya! LOL!
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Thank you for the support and ideas! The cake is done but I've been without a computer for a few days so I can't upload the photo yet. However, the cake was very well-received and a couple of people asked for my business card! That's prettyexciting for me since I am just starting out. I guess MAYBE I could figure out the book cake but yes, I think it would have to be fondant and they didn't want fondant. Also yes, as much as hubby moans about the endless supple of pans and other baking tools, he is my biggest cheerleader AND he never turns down cake when I feel like experimenting (or when something goes wrong and I have to start over)!
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Permalink Reply by mindy gwinn on
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I really would not bother with a two tier unless you really have to. I would do a double layer full sheet cake that is supposed to feed about 160-200 or 100 good sized pieces. You can get a really grand effect doing this without all of the worry. You would use 4 of the 12x15 pans, 2 of them side by side and the other two on top of those, don't forget to use filling or icing in between the layers.
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I have finally uploaded a couple of recent cake photos, so for those of you who wanted to see what I came up with, it is the 2-tiered cake in my photos, iced green with the daisies. Thanks again for all your helpful ideas!
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