Monday, March 8, 2010

Birthday Cake . . . The Rest of the Story

I'd asked Elise for a couple weeks what she wanted for a birthday cake.  I've noticed my kids are getting more daring with their cake ideas, and knew I would need time to make whatever she choose.  So far I've been able to make whatever they've thought up, but Elise took the cake (HaHa!) when she finally chose her design.  I really shouldn't let them watch Cake Boss anymore.

She wanted a topsy turvey cake.  That was by far more difficult than anything I'd yet attempted, so I started googling.  I spent at least 2-3 hours looking up the right way to make the cake, how to make a box cake mix dense enough to carve, and the best way to make a smooth frosting (since I am not ready to try fondant yet).  Then I bought the supplies: 3 cake mixes (with the dense rich recipe made it more like 6 mixes) and 3.5 batches of frosting (2 lbs powdered sugar each), 2 cake pans each of three sizes.

And then I started baking.  9 layers baked, frozen, stacked, carved, frosted, re-frozen, stacked again, frozen again, frosted again and then decorated.  I made it early (just in case I couldn't do it and needed an alternative cake).Oh hubris, I even took pictures as I went.  I knew from the beginning it would be either spectacular or spectacularly disastrous and thought the documented journey would be fun either way. 

It was spectacular!  Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm the next cake decorating diva.  What I mean is that it was the hardest cake I'd ever made and it turned out better than I expected.  Elise loved it, I loved it, and that made it spectacular.

Without further ado, here is the cake:



And here is how it looked the next morning:
(2 days before I needed it)




I guess the boxed cake with extra dense additions wasn't strong enough.  Or I moved it too often trying to get pictures, or I should have kept it frozen until we ate it.  You can see the dowel sticks stuck in for support.  They failed.

This is the first time I've had a cake that was both spectacular and a spectacular disaster.

I'm thinking I might smack the candles on top of the mess and still use it (no friends party just our family).  What do you think?
_____________

I can't believe I forgot to do the beautiful blogger last post!  The next person on my list is Jane at Seagull Fountain.  Jane writes beautifully and thoughtfully.  She is able to give her opinions directly without being offensive (I don't always agree with her but never feel attacked), probably because her ideas are always so well thought out.  Her writing is a wonderful mix of the angst and joy involved in motherhood and life in general.  She also twitters as @SeagullFountain

I must confess I have extra love for her blog because she was my first.  That's right, back when I was checking friend's side bars trying to find long lost friends I clicked over to her blog.  Back then I would usually move on if I didn't know the person, but her writing drew me in and I read and read.  I found I was always searching for her blog on that side bar to check for new postings and finally added her to google reader.  About 6 months later I finally had the courage to comment on her blog. I still get excited to open google reader and see that she has posted.  I'm excited to meet her in May.


Please note I am not some sycophant stalker, I just believe in giving credit where credit is due.

34 comments:

  1. That's a lot of cake to not eat and throw away. I can't believe it did that!

    Good for you for trying to make it. I would say eat your cake!!

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  2. Definitely you need to put candles on and enjoy! It would make the story complete. I'm so glad that you got pictures before so that we could see the before and after. :-) I'm sure it will be DELICIOUS!

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  3. I was getting all ready to say how AMAZING I thought your cake looked!
    Then I saw the next picture and thought... OH NO!
    I guess its a REAL topsy turvy cake now!
    I once made a wedding cake for a friend. It turned out great with the exception that the top piece broke. I tried holding it together with toothpicks and wire! LOL! When you looked at it from the side you could see the back end drooping down.

    Amazingly we are still friends.

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  4. Oh no!! I can just imagine how your heart sunk when you saw that.

    I say stick those candles in it, take some pics, and enjoy it. It still looks delicious :)

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  5. Oh, man! It was gorgeous before the tumble though, and you have pix to prove it!

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  6. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing cake!!! You are so talented! I love the font for Elise's name.
    I say just stick candles in it and eat it. There is plenty to go around. (but, I guess that should be Elise's decision????)

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  7. You're amazing, Charlotte! That was a hard cake to make! It looked great and, in the after picture, it looked like it was greatly enjoyed. In my piggy family, this after appearance would be no deterrent to further enjoyment. They'd just grab some forks and dig right in!

    Can't wait to see what the next one asks for!

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  8. You're amazing for even trying this! I hope you decided to put candles in and eat it anyway!

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  9. I am just amazed that you took the time to make that cake. I bet your daughter really appreciated it!

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  10. Well, I hope Elise was not too disappointed that it fell apart. I guess you can try next time (like there will be a next time!) with making your own cake from scratch. At anyrate, it's way more culinarily brave than I could have been.

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  11. I am so sorry that it fell. It was such a beautiful cake. I'm sure it will taste good and Elise will always remember it.

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  12. It did look awesome. Ken wants me to try out fondant, but I'm not sure about it either. I've heard it doesn't taste very good. I definately say eat it!

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  13. Wow, are you kidding me? What talent! I couldn't do this if someone stood next to me telling me what to do next. Awesome job, and it looks like they enjoyed it!

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  14. You seriously must love your kids more than I love mine. Either that or I have no creativity in the cake department.
    I say go with the candles in the heap. Looks delicious!..and very impressive before the fall.

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  15. I can't believe that you did so much decorating withOUT fondant! If my child asked for a cake like that--especially for a non-friend party--I'd probably laugh and ask her to be serious. No way would I even attempt such a fancy cake. I really (truly) like the little blue circles that kind of look like belly buttons.

    The most recent picture reminds me of those family photos that we all take so much time to prepare for: coordinate outfits, style everyone's hair perfectly, make the kids practice smiling on demand for a few days in advance.... Then it all falls apart at the studio and the best photo is the one where almost everyone is at least facing the camera, even though they're not looking at it, and only half the family sort of looks happy to be together. Those photos are my favorite to look back on and remember how dreadful the whole attempt was. They make for great memories, as I'm sure this cake will.

    Just be sure when you add the candles that they are stuck in all sorts of odd spots and hanging on at skiwampis angles. I mean, you might as well continue your creativity with what you have to work with.

    BTW, thanks for increasing my vocabulary with "hubris". (I had to look it up!)

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  16. Just to let you all know, we stuck the candles in and used the cake. I'll try to post the picture.

    While eating my other daughter requested a cake like it for her birthday and Elise said she wanted me to try the exact cake (decorations and all) next year.

    My 3 year old reminded me he wants a turtle cake (been decided since his last birthday), but added "BUT NOT DESTROYED. NOT. Okay? Not."

    Also, 9 y/o revealed his desire for an elephant shaped cake. At least I can start looking now. I have 9 months to figure it out.

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  17. CHARLOTTE! I can't believe that happened to your beautiful cake! (this is where I'd say something about how low -- very low -- expectations pay off, but you obviously have talent in cake-making, so you better keep at it!).

    Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog. That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me. (And I think I'll do you the supreme compliment of copying your method of passing on the beautiful blogger award, if that's okay. ;p).

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  18. Charlotte, thanks for your post on my blog! I'm glad to have been introduced to yours, now. Your cake was amazing. I was cheering when I saw the finished product--and then felt a pit in my stomach when I saw the morning after. Can you just use LOTS of frosting maybe?

    The cake was truly stunning--possibly you might think of it as being too good for this world.

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  19. I'm way late to comment on this, but I think it's great that you didn't toss it out!
    Sometimes our best efforts don't produce the results we work so hard for--there's a Relief Society lesson in this!! lol

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  20. I saw that beautiful cake and was so excited for you. Then at the end, 2 days before. Agh! I would be burned out on cakes for a bit. I can barely even do one cake, not to mention 3 boxes worth. You did an amazing job!

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  21. NOOOOO!! Two days BEFORE you needed it?!!! Good job for trying it though! It looked great! I could never make that cake! You did well. Mr. V could, maybe. Once I made him a cake: it was a boxed pineapple bundt cake with german chocolate frosting. While we were dating. Surprisingly, he still married me.
    (I like Jane, too!)

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  22. I think it still looks delicious...even after it fell over. It makes me want to grab handfuls and stuff it in my mouth!

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  23. You are much braver than me for even trying! When I saw the morning after drama, I though, well at least it tastes the same going down.

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  24. Wow-what an amazing cas that was/is! I'm a huge fan of cupcakes and I'd say since it's family-make it a no hands eating contest or something fun:) Hope you have a fun party--was she crushed, too?

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  25. BTW-my friend introduced me to marshmellow fondant which actually tastes good compared to regul. fondant. It's super easy. Glad you ate it anyway!

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  26. No matter what, it is an AMAZING cake - I'm still impressed and you should NOT throw it out before sticking those candles in. It will taste delish no matter what.

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  27. Yes fabulous. And even destroyed it made my mouth water. I am going to eat cookies now.

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  28. Oh Charlotte, you're such a wonderful mom for endeavoring to make that beautiful cake for Elise. It looks absolutely delicious - in all of the shots!

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  29. It turned out amazing,well until the next day picture.

    I would stick candles on it and use it. Cake is cake ya know.

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  30. It turned out amazing,well until the next day picture.

    I would stick candles on it and use it. Cake is cake ya know.

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  31. OH NO!! That's when you get a DQ cake for the party and take the leftovers of the tumbled one and go eat them in your bathroom.

    Either that or just serve it as it with a photo of the pre-fall version right next to it.

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  32. Oh man. I didn't know the rest of the story. The cake turned out awesome! I was so impressed. When I saw the picture of it knocked over the first thought that popped into my head was "Is Joseph still alive?!?" I'm glad to hear it wasn't any of your kids.

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  33. Well... before it fell that was one of the most fabulous cakes I have ever seen. I always bake my kids cakes... as do you. But I could never live up to your cake skills. I am in awe. And you have 6 kids. You need to give lessons on your awesomesauceness!

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  34. I should really keep up with blogs I read.....I had no idea that the fantabulous cake you twittered about did that!!!! So sad! Glad got the pictures as soon as you finished it....before, well, you know.

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