How do I make a number one shaped cake?

[mummysmilk]

How do I make a cake in the shape of a number one without buying a special tin?It is Ds's 1st birthday on the 22nd. Gone so quickly...getting emotional must stop!

[flamesparrow]

Have you got any loaf tins? You could make 3 cakes - one for the middle bit, one for the bottom, and then cut the end of the third at an angle to get the other bit....

[Donbean]

Could you not just make a long oblong cake then cut pieces off it into the shape of a one?

[mummysmilk]

hmmmm how I wish there was a decent tesco near me.I like tesco but we only have a tiny one which wont do thigs like that!
Ive got loaf tins so I could try making three cakes, Id have to get a new tin for your idea Donbean cos the tins Ive got wouldnt be long enough!Ill c how lazy Im feeling cos one cake would be easier than three, I might invest in a longer tin!Ds is asleep, its my day off, raining and so Ive got nothing better to do than think about if I should buy a new cake tin or not!!!!Wot flavour cake do you do for a 1 year old?Just a plain sponge? He wont be eating much of it so it doesnt really matter.

[LIZS]

Use a larger tin and insert the shape of the number folded out of foil into which you pour the mixture ( need to leave a foil base too when you fold to stop it oozing).

[auntymandy]

I used a loaf tin and baked a couple of cakes and built it up!
Alternativly you can hire numbers from cake shops

[geogteach]

To really cheat buy swiss rolls, use one for the body and cut another to make the other bits. Cover with yummy icing so no one can see the joins!

[Niddlynono]

You can hire number tins. I recently hired one from an arts & crafts shop in Balham after doing a Google search for something like 'number cake tin sw london' and found another messageboard recommending the shop.

Good luck!

[clary]

yes I would hire a tin. Only a few quids IIRC.
I also have number biscuit cutters which are sooooo brill and use Nigella's recipe, very popular at parties.
She says "My children couldn't contemplate a birthday without them" lololol

[Niddlynono]

By the way, the tin I hired only cost £3 for 3 days.

[gigglinggoblin]

i just make a huge cake in a roasting tin and then cut out the shape i want. tragically, that means there is a load of cake hanging about which needs to be disposed of somehow