Giant cupcake cake smash

[PandaEyes2]

Hi all,

I have my sons cake smash this Sunday (8th). I have practiced his cake once and it wasn't too bad. I've got the right recipe and cooked well last time.

However I've just done another practice run just to be sure and it seems worse than last time (exact same recipe). I am putting the oven on 160c and on my oven I have a setting that's apparently good for cakes (the picture for it looks like just 2 lines 1 above the other, whereas the normal fan oven has a fan in the middle). I'm wondering if I should just cook it using the ordinary fan oven setting as I've found this time that the sides are cooking long before the middle.

Doesn't anyone have any words of wisdom. I know it will be smashed up but I can't take a cake this is raw in the middle. I feel I have a good recipe so I'm prepared to stick with it.

I'm cooking the bottom first and covering with foil around 20 minutes in so the top doesn't burn and takes around an hour and pretty much the same for the top.

[JigglyTuff]

Why does it matter if you're going to smash it? I cook my cakes using the fan oven and they always come out fine (but I eat them).

Put a skewer in - if it comes out clean, it won't be raw. It might make it sink a bit in the middle but who cares?

[PandaEyes2]

It matters because I can't have my son eating cake that's raw in the middle (if he does smash it enough and eat it). And when I put the top on it, ifs it raw it's obviously going to crush and sink in to the bottom.

[JigglyTuff]

Oh okay. Well do the skewer test then but undercooked cake mix won't do him any harm

[WhyOhWine]

"I have my son's cake smash this SUnday" makes it sound like a regular event that many people have like a birthday or christening. It really isn;t is it? Is there a fixed age for this event?

[BertrandRussell]

Why on earth are you having a cake smash? It's so wasteful!

[opheliacat]

I hate fhem, sorry OP. They are in such poor taste.

[PandaEyes2]

Wow... I didn't realise I was going to get so much negativity. A lot of people do book cake smashes for their babies first birthday, which I have also done. It would be nice to look back on the photos from his first birthday and also looks a lot of fun. I don't feel I have to justify my decision though as it will also be personal preference. Some like to do it, some don't.

I was just looking for a little bit advice, if anyone has made one before or something similar. I'm not a professional baker but I enjoy baking and usually get fairly good results.

[Groovee]

I use a long metal skewer when baking the keep resting a deeper cake is done. I just keep cooking for 8-10 minutes.

[FinallyHere]

Have you considered buying a sponge and icing it yourself?

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

Is it his birthday? . How bizarre to announce it’s his “Cake Smash” as if it was a recognised event, instead of his birthday.
Weird.

[marcopront]

Not just a cake smash but one with at least two practices. How much of these three cakes will be eaten?

[PandaEyes2]

Has nobody ever heard of a cake smash?... I'm genuinely interested as it's not a new concept. Its not his official birthday but I'm doing it so I can get his photos back on or around his actual birthday and we have a small tea party arranged for his actual birthday. Yes I suppose it could be conserved and event, as I say it's not his actual official birthday.

[PandaEyes2]

The practices I made will be eaten. The last was mostly eaten and I'm sure this will be too. The cake for his photos may or may not be eaten by him (obviously not the whole thing) but I feel people are missing the point.

[NannyR]

You can buy a ready made giant cupcake birthday cake at Morrison's, I would imagine other supermarkets do them too.

[opheliacat]

I have heard of them. I just utterly hate them.

[AgentProvocateur]

I think most people have "heard" of. Ale smashes, but think that they're wasteful
and as tacky AF.

[AgentProvocateur]

cake smashes

[PickleSarnie]

Slightly undercooked cake isn't going to harm anyone.

Poor cake. I do love cake. Wasted cake makes me sad.

[Unihorn]

Ale smash sounds better but probably less appropriate

[PandaEyes2]

@opheliacat if you hate them why bother commenting on a post about them looking for advice. I don't hate them therefore I've got one booked!

I've seen a few for sale but like I say I enjoy baking and thought it would be more special and enjoyable knowing it's something I have created. I can also decorate how I please.

[opheliacat]

Ale smash sounds like a right larf!

[Fucky]

Why the nastiness? Tacky af? To be fair I think agent provocateur is tacky af. Just sayin.

[opheliacat]

I get that OP ... but they are just so tacky it is hard not to comment. Far nicer to just put your baking skills to good use making a lovely first birthday cake, IMHO

[PandaEyes2]

I hate dummies but I don't post on pictures or posts or stop strangers in the street who's baby has a dummy and vent how much I hate them. That's down to the parent, much like my decision is... that's a different subject all together though.

I was genuinely asking for a bit of advice from someone had made one or similar. I feel this is getting out of hand now though.

[magicstar1]

The best giant cupcake recipe I've used is The Pink Whisk one.

www.thepinkwhisk.co.uk/2013/04/vanilla-giant-cupcake-recipe.html

I have to recommend the chocolate traybake recipe from there too...it's addictive.