Any talented bakers here?!

[brittleheadgirl]

I'm contemplating making a cake for my Auntie's 50th and know she'd love the one I've attached.
I'm not bad at the actual baking but how do I achieve the icing like this?!

That's just buttercream, fill the cake, do just crumbcoat, that's it. It's a semi naked cake, there isn't really any icing on it!

Is that icing icing do you think or more like frosting type stuff? You know the one you get pre mixed in a jar/tub?

Ah buttercream! Much more like it!

Butter cream I can definitely do!!!

Is it 3 pieces of cake or is each layer lots of other layers? I can't work it out!!!

Yep looks like buttercream. You'll need a palette knife (or multiple) and a cake turntable thingy would make it easier.

Looks like lots of layers, make a couple of large sponges then cut, maybe cheesewire- but am sure there's a fancy tool to do it properly.

I think it's 4 thin cheescakes per tier

Each of the 3 cakes is probably baked in multiple layers - either 2 cakes each halved or 4 individual cakes. And then leveled off at the top to remove domes

So is it cheesecakes?!
I need a classic sort of sponge, can this look be achieved with cake?

It's 12 sponge layers with quite thick layers of buttercream in between. Dowels would definitely be required to hold it together. As the cakes settle they have probably oozed some buttercream out the sides and that has been smoother around the sides with a palette knife to create the naked look.

It would be a lot of work to complete. You could hide a multitude of sins underneath fresh fruit and flowers as decoration though. The structural integrity would be the most important thing.

Right, so I'm now thinking I'd do a rubbish job of this!!!
Any suggestions of something beautiful but more achievable

Yes you can get this look with standard sponge cakes, using dowels and boards. Google naked wedding cakes, you'll see lots of similar ones.

You could buy a tiered cake stand for a few cakes/cupcakes and decorate them with flowers?

It's a madeira type cake, 3 tiers, each tier has 4 layers with filling in between. If you make a sponge cake make sure it isn't a fatless sponge or it will dry out before it's eaten if used for this type of cake.

You just need standard sponge cake, semi-naked is an easy type of cake to do - the mumsnet vipers have faith in you you can do this! Here's a youtube tutorial :)

Awww thanks vipers!!
I'm not so sure but am reassured by those who have said it's easy?
I have a great little cookware shop locally and they do loads of baking equipment, so I might pop in and see what they've got tomorrow!

All you need is a little cranked pallette knife, nothing else extra besides tins.

I have learned to make the buttercream for the outside thinner than normal so it spreads easily. Chill the layers before you buttercream them, it won't crumb so much.
Once you level each layer, turn them towards the middle so the cut side of the sponge is inside the cake, not on top.
Have a look at some videos, much easier to watch than explain.
Use flower picks so that you aren't pushing naked flower stems into your sponges.

Take your time, look at dowels and support. It's doable but be patient!

Do each layer separately and stack at the venue. Almost impossible to move safely once it's assembled.

Good luck!!

@PennineWayinSlingbacks

I have learned to make the buttercream for the outside thinner than normal so it spreads easily. Chill the layers before you buttercream them, it won't crumb so much. Once you level each layer, turn them towards the middle so the cut side of the sponge is inside the cake, not on top. Have a look at some videos, much easier to watch than explain. Use flower picks so that you aren't pushing naked flower stems into your sponges.

Take your time, look at dowels and support. It's doable but be patient!

Do each layer separately and stack at the venue. Almost impossible to move safely once it's assembled.

Good luck!!

Ah that might be a problem then - it needs to travel approx 8 miles!!!

Thank you everyone!
A pp has suggested the cake I have in mind won't travel well, any ideas for something similar that won't mind being driven a few miles!

If you buy some non slip mat and put each layer on a cake board and then in a seperate box lined with the non slip mat they will not move.
Make sure the cake board is the exact size of each layer so it doesn't show.
Dip your palette knife in warm water and dry before applying the buttercream. Makes life a lot easier.

Like this.