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Original poster

HELP please - cake emergency! Decorations melting in the humidity

36 replies

Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 11:07

I'm making a Voldemort/Avada Kedavra themed cake for ds2's birthday tomorrow. Have made Voldemort, dead Harry, Nagini and all the horcruxes using a mixture of sugarpaste with tylo powder added and gumpaste. Have spent two days making them, the plan was to make the cake today and assemble this evening. Yesterday evening when I went to bed the models were mostly dry, the more recent ones still a bit pliable. Voldemort was totally rock solid, I made him first because he has arms up in the air which is always tricky, and his hand needs to be robust enough to hold the Elder wand.

This morning the humidity seems to have gone nuts, and everything that was hard is now sticky and moveable 😭 Voldemort's fingers are drooping and Harry's hair is actually wet and melting! Sodding humidity! I can't afford to buy a dehumidifier. Does anyone have any ideas? I've worked so hard on this Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 11:17

Shameless bump

OP posts:
LoverNotAFighter · 18/08/2023 11:22

I dont have any advice but could you post a picture of the cake when its done it sounds amazing!

cruffinsmuffin · 18/08/2023 11:25

Can they go into the fridge? To chill up then be placed on the cake before serving?

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Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 11:30

I thought humidity/condensation would be worse inside a fridge? I could be wrong -will Google! If it isn't a wet saggy failure I'll post a picture when it's done!

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MBappse · 18/08/2023 11:32

Much dryer in the fridge (I think)

Friggingfrog · 18/08/2023 11:32

I would also try fridge. It sounds incredible- please post a pic! You sound very talented

LookingForPurpose · 18/08/2023 11:32

DO NOT PUT THEN IN THE FRIDGE!! I once made a beautiful ginger bread house for the school auction, took me 7 hours and cost a fortune. The bloody cook decided to put it in the fridge and then cage rubbing into my classroom crying as all of the icing had melted!

I would put your oven on the lowest possible setting, the type of temperature you would use for pricing bread and then put them in there with the door open a tiny crack

lovewoola · 18/08/2023 11:34

I dont have any advice but could you post a picture of the cake when its done it sounds amazing!

same!

Sheepsheepie · 18/08/2023 11:36

LookingForPurpose · 18/08/2023 11:32

DO NOT PUT THEN IN THE FRIDGE!! I once made a beautiful ginger bread house for the school auction, took me 7 hours and cost a fortune. The bloody cook decided to put it in the fridge and then cage rubbing into my classroom crying as all of the icing had melted!

I would put your oven on the lowest possible setting, the type of temperature you would use for pricing bread and then put them in there with the door open a tiny crack

As a fellow cake maker I agree with this, you need a proving draw or very low temp oven. To try and dry them out without cracking. Then an air tight container until last minute.

Afolnerd · 18/08/2023 11:36

Yes definitely don’t put them in the fridge.
You can use the oven like a pp says. Hairdryer will work too. I have also used our tortoises heat lamp which worked great. They will be salvageable.

Lindy2 · 18/08/2023 11:40

Do you have an airing cupboard? If so I'd put them in there.

You need somewhere dry.

An oven would also be dry even if turned off. A tray of rice in there would also absorb any moisture. I'm not sure about turning the oven on. The figures might discolour a bit as they cook.

I would also love to see photos. They sound great!

FrazzledMCPremenopausalWoman · 18/08/2023 12:22

Don't put them in the fridge - or the oven, as the heat will cause the typo/gumpaste to soften!
If you've got a powerful room fan then I'd give them a good blast with that for as long as you possibly can. Or hairdryer on COLD (no heat at all).
Good luck!

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 12:30

FrazzledMCPremenopausalWoman · 18/08/2023 12:22

Don't put them in the fridge - or the oven, as the heat will cause the typo/gumpaste to soften!
If you've got a powerful room fan then I'd give them a good blast with that for as long as you possibly can. Or hairdryer on COLD (no heat at all).
Good luck!

I don't have a hairdryer or a fan unfortunately Sad I don't think I will risk the oven, the figures are on a plastic mat that would melt, and they're too sticky to move now. Humidity is in the 90s for the rest of the day. I need a miracle 😩

OP posts:
MyCatHasStaff · 18/08/2023 13:01

Try to get them off the plastic mat, if possible put them on smooth kitchen paper which will help absorb some moisture, then lift them carefully into a cardboard box, preferably with a lid. You could try a very loose wrapping of kitchen paper, it doesn't have to be touching the figures.

Blixem · 18/08/2023 13:10

Have you had them in an airtight container? That will make them go sticky.

evilharpy · 18/08/2023 13:46

Ex cake maker here. Turn the oven on to the lowest temperature, throw them in there for about 20 minutes (no need to crack the door open), turn the oven off and leave them there for another wee while to fully cool down. I used to do this all the time with my models and it was a godsend. Also used to bake all my cake boards so they would be rock hard and I wouldn't accidentally dent them, and cut out letters so I could put them on the cake without pulling them out of shape. The plastic mat they're on will probably be fine, I used to throw stuff in there on plastic Ikea trays - the lowest temperature is only about 50 degrees, you can take stuff out with your bare hands and it'll just be a bit warm.

DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE FRIDGE. They will sweat even more.

evilharpy · 18/08/2023 13:47

Blixem · 18/08/2023 13:10

Have you had them in an airtight container? That will make them go sticky.

Also this. If you need to keep them covered, put them in a cardboard cake box, nothing plastic and nothing airtight.

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 13:50

evilharpy · 18/08/2023 13:46

Ex cake maker here. Turn the oven on to the lowest temperature, throw them in there for about 20 minutes (no need to crack the door open), turn the oven off and leave them there for another wee while to fully cool down. I used to do this all the time with my models and it was a godsend. Also used to bake all my cake boards so they would be rock hard and I wouldn't accidentally dent them, and cut out letters so I could put them on the cake without pulling them out of shape. The plastic mat they're on will probably be fine, I used to throw stuff in there on plastic Ikea trays - the lowest temperature is only about 50 degrees, you can take stuff out with your bare hands and it'll just be a bit warm.

DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE FRIDGE. They will sweat even more.

Right I'm going to try this, with a tray of dry rice in there to try and soak up some of the moisture. Please keep everything crossed for me! And thank you all 💕

OP posts:
Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 18:32

They've been in the oven for about half an hour, on the lowest setting with the fan and light on and a tray of dry rice...still as soft as shite 😩😩 I don't know what to try next!

OP posts:
evilharpy · 18/08/2023 19:29

They might have been too far gone :( you might need to redo them. Mind you they won't harden up until they cool down fully, take them out and let them cool and see what they're like.

Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 21:55

I've rescued what I can, used a fuckton of confectioners' glue and had to ditch a few bits... everything is a bit sunken and saggy but I think it's the best it's going to be! Thanks for all the advice 🎂💕

OP posts:
Original poster
Greensleeves · 18/08/2023 21:55

Meant to attach photos!

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PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 18/08/2023 21:57

This looks awesome! 👏 👏

and I’m especially impressed by Nagini.
that is one good looking snake 👍

peelyjuice · 18/08/2023 21:58

OMG that's so good! You have put me to shame, all that effort for a 2 yr old!! 😆

peelyjuice · 18/08/2023 21:58

the snake is ace

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