Making a HaaHoo Birthday Cake

[sarahel]

Hi there

I am planning on baking 2 haahoo (ITNG) birthday cakes for my twins birthday in a couple of weeks.

Bearing in mind I've never baked before (only cupcakes!) I have a few queries for any cake gurus out there..

I was planning on baking 2 choc sandwich cakes and then shaping to the haahoo shapes. Then ordering the relevant colour icing from a cake shop to put on top and shape round cake.

Questions!

Will a normal 8" choc sandwich cake withstand a layer/sheet of the fondant icing on top? Will it taste ok?! Do I need to put icing on the top of the cake for the fondant to stick to?

Does anyone have a good choc cake recipe?

How long in advance do you think I could make it?

Thank you to any responders. Will post a pic if they turn out ok!!

I prefer using madeira cake if it's being decorated, I find sponge cake a bit too delicate and madeira cake can be made in advance so that you don't have to do the whole lot at once. I just buy the icing from a supermarket and use food colouring to get it to the right colour (easy but messy!) then I use lemon curd to get the icing to stay put on the cake.

But madeira cake is not chocolatey :( I bet someone else will know a good recipe though!

I think a mud cake (google it) is more carve-able.

Sarahel- Haven't got a clue myself but if yours work I will be trying the same...

And what a great idea! I'd been worrying about how to fashion a Makka Pakka cake!

yes you do need to cover the cakes in something, usually buttercream (there are a few different recipes out there but most simply butter and icing sugar), before you put the fondant icing on.

Best to make cakes you can freeze, as EauRouge said, that way you split the work in two, as it will take more time than you expect to decorate, especially for a first timer. Also, once you've frozen the cake, it will be easier to cut and shape and cover with buttercream without crumbs.

Mudcake is a good idea too as it freezes well and cuts well too - check this one out, its good as they have provided ingredients for different sized tins.

good luck!

www.exclusivelyfood.com.au/2006/07/chocolate-mud-cake-recipe.html

oops i forgot the link...

also see youtube for videos on covering a cake with buttercream and fondant, really useful for beginners!

thanks everyone for your help, I'm feeling much more confident now!

questions2008 that is really helpful and a good mudcake recipe. would you put the fondant icing on top of the ganache or straight on to the cake?

bowbluebell - good luck with macca pacca!

will let you know how it goes....

i guess you could use the ganache instead of buttercream, ive heard that it makes for a smoother look especially when you need sharp edges - probably not a necessity for this cake though. But you definitely need something between the cake and the fondant, ganache or buttercream. the smoother you get the icing on the cake (or ganache) the smoother the fondant icing will look when it goes on, on top. after you put the ganache or buttercream on the cake, i would let it set up in the fridge for a couple of hours and some people leave overnight. if you have bumps and lumps then they will show through the icing, so try and get it smooth.

as it is your first cake (i assume) i would buy the pre-coloured icing from cake shops as it will save you the time of trying to get the right colour and all that kneading to mix it in, because you're meant to use the paste colours anyway which would be an extra expense....you can tell i researched a lot for my LO's 1st birthday cake (also my first decorated cake ever) so i know how you feel! now i'm getting addicted so beware!

brilliant - I'm now planning on freezing the cake ahead and have just ordered the coloured icing online. Will attempt doing it myself another day!

Anyway if I ice it on the Thurs night for the Sat lunchtime it will give me the Friday for buying an emergency cake if needed!!

Thanks for tips on the smoothness I hadn't thought of that!

great seems like you have it well planned out. good luck and let us know what happens! and when it's all over have a look at www.www.cakecentral.com :o

oops not doing well with links today...

www.cakecentral.com

check this site It will make you feel really talented at cake making.