Birthday cake

[Mishy1234]

I'm making a sponge birthday cake for DS1's party on sunday and was wondering how far in advance I can make it.

It's going to be just an ordinary vanilla sponge, but it will be cooked in a bowl (to get a dinosaur body shape) which I haven't done before. I'm a bit worried about it going wrong first time and having to repeat it again and then running out of time.

Originally I was planning on baking it on fri and decorating it on sat, with it being served on sun. Is that as far in advance as I can do it, or could I bring it forward to say, baking it on thurs?

Do you have room in the freezer? I often bake layers ahead, wrap tightly in cling film, put in a plastic bag and then freeze. You can do this up to a week or two ahead (or a couple of days) which will give you a little bit of leeway should something go awry and they still taste absolutely perfect.

Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately I don't have any room in the freezer, but that's a great tip for when I get my big chest freezer in the garage (eventually!).

My main worry is if it doesn't work first time and I don't have time to do it again. I will probably do it tomorrow and keep in the fridge as you suggest.

Bake it Thursday. Wrap well, it will be fine for Sunday.
As stranded bear said, grease the bowl really, really well and it should pop out.
Is it a glass Pyrex type bowl?

Yes, it's a pyrex bowl. I read a tip somewhere to grease and line the bowl with strips of baking parchment and/or a circle of paper in the base. Fingers crossed it comes out first time!

Have you baked it yet?

Yes, I did it today and it worked out ok. Looks a bit dry though, so will put a couple of layers of buttercream through it.

Now all I need to do is decorate it and keep it safe until sunday!

I wouldn't put a sponge in the fridge - just an air tight container.

I've just wrapped it in baking parchment and foil. Think it should be ok until I buttercream/ice it tomorrow. Just glad it came out of the pyrex bowl ok. I greased it with Wilton 'cake release' and added a disc of paper at the bottom. It came out really easily.

Fingers crossed the decoration goes ok tomorrow. I'll breathe a sigh of relief when it's all cut up and distributed. Kids parties are so stressful!