Cake experts this way please....

[chocolatemacadamias]

Please help me (very amateur but willing) create a fantastically tasty and impressive looking birthday cake for my dear friend (who has had a rough time of late) and 17 of her closest friends & family!

I'm happy to try anything,really want the cake to look special to show that we care.

Any and all suggestions welcome!
Oh and the party is on saturday.....

Thank you

how about a series of sponges of reducing sizes all stacked to make a mountain then jam in between and butter cream icing all over. Get a figure for the top and you have your friend climbing to the top of her world :)

Ooh like the sound of that thanks Warlock. Do you think the cakes would be ok if I start making them on Thursday? A basic Vicky sponge do you think?

Trying to decide whether to try sugar paste for the first time...I guess it would work with your idea if I stick it over the buttercream?

Would fresh fruit in with the jam be gross and overkill?

Thursday would be fine and a decent jam with some fruit is ok. Not too much though cos the jam is the glue to hold the sponges together. you can buy Betty Crocker buttercream at Tesco/Sains/Asda etc and then you can texture it to resemble snow. I made this cake for my mums 91st b/day cos she kept telling us that she wasn`t going to climb Everest now :0

Jjust basic sponges , try for 5 levels, you can always trim some if you dont have 5 sizes of tin.

Madaira sponge would hold up better, if you are stacking. You might find the bottom layer will sag and lose shape if you use an ordinary sponge mix.

Madeira, not madaira!

MML Victoria sponge worked fine for me, You could use colouring to have a real surprise inside if you fancy being a bit flash

Thanks ladies!

Think I might do a trial version tomorrow if I have time...bit nervous of the stacking part haven't tried that before.

Madeira, or Nigella's buttermilk cake. Straws for scaffolding, boards between tiers. I wouldn't put in fresh fruit IIWY because it will go off really quickly. Better to use it for last minute decoration.

Excuse me but this Warlock is a male !!

try a 3 tier Choco and come back here if you have a problem

Oops sorry warlock - guess the clue was in your name hey!

Will report back as soon as I manage an attempt.

Thanks again

Make sure your cakes are nice and cold (from the fridge) before you stack them then Choco, if you're going to go with ordinary cake mix. The cake tins will need to be deep enough to hold their shape too.