How Not to look too homemade

[glasshouse]

I've been asked to make a birthday cake for a friend (a birthday ending in 0!). I'm used to making childrens cakes but would really like to make this one look less amateurish. I have been inspired to use those chocolate transfer sheets I saw on the Great British Bakeoff but am not sure how easy they are. What are your tips that are simple but look good.

I don't know but oooh! they look GOOD! Am here just to listen to the people who know!

I haven't used the chocolate transfers, but chocolate cigarellos are really easy to use, although quite expensive. I've just put a picture of a single tier white chocolate cigarello cake I made when I first started making cakes so you can see. You just coat the cake in ganache and stick them on, very easy but looks effective.

Oh wow Midori, that looks excellent. Your other cakes are way out of my league though.

Chocolate transfer sheets really aren't that hard to use you just have to be careful not to let the chocolate over-set before wrapping it onto the cake!! Good luck

Midori, I love your work, especially the choc one with the roses

slimjim, thats a good video, she makes it look so easy.

I get loads of tips from youtube, I love doing cakes!

That video looks great. I'll have to have a practise. If it all turns out ok I'll put a picture up!

Thanks for all your help.

As promised, picture of the cake on my profile. The transfers worked well, but managed to break the bow on top before I got to the party!

Glasshouse, i'm impressed! doesn't look easy though.

It was actually easy enough, but I'm not used to doing such big cakes (12" ooh err missus!) and the manipulation of the layers was a bit scarey. Didnt get the ganache as smooth as I would have liked but then I dont do it enough to get the practice. The transfers were easier than I thought they would be and will use them again when I get the occassion.

Yes thats annoying when you spend so much time on something, the pic i put on profile of the girl sitting on daisies, i put the cake in the mircowave when i finished it because my grandson was due down for the day, and knocked the head off, i was distraught, clean off it came and half the hair broke, i shut the door went to work ( after crying my eyes out first, i was in the middle of moving but as i promised her this cake so had to do it) then dealt with it at 12.oclock at night, never again, fairly pleased with it but it did take the shine off for me.

You wouldnt have known from the photo. It looks wonderful. You have more patience than I have with the modelling, I think everything I'd do would have a nod to Potato Man!

Thank you glasshouse.