Giant cupcake cake smash

[PandaEyes2]

Hi all,

I have my sons cake smash this Sunday (8th). I have practiced his cake once and it wasn't too bad. I've got the right recipe and cooked well last time.

However I've just done another practice run just to be sure and it seems worse than last time (exact same recipe). I am putting the oven on 160c and on my oven I have a setting that's apparently good for cakes (the picture for it looks like just 2 lines 1 above the other, whereas the normal fan oven has a fan in the middle). I'm wondering if I should just cook it using the ordinary fan oven setting as I've found this time that the sides are cooking long before the middle.

Doesn't anyone have any words of wisdom. I know it will be smashed up but I can't take a cake this is raw in the middle. I feel I have a good recipe so I'm prepared to stick with it.

I'm cooking the bottom first and covering with foil around 20 minutes in so the top doesn't burn and takes around an hour and pretty much the same for the top.

I can't believe people are getting so worked up over a bloody cake smash, honestly. If it's not to your taste, don't do it? It's not like the OP has set her child opposite a food bank and made them watch is it?! Also it's her bloody cake to 'waste' if she wants

OP I agree temperature sounds a bit off if you're not using the fan, all my cakes get done at 180 in a non-fan assisted.

That picture above is awful.
Why not get a nice photo of your child rather than one where they look gross?

Just cook the cake on a lower heat for longer.

And ignore the 'cake smash haters', I am a cake maker and also into photography, I feel kind of sad that I didn't get a chance to do a cake smash with my dc's (it wasn't a thing when they were tiny).

We have plenty of photos of him dressed nicely and a "family photoshoot" of the 3 of us with some lover images. However what's wrong with going for the messy plan fun photos that aren't set up. Some people need an injection of fun and personality!

This is not a real thread. Disengage people, or the DM will be over it like ants at a picnic.

Cake smashes are not fun, I hate seeing food smeared children! I would not want a picture to commemorate their filthy face!
Why are they fun? I don't get it.

Perhaps I'm too middle class for it

Of course they are set up! Rather like the ones of kids in Victorian dress or Anne Geddes style. The cake is a prop.

I think it is real. Be fair. Op posted in baking and she's been good natured enough about her flaming.

I came back to say sorry, OP. I don't like them, but you're right - it's none of my business. Hope ds has a good birthday

Really? It seemed a bit too involved and an obvious red button subject. Like to poo cake thread.

I love seeing food smothered around little faces and a smile on their face! They need to explore food and learn about different textures etc. What's a little mess.. mess and faces can be cleaned! My HV actually said to me to not clean them up until after he has finished his meal.

@Fekko I'm a real person and I was looking for genuine advice. I didnt expect a backlash like this though!

You're not causing food poverty by taking a photo with your son, but I'd just like to note that food poverty is a lot closer to home than 'starving children in Africa'

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/30/poorest-uk-families-struggle-eat-regularly-heathily-food-standards-agency-survey

One in four low income families may miss meals or struggle to eat nourishing food (defined as food poverty).

Wish you all best with the bake.

You won't make that mistake again will you OP, asking for baking advice on MN

Bash on (on indeed smash on?!) and bake what you like and do with it what you will. Each to their own I say.

Practical advice - temp seems a bit low and check with metal skewer as per pp

Hope he has a smashing time with his cake

@reetgood I know. And I really do feel for those families that struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table. I'm lucky that we do have a lovely home and food on the table, running water etc. Thank you

Thank you @JustAboutHangingInThere definitely won't be posting here again about it! Loving the puns! Finally someone with a bit of fun and personality!

Tacky, tacky, tacky.

Oh fgs who cares if it's tacky or not tacky, wasteful or frugal...

a woman wants to bake a giant cupcake and wants to know why it's not cooking through with what she's doing

That's really all...

If she hadn't mentioned it's a cake smash you'd all be helpful enough

Blimey people of its tacky and not your thing, why bother posting I’m sure mumsnet has many other threads you might enjoy posting on

OP when I made a giant cupcake I used this recipe and it looked marvellous www.bakingmad.com/recipe/giant-cupcake. You bake your cake and enjoy the cake smash love 😃

Thank you @PinkHeart5914 it's very similar to the recipe I am using! I think it must be to do with my oven temperature/setting. I will be doing it with the "normal" fan oven setting next time. Thank you, we shall I'll smile extra wide for the people who think it's crap, knowing we are having tons of fun!

I can't believe the photographer doesnt provide appropriately gendered cakes.

I can't believe the argumentative judgmental people...

Why would the photographer provide the cake?

Though if I was paying for professional photos I would probably pay someone to make the cake too.

I think it's the terminology. 'Cake smashes' have always happened bit now they have the tacky name it.

Did you have a gender reveal party too OP

I’m not so sure anybody’s going to be jealous of your tons of fun, op, however wide your grin.

I really don't see what the issue is.

The issue is that you are creating things (or in your case creating something and two practice things) and the sole purpose of that thing is that it goes to waste. It is crass, wasteful, consumerist, tacky and pointless.

We've all got pictures of the kids at their first birthday making a bit of a mess with a slice of cake. But taking that a step further and setting the whole thing up as a special photo shoot with a special cake and special clothes is just..... ugh. Ultimate in wastefulness. Hideous trend.