Need help with baking a "naked" cake please.

[Cakeandcardio]

Hello,
I had arranged for someone to bake a cake for my son's christening this Sunday but he's unwell and can no longer do it. So at this short notice my only option really is to do it myself so any experienced bakers can you please help?!
I've bought a 10inch square tin and plan to make a naked cake (keeping it simple!). I have three questions:

1. Should I line both the bottom and the sides of the cake tin?
2. Do I need a dowel in the middle to hold the top layer up? (It's going to basically be a big victoria sponge)
3. Any ideas for toppers? It's too short notice to get anything online so maybe thinking flowers? Any ideas of anything else?

Thanks a lot

This is a total cheat but you could just buy a couple of packs of Aunt Betty’s Victoria sponge mix and bake those? Ive used them when I’ve been tight on time and they always turn out well. They have oil in so as long as you use decent cake tins and slightly oil them before filling they shouldn’t stick. You could even buy premade buttercream and just spread it on 🤷🏼‍♀️

I usually line the base of the tin but you could do the sides as well if you want. I don't know about a dowel, it depends how heavy the top is with icing and how many layers. If just two layers I wouldn't think you would need one. I agree about using packet icing though it is easy to make. I think flowers are a nice touch for a christening.

If you don't want to actually bake your own, Asda sell large, plain iced sheet cakes that you can decorate yourself. Some piped letters/fresh/dried flowers and a ribbon would do it.

Thank you so much for your replies! Great tips! I've used aunt Betty's before but completely forgot about it!

Is it just a single tier cake or two tier? You only need dowels if there’s a second tier going on top, not the second layer of cake to sandwich it. And yes I line sides and bottom, don’t see the point of just lining the bottom.

I always line base & sides for a cake

For a naked cake: I would sprinkle berries on top (eg sliced strawberries, some raspberries, blueberries for a mix of colours) then dust with icing sugar (use a sieve or tea strainer to dust)

You might spread a v thin layer of watered down jam or lemon curd to get berries to stick - normally I have not needed to

I have used this decoration to fix lopsided cakes (uneven rise) - I pile a few berries in the middle when sandwiching the layers to get them straight as well as the jam/cream etc

Hopefully yours will be fine but going deliberately rustic helps. Definitely go for the cake mix option if it’s less stressful for you too

Yes - just a one tier sandwich cake. I just wasn't sure if the jam would make it more wet and likely to sink. Thanks for your reply!

Thank you everyone for the great tips. Feeling a lot less stressed now!

I love that you've put together Betty Crocker and Aunt Bessie's! 😆
If it's not a tiered cake and you're not putting any heavy decorations on the top, you shouldn't need a dowel.
I usually grease the whole tin with butter or marge then put grease proof lining on the bottom. Once it's cooked and cooked a bit, run a knife around the edge to loosen it before you turn it out.
If you use a packet mix, you might need more than you think as 10" square is bigger than 10" round.
When you say naked, do you mean uniced or with a thin buttercream or frosting round the top and sides?

You've had mixed answers but I line the bottom and grease all of it, the cake should pull away from the sides when baked.
No dowels required and I agree with berries and icing sugar, simple and pretty, also edible, important for a cake :) post us a pic when you've done it!

I grease the tin and line the bottom only
Is it just a vanilla sponge you're doing?

Haha. Yeah Betty Crocker! I mean a cake that has buttercream round the sides but like a thin scraping so the sponge is still visible to an extent. These tips have been so helpful!

Yes - just a vanilla sponge with jam and buttercream in the middle

TBH naked cakes are harder than fully iced cakes if you're new to it.

I think the key to 'naked' is putting more on then scraping it back off, taking it back to the cake.

A dusting of icing sugar might be enough and then add flowers if necessary

A ten inch cake needs a great deal more ingredients than a normal one. So I wouldn't use a packet mix.

Just read you're icing the sides too so ignore me

The 10 inch square recipe I have found:

charliemakescakes.blogspot.com/2013/10/lemon-madeira-cake-10-inch-square.html

Maybe a cross on the top? It could be flat on the top. I was thinking you could make a stencil and do one with sprinkles, silver balls, or similar.

The cheatiest cake I’ve ever ever made (and I’ve done lots) was an emergency christening cake for someone who’d had a last minute panic.

I did a 3 tiered sponge (Mary berry recipe for the sponge) in 8 inch tins. Then the thinnest layer of either home made, or Crocker buttercream all over and in layers…

then…genius part, put a load of white chocolate Cadbury fingers round the outside pointed upwards like a picket fence. Tie a ribbon round the middle. Big bow. Coordinate ribbon with either a bundle of chocolates or flowers.

I’ll see if I can find a photo of similar, hang on!

That sounds soo easy and effective!

Yikes! In what way? I know I'm rubbish at sugarcraft

Like this…

Personally I would try your local bakery first thing..