Please talk me through the PRINCESS CAKE thing (Barbie atop a bowl-shaped skirt)

[franch]

I'm going to do a vanilla sponge with blue icing - probably buttercream which won't look smooth and lovely I know but will require less dexterity I feel (of which I have none, esp under pressure). I then plan to smother the messy icing with glittery sprinkles and flowers etc.

Please tell me (as if I were an idiot):
What tin/bowl do I get?
What method of lining/greasing said tin?
What quantities do I accordingly use for the cake?

I am not bad at baking but a rather basic amateur so take nothing for granted when explaining this to me ...

See also my doll appeal

Thanks squeaky that would be brilliant

For a two sandwich-tin quantity (which should be enough to fill a Barbie mould).

250g plain flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp bicarb
0.25 tsp salt
200ml buttermilk
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
125g soft unsalted butter
200g caster sugar
3 large eggs.

Mix the flour, baking power, bicarb and salt together in one bowl

Add the vanilla to the buttermilk.

Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then slowly add the eggs.

Add small amounts of the flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately to the butter mixture, blending well between each addition.

Pour into your prepared tin and cook for around 40 minutes, until a tester comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before unmoulding.

The oven temp should be 180C, maybe a bit less if your cake has a deep interior.

I've made this cake and it was fine.

Just re-reading the recipe - it says you need double the quanitites for a barbie cake. It doesn't give timing info, but I would suggest baking for longer at a lower temperature. You would certainly be safe to let it go for 50 minutes and then test. It shouldn't collapse after this time.

Maybe you can find some in a fabric shop, ELC, or some other toy/arts craft shop.

Thanks so much for that squeaky

Yes I think ELC may have them, more - thanks

Squeaky, does the recipe say what kind of Barbie mould it's talking about?

Have just this very day made a princess cake - first time ever and it wasn't too bad, Franch. Don't buy special bowl, I ended up baking cake in a small pudding bowl and shallow 6" sandwich tin. Baked the bowl first for about 45 mins at 170 then added the cake tin and cooked both for about 20-25 mins more. Used an 8x8x8 ordinary vic sponge mix. It was fine.

Baked these last night then this morning spread with jam, sat the bowl cake on the sponge and trimmed the bottom cake to fit. Cut small hole in top to accommodate leggless barbie, but didn't put her in yet. Spread more jam on whole cake then covered in ready to roll icing from Asda - 48p a pack. Only used one pack. Cut small cross in the top where hole was and jammed barbie in. Then used one tube of the pink squeeze from a tube icing, and a pack of selected pink decs (metallic balls, sugar flowers, sequinny looking sugar crystals and something else can't remember) about £2 I think. Used rolled out icing to make the bodice too, it was a little bit fiddly, but just covered up any mistakes with more decoration. If i can work out how to do it will put a pic on my profile. Go for it! If I can do it, you can. Only draw back is, my ds is teaming up with his 'girlfriend' so it's a princesses and pirates party. Tonight I've got to figure out how to make a pirate ship cake!!!

Have tried to put photo on not sure if it's worked.

Thanks hairy that's very encouraging. Can you set your privacy settings so I can view your profile?

have added profile and pics franch, let me know if you can view them?

Yes I can - brilliant!

Have you done it yet Franch? how did it turn out if so?

Birthday is next week hairy - will let you know. I now have to go away on a job for 3 days before the party, returning either the night before or the morning of the party - what would happen if I made the buttermilk one now, and froze it??

Freezing just the cake should be fine, icing it while still chilled should help i would have thought. it'll be fine. you'll be fine,just don't start on the wine 'till you've finished!

second freezing it first, especially if using butter icing. I always freeze birthday cakes and then ice while still frozen. Much easier and fewer crumbs in the icing.

How long do they take to defrost?

mmm, don't know, I usually ice them the night before the party so has never been an issue. A bowl (or pyrex jug) shape is quite dense isn't it so at least a couple of hours at room temp I would say.

You might consider making a simple square cake to cut up as the skirt shape with legs stuck in it didn't lend itself to cutting into neat slices.

I used buttercream when I did a Barbie cake and made a wavy pattern which added a bit of texture, rather than trying to get it smooth.

Can't ice the night before as I won't be there - will take it out of freezer first thing - party is at 2

Many thanks lilo