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Original poster

Making my own wedding cake-2 tiers please help!

186 replies

bratnav · 15/02/2009 20:19

I have decided to make my own wedding cake as we are on a tiny budget. 20-25 guests plus a few elderly relatives to send slices to.

We would like a stacked 2 tier square cake, sponge, a bit of a quirky design, I am wearing black velvet and DP is wearing a purple velvet jacket, so not a traditional wedding.

ANY advice on how, designs that I will be able to manage, how far in advance I could make it etc etc would be wildly appreciated

OP posts:
Original poster
bratnav · 25/02/2009 19:20

I do, thank goodness I decided against the red I was considering, I would get arrested at the shops this evening

OP posts:
lucysmam · 25/02/2009 19:26

lol, at least you used paste colouring, not like me with my brilliant idea to use liquid for all the colours I did. Even the kitchen was covered with that stuff!

stealthsquiggle · 25/02/2009 20:49

It wears off, Bratnav - swarfega is quite good, though. Glad the colouring method worked.

lucysmam · 25/02/2009 21:48

whats swarfega, stealth?

Original poster
bratnav · 26/02/2009 09:25

Horrid green slime, it will take any stain off your person. Mechanics and printers use it.

Colour finally came off this morning in the shower

OP posts:
lucysmam · 26/02/2009 10:00

green slime . . . sounds lovely

Original poster
bratnav · 03/03/2009 13:40

OK, cake is defrostin nicely ready for decorating tomorrow. Any final tips for smooth icing and a recipe for lovely buttercream icing would be fab

OP posts:
lucysmam · 03/03/2009 14:03

A cake smoother to smooth it, or something flat you can use to kind of iron the icing iyswim to make it nice & flat

There's a recipe in this link for the buttercream icing, it uses vanilla extract but if you don't want to flavour it you don't have to.

Oh, and you'll have to increase the quantities I think for a bigger cake, although double the quantity didme a 9" square cake the other week, filled and a light scrape on top and sides to stick the fondant. & there's still some frozen now!

lucysmam · 03/03/2009 14:04

When is the big day?

Original poster
bratnav · 03/03/2009 14:09

Oooh, thanks for the recipe, big day is Friday.

OP posts:
lucysmam · 03/03/2009 14:26

Wow! That came round quickly from when you first posted didn't it!?!?! I hope decorating goes ok tomorrow, don't foget to post a pic so we can see how it's gone

Original poster
bratnav · 04/03/2009 09:47

Tell me about it, and you have only been around for the cake bits

OP posts:
Original poster
bratnav · 04/03/2009 11:20

Aaaargh major problem, icing keeps sticking to the worktop. I am using loads of icing sugar, what else can I do?????

OP posts:
lucysmam · 04/03/2009 11:34

erm, I've not tried it but a lot of the books I've looked at or have suggest something else. I'll have a look for you now

I keep moving mine when I'm doing it & putting more icing sugar on worktop. That seems to help

back in a sec

lucysmam · 04/03/2009 11:39

It's white vegetable fat, brand names "trex" and white flora. I've just looked it up & the website I'm on says that it's usually wth the chilled cooking fats section in the supermarket.

Original poster
bratnav · 04/03/2009 11:40

do I smear this onto the worktop?

OP posts:
lucysmam · 04/03/2009 12:01

According to the book I just looked in yes, but only VERY thinly so that it doesn't stick to or mark the icing & damage it

PlumBumMum · 04/03/2009 12:04

Oh Bratnav this Friday, thats flew round

while your all about Lucysmam whats the difference between fondant icing powder and icing sugar, it looks the same

lucysmam · 04/03/2009 12:06

I have no idea plum, never made it using powder. I'l have an investigate & see what I can come up with

PlumBumMum · 04/03/2009 12:14

Just dds bday on sun, know I'm not going to get out to the shop that does coloured icing, have white, but lovely lady next door has a box of fondant icing powder, says its for moulding, so was going to borrow and colour it

lucysmam · 04/03/2009 12:16

From what I can gather, it's a specific type of sugar known as cane fondant sugar, sold powdered in order to make fondant icing from it. It's not the same as Icing sugar according to this website

So, I guess if you wanted to make your own fondant icing ou'd have to buy the right kind of sugar. it does say where it's available from on that websit too. hth

lucysmam · 04/03/2009 12:17

back in a mo, there's bound to be instructions somewhere

PlumBumMum · 04/03/2009 12:22

Theres instructions on the box think I'll borrow it and give it a go,
I had wanted to do the ponies in the stable but can't get a hold of the debbie Brown book,
Think I'm being abit ambitious, will go for something simpler to begin with

lucysmam · 04/03/2009 12:22

It actually looks quite complicated from the second post down on here

Might be easier to colour the white icing tbh. I'll have another look for you if you want me to though, see if I can find anything

lucysmam · 04/03/2009 12:24

I've got that book if you want me to copy & post the instructions?