Please tell me about fancy cakes

[RamblingRosa]

DD's birthday is coming up next month and I want to make her a fancy cake. I'm quite good at baking (even if I do say so myself ) so I'm not worried about the cake itself. I'm just not sure about how to decorate it.

Where do I get a novelty tin from? Are those silicon ones any good or should I get a proper tin? I think DD would like a butterfly.

Any tips on icing, decorating would be really helpful. Or are there any books or websites that will give me a step by step guide?

Thank you!

How old is your DD? If a hungry catepillar would do (kind of like a butterfly?!) then have a look at a pic on my profile!

She'll be 3. Wow, I just looked at your caterpillar cake. That looks amazing. She would love that (even though she doesn't read the book much these days). Was it hard to make?

Ah - might well be nice for a 3 year old (thought your DD might be 11 and would therefore think a butterfly was cool, but a catepillar was baby-ish).

Funnily enough, someone else has asked how to make it recently and I posted some instructions: here's the thread. That thread also links to my original thread in which I sought cake-bakery advice from wiser mumsnetters, and as you'll see, people were very helpful! Might be worth posting in "food"? There are loads of very expert cake-bakers around (I am perfectly fine at normal baking but new to the whole decorating thing!).

Ooh thanks. So there was no specific recipe or template you just worked it all out for yourself ?

It really does look amazing.

Is a Bundt tin one of those ring shaped tins? And then you just cut it into segments, stick it all together with chocolate and put icing on? Was it roll out icing (already coloured?) or did you make it?

Thank you . I did have loads of help with the technicalities from more experienced mumsnetters (the thread where I asked for, and was given, loads of help is on the thread I've linked to above).

I just googled "hungry catepillar cake" images and tried to recreate one I found which looked good, with the advice of mumsnetters. I'm sure if you googled "butterfly cake" images there would be lots to inspire you. I'm not a very naturally creative person but I am good at executing a plan!

And the thread I've linked to above contains full, step by step instructions about how it was made, which should answer all your questions above. Anything else, just post! And if I don't know then I'm sure there will be someone who does.

Thanks :) I have a month to plan so I have high hopes that I'll be able to do it!

Bake a cake in a largish square tin then cut in half to make two triangles for wings. Put a (bought!) swiss roll in between them to make the body. Chocolate icing for the swiss roll with two lolly pops for antennae. Decorate wings with different coloured icings or one colour and lots of smarties! It wont be hard to make and your DD would probably love to help decorate!

Thank you!

Also, you can try cake lollipops.

Cheers, Baker. www.cakelollipops.co.uk