number 3 cake

[intheshed]

I really want to make a cake in the shape of a number 3 for DD's birthday party. Is it best to hire a cake tin in the shape of a 3 or attempt it myself by cutting out 2 round cakes?! I've seen a few ideas for this on the internet...

I can rustle up a passable sponge cake but otherwise I'm not much of a baker, so I need something fairly idiot proof! Which is easier? I worry that the cake tin would stick...

I think a '3' tin would be easier if you're not used to carving cakes into numbers! You can get cake release (Lakeland sell it & prob other places), so a good squirt of that in the tin should help get it out. If you opt to carve your own, Madeira cake tends to be better than sponge as it's less crumbly.

Thanks for the reply- I managed to hire a '3' tin for 2 quid a night from a local cake shop, bargain! Now to see if it works...

I made a 3 cake from two round cakes, was pretty easy. Especially with lots of ready to roll icing on the top to cover the joins!

Nigella has a good recipe for kids cakes with buttermilk (in How to Eat, I think). It can take the weight of lots of icing ans decorations and tastes fab.