I made a cake and put it on a plate. A pretty blue glass plate that I ordered the other day. It came in this weekend so I decided it must be put to use right away… or else forever be united with my other cake plates that have yet to see the light of day.
So I made a cake. Several of them. I thought it would be a good time to finally venture into the scary world of cake stacking.
Yikes.
But first… mad respect to all the cake decorators out there. I’ve only made small cakes before. This was a task. And I didn’t even do anything fancy.
I made this recipe. TWICE.
The first time I baked three 8 inch cakes. And the second time, I baked three 6 inch cakes and 2 five inch cakes. Use two inch high cake pans and spread the batter evenly among the pans when you bake. You’ll have just enough batter for all 8 layers.
I wanted to try the recipe to see if how well it would work for stacking. It’s not very dense, so it wouldn’t be great for carving. But it bakes up nice and even so there is no need to level off the tops. Yay, one less step.
I baked the cakes at night and wrapped in plastic wrap so I could devote the next day to decorating.
Unwrap a layer and place it on a cardboard cake circle cut to size. Frost the top. Layer on the next one and repeat.
Then frost the sides. This is the called the crumb coat. You just want a thin layer of frosting. It’s okay if crumbs get in.
I placed the layers on top of the cake pan I baked them in as a stand and to make frosting the sides down to the bottom a little easier.
Once frosted as evenly as possible, you can place the cake in the freezer for a few minutes. The frosting will harden and when you remove the cakes from the freezer, you can use a knife dipped in a little warm water to help smooth out any uneven places.
Repeat with the 6-inch cakes. Kinda crumby.
And the 5-inch cakes.
Did I ever tell you that I’m a really, really messy baker? Like real.
When all the cakes are crumb-coated, you can apply a pretty layer of frosting without worrying about tearing the cake or getting cake crumbs on the outside.
Or you can cover them in fondant. Eeek. That’s what I did.
(I used the frosting recipe from this post and doubled it. Triple it if you want to frost it all in buttercream instead of covering in fondant.)
Unfortunately there is no photographic evidence of the covering.
Just imagine I rolled out fondant on a powdered sugar-dusted surface and then carefully placed the fondant over each tier. And then smoothed out the sides.
And imagine that it looked perfect. Because it did not.
Once each tier is covered in fondant you can get ready to stack away.
To stack the cake, you’ll need wooden dowels or even straws to support each tier, so the cake doesn’t smoosh in on itself.
Push the dowel in and mark the height of the cake on the dowel. Remove and use it as a guide to cut the other dowels. I used four for the bottom tier and the middle tier. Make sure the dowels are all placed within the diameter of the tier above it. So the dowels won’t show when you stack them all up.
Then just stack the cakes and decorate.
I cut white fondant hearts to keep a clean, simple look.
Okay, not really. I did it to help hide the slightly uneven surface.
And also because I ran out of time to do anything else.
I think it looks pretty cute. Even if I don’t really know what I’m doing.
What I do know is I need another lesson in covering fondant cakes. And then one in making sugar flowers and of course piping and then carving. And then I’ll need some therapy.
I like it with a single pink heart, too.
But what I like most is the cake stand.
That’s why I bought two of them.
One for me and another for one of you.
Want it?
Enter for a chance to win this happy blue 10-inch glass cake plate.
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me something that makes you happy.
- Deadline to enter is Monday, August 23 at 6:00 pm ET. SORRY, TIME’S UP! Winner announced below.
- One winner will be chosen at random and announced sometime Monday evening on this post.
Good luck!
P.S. Here’s where I bought them.
I’m really glad I choose winners randomly or I’d be in a tough spot. Thanks for sharing all that makes you happy.
Now for the win, it’s comment #3612!
Congrats Angela from Memphis – I’m glad baking makes you happy. Now you have something new to put your treats on.
my little ones and their daddy make me happy. Preferably when all don’t get up earlier than 7 am on the weekends!
Trying out new dessert recipes and sharing the goodies with friends!
my daughter’s blue eyes. my son’s dimpled grin. cupcakes. saturdays. the smell of rain. coffee with cream. & actually waking up on time. :)
Seeing my kids happy.
getting to talk to my husband makes me happy
Good food makes me happy. Second would be my boyfriend.
Happy kids and of course dessert!
Seeing your beautiful cakes always puts a smile on my face (and a rumble in my tummy)!
My fiancee makes me happy! Also, winning this would definitely make the “makes me happy” list! It should come with the cake on it too! ;)
Love it!
My baby boy makes me happy :)
red shoes, anything turquoise, and just being sassy!
Family friends and cooking make me happy!
Taking a road trip.
Leisurely time makes me happy!
beautiful! I love cake stands. I have never seen one like this. I love the vintage feel of it.
This cake makes me happy! I love the single pink heart, especially contrasted with the white of the rest of the cake and the blue cake stand.
Visiting friends that I don’t get to see everday.
Making something sweet and yummy for someone else!!
Sunrises make me happy. This morning there was a beautiful one and it just set the tone for the rest of my day.
my family makes me happy, and most of all, my chocolate lab makes me happy! :)
That cake is soooo cute! Hearts are my favorite! I have heart mixing bowls, measuring spoons everything:)
What makes me happy besides my family is this website! Literally the first thing I do in the morning is check my email to see if you have posted something new! I love baking but it has definately become even more fun since finding this site! I am so thankful I randomly stumbled upon it one day. You have so many cute amazing ideas! I am counting down the days until your book comes! I am so so excited! Thanks again for sharing all your great stuff with all of us:)
Relaxing with friends and family.
My friends asking me to make their babyshower cakes or cakes for their kiddos birthdays. That makes me happy!
Baking. Watching someone eating my cake. Rain and sunset. Snuggling under the blanket on a rainy day with a good book in hand. Making someone happy. Watching something that I love.
I’m easy to be please :)
milk glass makes me happy!
Hanging out with my nieces.
My godson & his sister make me very happy.He’s 7 months old and just the happiest baby ever, he always greets me with the biggest smile! I made a cake and cupcakes for his sister’s 5th birthday this weekend she was happy for the cupcakes but screamed “Where is Aunite Sherri?” when she saw the cupcakes and not me! To know it’s more about her love for me than the cupcakes…that’s huge with a 5 yr old! I’m very lucky.
being able to stay home every day with my kids and plan all sorts of fun
As a food stylist, the “simplicity” of the white cake makes me happy. The single pink heart stands out. The height of this cheery blue cake stand makes this picture unique. And I cant forget the cake. Cake makes me happy.
Sunflowers in mason jars make me happy!
Sweet things make me happy.
Walking down by the river to take photos of the kids.
Besides my family, cupcakes make me the happiest!!!!
Baking and crafting makes me happy!!!!!
My husband makes me happy!! Every chance I get to see him. He works away from home.
The cooler weather that’s supposed to come tomorrow makes me happy…and cake, always cake.
People eating [and enjoying] the things I bake.
Frosted cupcakes make me happy.
I’m obsessed with cake stands! Cake stands make me happy!
My one year old just learned how to wave. His little whole body double wave makes me so happy I could cry!
Music makes me happy (:
Nothing makes me happier than the grandkids!
My sweet little girl, who is now potty trained, makes me so happy!
Spending time with my boyfriend & son make me happy!!
A letter in the mail from my son in Iraq– he prefers to email rather than put pen to paper! All that squiggly handwriting reminds me of the first few times he discovered those big fat Crayola crayons…
Belly laughs!
You have inspired me to tackle a cake tower …. I was going to try a smaller cake and cupcakes, but this might be just the thing!
Cakes….cakes make me happy.
Going on vacation makes me happy!
Relaxing with a wonderful book in front of a sunny window with a big chocolate chip cookie is a beautiful thing!
I love taking long rides in the car with my husband- preferably with no destination
Waking up in the morning, grabbing my one-year-old little boy and cuddling in bed with my husband while the baby crawls all over us. I love mornings!
eating really good cake…..I am going to try your recipe….same as you, I haven’t found that killer cake recipe……thanks
Beautiful cake Bakerella! Good friends make me happy.
summer makes me happy!
Knowing I’m gonna be somebody’s momma makes me happy!
I love the one pink heart too!
Hearing my children say they love me – unprompted by anybody – makes me happy.
this post makes me happy! what a beautiful cakestand and i love how you decorated that cake. i may not be engaged at the moment, but i do keep a list of inspirational ideas for a wedding one day, and that adorably sweet cake is being included for sure!
Love the cakeplate, especially the colour! Thank you for an opportunity to win!
Dude – that pink heart makes me pretty darn happy… but besides that, baking cakes with my twin daughters (so Daddy can eat them!) makes me the MOST happy… sharing what I love with the people I love!!
eating cake and reading a good book makes me super happy!
Sleeping in on a rainy Monday makes me happy. So does that single pink heart. :)
Taking care of my nephew makes me happy! Also my just-turned-three-year-old daughter. :)
snuggling with my husband and delicious cake make me happy!! :)
I LOVE it!! The cake is so pretty too!
My finance just moved to town. I am VERY happy. :)
My husband and I splitting a pint of gelato!
my kids laughing & baking = bliss :)
What makes me happy is getting flour all over me and the kitchen but still loving the fact that my family are so appreciative of my baking and always have compliments even when I think I could have done better. It just warms my heart to see them happily eating all my goodies.
being on the beach.
Dear Bakerella,
I love your amazing ideas and work! I have started to make cakes and cakepops from home to help me be able to stay home with my girls . I am just starting off and would love to have a cake gallery for people to come and see. One of my obsessions is cake plates, I LOVE THEM and it would be great to have my demo cakes proudly shown off on this georgeous blue one (which matches my kitchen, dinning room, and every where else) We love blue :P
Hope to hear from you soon, wink, wink,
Jen
…. reading a book in my favorite pjs with my favorite dessert!
A lot of things make me happy, but honestly? After reading this, cake makes me very happy! :)
Pretty cakes make me happy, and this one is gorgeous!
My baby boy makes me happy!
Happy = family + creativit;y + freedom + silliness!
My daughter’s smile makes me happy!
Love the cake stand!
Fall! Fall makes me happy! It’s almost here – yay!
A good prayer makes me very happy. A cup of coffe, my sons smiling, beautiful and delicious cookies, your website….
of course, my family makes me happy, but really, to be honest, SUGAR WINS OUT!!!!
Watching a special person open a gift that I chose just for them makes me so happy!
Smiling people make me happy ! Love your blog <3
Cake makes me happy! Reading, my 2 beautiful Kids and my wonderful Hubby make me REALLY happy, though!
My kids make me happy!
The deep belly laugh of a baby, especially my babies!
weekend trips with my honey makes me happy
Hugging my boys first thing in the morning. And a new handbag of course!
We share a passion for cake plates!
Yes, they make me happy!
I simply Love them!! My favorite is a beautiful antique clear glass pedestal that I inherited from my Italian Grandmother Florine.
It makes me happy….I not only display every cake upon it, but last night homemade doughnuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar- were displayed on top of my beautiful heirloom cake stand…..I hope I win your beautiful blue one- It would be a beautiful- lovely white iced cupcakes would be darling on top!
Home cooked meals make me happy from the inside out!
You blog is beautiful, so is your baking and photography. You are truly an artist.
Rebekah~
The feel of the sun on my Skin
Cake makes me happy, but a cake stand to put it on would make me even happier!
Spending time with my wonderful husband makes me happy :) And cake…..lots of cake.
Today is my 33rd wedding anniversary which makes me (and my husband, i hope) very, very happy!
The sun staying out until 9:00pm
Watching kids (young and old alike) learn something new for the first time. That “light-bulb” moment is awesome!
I have figured out that the simple things make me happy like listening to my children play – I love that sound and it puts a smile on my face!
My family makes me happy.
Baking makes me happy.
I LOVE cake decorating….I am like for real messy too, though.
My husband makes me happy. :)
Simplicity makes me happy. Simple games with kids, clean lines, “do nothing” time with family. Those little things that you didn’t notice until they are not there anymore.
Napping with my Labrador.
The couch, a good movie and a tub of popcorn makes me happy! (Add in some chocolate and I’m over the moon!)
Adorable! I wonder how many mini cupcakes you can fit on that stand.
My two boys. Nothing is better than being a mom!
my puppy :)
knitting makes me happy.
Watching my daughter learn new things!
Sun dresses make me happy.
shopping at michaels craft store for 3 hours makes me EXTREMELY happy :D
turtles make me happy :)
This cake makes me happy. I love all the little hearts and especially the red one. So cute! :)
Being with my children makes me happy!
Cake makes me happy! But My family does too. And if the sun is shining I can’t help but be happy :)
Anything that contains sugar makes me happy! Especially if it contains chocolate and peanut butter as well! I love to bake and this would go PERFECT in my vintage kitchen! Love it!
Spending time with my family makes me happy!
Sleeping in!
My sweet daughter’s laugh makes me oh so happy.
Can I just say that I looove your cake! That really makes me happy just looking at it. :)
Love love love this cake stand!
I decorate wedding and party cakes, and this one is absolutely adorable!! I love it, and that happy little blue stand is so sweet!
Nice job, Bakerella!
Vacation makes me happy! Always!
My husband knows ice cream makes me happy!
Cooking for my family makes me happy!
Knowing that I’m getting married next month makes me happy! =)
Having my 5 year old come back for seconds, thirds, and fourths on the muffins I made, and each time telling me how delicious they were. :)
Mittens make me happy.
my two daughters make me happy :)
Priya
My husband makes me happy…
That color blue makes me happy!!!
My kids and husband make me happy….but I bet a piece of your cake would too. :)
my puppy, who is technically about 1 1/2 years old, but he will always be my puppy and my baby even after I start having my own “real” babies.
My husband, a good cupcake, and a nice cup o’ tea make me happy!
The cake you made is very cute. :)
Martha Stewart’s Glitter Pumpkins for Halloween!
My kids make me happy!! and the pretty cakes my daughter makes! I hope I win this for her!
Knitted scarves. <3
Sewing baby things and baking for my nieces make me happy!!!:):)
Creative people make me happy – like you!
What makes me happy? My husband doing what he loves as work. That makes me happy.
Cake….period.
Cupcakes and anything pink makes me HAPPY!!!
Cupcakes and most baked goods make me happy!!!
Seeing my best friend and her baby yesterday makes me happy. My new shoes make me happy! My smoothie makes me happy! I’m just having a great Monday!!
Your cake is really cute!
Ice cream makes me happy :)
when my boyfriend does really sweet things for me.
his birthday is in october, this stand will come to great use!
Baking cinnamon rolls for my two little boys makes me happy.
Being creative makes me more happy than I can say.
My kids playing together makes me happy.
Thats cake is sooo perfect andI love the little pink heart too! But of course the cake plate does steal the show!
What a cute cake stand!!!! Many thing make me happy, seeing my girls playing together, curl up with a good book or a nice romantic date night with my hubby
I’m happy i’ve servived to my birthday (I have Leukimia) which is today!!!
My tot, I call her ‘ladybug’, she is the source of my happiness….most days :)
I love to make cards and scrapbook, and keep up with Bakerella of course! :)
That cake makes me happy….that one single pink heart. ?
Simple dresses.
A clean house ALWAYS makes me happy.
Good lord you’re brave! I love that cake though – I think it’s beautiful! What makes me happy is my stinky 2-year old basset hound. He’s the best.
Being with my family makes me happy!
Being with my kids anytime is special and makes me HAPPY!
Color makes me happy. Bright flowers, the flag, or just the pink cheeks of my little munchkins.
bubble tea and a good book :)
Ohmygoodness amazing cake stands make me so happy! I have a ton & we live in a tiny apartment so I have to keep them under the futon in my son’s bedroom. How crazy hoarder is that? I’m gonna end up on an A&E special one day.
Life is making me pretty happy right now… your huge number of comments isn’t though… because I love that cake stand! :)
When u complete a cake & it looks just like you imagined or even better!!! That your beaming from all the that a girls, u gave your self because your so proud! That truly make me happy!
Spending time with my awesome friends and family is what makes me happy. Cute cake by the way. I think it would be a fun wedding cake.
Browsing on other peoples fun cake blogs makes me happy…I spend way to much time checking them out Ü
It makes me happy when my kids play nice together.
Giving baked goodies away to my friends and family. It’s so much fun to spread a little sweetness!
Getting the preschool classroom ready for the new school year means resupplying classroom supplies, which makes me super happy! :) I love going out and purchasing new classroom materials.
The fact that Fall is just around the corner! I love Fall and all the baking that comes along with it!
sounds cliche but my kids make me happy… They drive me nuts too, but they make me incredibly happy.
Pretty things make me happy…. and this is definitely something pretty! :)
Eating ice cream and baking makes me happy!
Cold weather.
puppies make me happy!
Bedtime Hugs after hot cocoa make me happy!
Testing out a new idea that involves sweets makes me happy….and my niece Stella loving to dance as much as her godmama does is always a smile maker!
What makes me happy is when my daughter goes and tells all her friends that my mom bakes wonderful cakes however uneven they maybe….when she gives me a note made in class that says….’Dear Mom,you make the best cakes’!!! …..and just the fact that I maybe not be an expert..but in my daughters eyes….I am the best baker!!!Just seeing her excitement gives me all the motto to keep on baking however busy I maybe.!
Thank you Bakerella for the wonderful inspiration!
Baking w/ the kids!
What a beautiful stand…can you share where you purchased it?
CAKES definitely make me happy. I love cake decorating so much, and can I just say; this cake is AMAZING. For being new to the world of cakes and stacking them, you did an amazing job, Bakerella!!
I love the cake! Something that makes me happy? Cupcakes.
A hug from my sweet family!
Seeing pics from my best friend who gave birth to her first baby last night makes me really happy right now.
A clean house. :)
Smiling kids make me happy!!
Going to the restaurant supply store makes me happy!
i enjoy reading your blog and then baking everything myself! i just recently attempted a 5 layered coconut cake!
preparing a meal for people I love.
Banana cupcakes w/maple spiced buttercream make me happy!
Autumn!
Fruity scents make me happy.
A rainy day, a new book, warm fire and time to read!
That and kisses from my family.
It makes me happy when I deliver a cake for a child’s birthday. People think that it is sad that all the hard work that went into the cake is destroyed when it comes time to eat it (or when people smash it)…but really that is when I am happiest. Cake makes people happy!!!
Listening to kids giggling in bed with excitment the night before school starts – priceless!
Being out on the boat with my family makes me happy. :)
Baking makes me happy!
A clean house, coffee and cake make me happy!!!
A great book, a hot cup of coffee….and a clean house make me happy! LOVE the blue stand!
This cake makes me happy! It’s so simple, yet so beautiful!
Children who sleep late after a busy weekend make me happy!!! :-)
Quitting my job to be a full-time homemaker in T-4 days and counting (every second). I’m looking forward to doing a whole lot more baking. Thanks for your continual inspiration (and for keeping it real about your goof ups)!