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.
Pink makes me happy – especially bright, vibrant, hot pink! So I’m totally in love with your cake with the single pink heart – too cute!
Thank you!
My hubby and daughter playing and laughing..
baking weather makes me happy. It’s a little drizzly out.
turtles (the animals) make me happy! ok ok, so do the candies… :)
Going to a little local coffee shop early in the morning with my husband and my almost-three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter and eating a homemade chocolate cream cheese muffin there.
Enjoying the last days of summer!
Cake!
Coffee with friends makes me happy ;-)
Listening to James Taylor makes me extremly happy.
I would so love to win :) Today is my 7th year wedding anniversary.
hanging out with family and friends
Rain on a hot day!!
my family makes me happy and sometimes drives me insane…baking keeps me sane.
My fiance and my dog :)
Artistic minimalism makes me happy!
Baking!!
I would love to win. Baking, occassionally my children , photography, and my life make me happy! I am learning everyday, and thank you for your site.
Love this!
I love bright colors and the cake stand is such a great color!
My husband makes me happy, so does my family, warm weather, the list is endless!
The simplicity of one pink heart – love it.
Fresh fruit makes me happy!
Taking time to eat a good breakfast with my husband makes me happy.
Baking, Family, and a day off makes me SO happy!.. and of course cake stands they make me really happy :) :)
Hello Bakerella! I had a baby shower yesterday for my daughter, (my 1st grand child) her best friend has your last name (maiden) well when my little sis ANDREA came, she told me about you (Congratulations btw) and said you had this site. I LOVE the title. And i can’t be more PROUD of you. I will be bookmarking this so i can keep coming back again and again. The heart cake is gorgeous! I love how the pink heart stands out. And I love how the blue stand looks under it. It look like a rich expensive cake! Very impressive. Seeing you doing well…. that makes me happy!
It makes me happy to bake a huge cake for my diabetic son! Yep, extra insulin and he eats away. A few times a year and everything in moderation make diabetes very manageable! I would love to make this years cake huge like that. And, for his 17th year, he would actually like those hearts.
Getting a smile from my baby girl every morning! Love it!
My kitty. Sad but true.
all things chocolates makes me happy!
would it be to terrible to say the cup cakes make me happy….
if it can not be food… my KIDS make me happy… most of the time they are driving me crazy..
but even then when i seat back a think about what they have done to make me made.. i can not help but laugh .. they are great and wonderful kids..
and im happy to be there mother…
hot cocoa and popcorn :D
I’m usually happiest when I’m eating an egg roll.
Absolutely darling!!!! That is one beautiful cake stand. You did a marvelous job. Baking makes me happy.
My daughter makes me happy!
Beautiful fall days with blue skies and orange leaves, chilly enough so I can wear a cute sweater make me very happy.
Cooking and Baking for other people. I love to bake a birthday specials for my neighbors.
I just baked cakes for two of my favorite cashiers. They loved their treats. Chocolate Chip Pound cake and Pineapple Upside down cake was the other.
They smiled with tears of joy in their eyes… it warmed my heart.
My kids make me happy.
Reading with my hubby after the kids have gone to bed and it’s nice and quiet.
Super cute! You are so talented.
Eating cakes make me happy!
That is amazing!!
What makes me happy?
My husband being home after a deployment and just being able to spend time together as a family (my husband, 2 year old, and myself) for the first time in months! :)
My little Lillian. She is the love of my life, such a beautiful baby girl. She makes me happy.
toes in the sand…
Cooking and baking make me happy!
Boba drinks make me happy! And cupcakes of course
a hot cup of tea and something sweet makes me happy.
My grandkids make me happy! They are perfect!
Baking with my kids makes me happy. I love the mess we make, the laughter and the “mmmm” when it’s ready to eat.
Checking Google Reader and seeing I have a new post from Bakerella to read!
When my children are happy, I’m happy.
a rainy afternoon and a nap on the couch.
No joke, I have a sick obsession with cake plates/platters/pedestals. I tell my husband all the time I want to start a collection and he usually gives me a dirty look! I’ll have to say cake stands make me happy!
Thanks for the great giveaway.
checking Google Reader and seeing I have a new post form Bakerella to read!
The smile on my girl’s face after eating what I baked/cooked for her made me extremely happy :)
Spending time with my 5 year old niece makes me happy!!!
My kids make me happy and so would this blue cake stand.
I love, Love, LOVE this cake! And for being your first tiered one, that is awesome!! I just started a cake decorating business, so I’m very excited about your cake! I love getting your blogs; you have such cute ideas!!
And the blue cake stand is also AWE-SOME!!!
Tai
My babies make me happy!
New shoes that are ultra comfy make me sooo super happy!!
LOVE the hearts on the cake…I, too, need practice with fondant, it is hard stuff! :)
Blogging about my recent baking creations makes me happy!
Taking dinner to my husband at work makes me happy!
Eating Chocolate makes me very happy :-)
The color Blue makes me happy! Love that plate :)
FALL WEATHER makes me happy! And your yummy pictures. I only wish you were my neighbor so I could taste your creations in real life.
seeing my childrens faces when i make them something special that is what makes me happy
My kids make me happy! Just listening to their laugh!
Midnight swinging in the park makes me happy.
My grand babies make me happy!
Picking my little boy up from school and hearing stories about his day!
Cookie Dough makes me happy!
Baking cupcakes!!
Great job on the cake — it looks great!
Baking is something that makes me happy. I absolutely love creating new concoctions that will make others smile.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Baking, candy & chocolate making, cake pop, all yummy pretty things…make me very happy!! :)
Cake stands make me happy! I just told my MIL this weekend that I wanted to start collecting them so I could have something to decorate my new kitchen (which by the way, also makes me VERY happy)!
The smell of cookies baking in the oven, while the baby takes a long afternoon nap!
What makes me happy is having those days where I don’t count calories, I don’t care about carbs, and I can just make a non-organic sugary delicious cake guilt-free!!! Having a pretty blue cake plate to display it would make that day even happier!
Chocolate….and lots of it!
What a beautiful cake stand! I also love those little touches, such as the one pink heart or the special way to pull in some color.
Bakerella makes me happy.
Chocolate!!
cuddling with my newly adopted Pomeranian puppy and husband on the couch at the end of the day makes me happy- family snuggles!
Baking makes me happy. I recently graduated fron the Culinary Institute LeNotre here in Houston, Texas. I have always been facinated by the culinary world. Baking is one of my favorite things to do because it allows me make others happy. Bakerella, you are a true inspration to me. I hope to start a baking blog soon in 2011, and you ,miss thang, are my main inspriation!
Baking (and other cooking) makes me happy – and winning things makes me really happy! ;-)
P.S. I love your pics so much!
Cookie dough or cake batter makes me happy when I’m glum. A good hit of sugar cures everything!
Reunions with old friends make me exceedingly happy!
kitty cats make me happy
Kneading bread makes me happy. :) Thanks!
mermaids!
All the obstacles I’ve been through this year deserves a better me!
very cute! Your website and cute ideas make me happy! I look forward to every new post!
Baking makes me happy – and often just thinking about it gets me through a day at the office
Children in general make me happy, however my nephew Lane Andrew puts a smile on my face that no one can remove. He is the epitome of happiness for me. Only fitting since I met him for the first time in the Happiest place on Earth: Disney World.
People who smile back at me make me happy.
Something that makes me happy…is a GREAT piece of chocolate pie/cake any kind of dessert. And not having to share it with my kids:)
Spending time with my best friend (whose favorite color is blue) and baking together!
Getting to spend time with my family without a care in the world :)
Nothing makes me happier than waking up to sunshine in the morning. I appreciate it more now than ever because we just had 2 months straight of grey, gloomy mornings…during summer no less.
My kids and family make me happy! :)
My family and friends make me happy
Warm summer nights laying on the hammock make me happy
My three little girls make me happy.
I would LOVE to have this cake stand. It is so cute and I’ve been getting into multi-tiered cakes.
What makes me happy? My kids of course, going out with my BFF, reading while listening to the rain outside, and spending the day baking.
I love it when I am in the kitchen and I can hear my two daughters laughing together in the other room.. Brings happy tears to my eyes every time..Sisters are a special thing.
My little 36 week old bun in the oven makes me unbelieveably happy, even when she is not playing nice with my ribs and bladder :)
Reading a book as long as I want, date night with my hubby, cocktails with girlfriends, and playing on the beach with my kids.
Cupcakes and Coffee make me happy!
Buttercream frosting makes me happy! :)
What makes me happy? Opening my front door after a full day at the office to the aroma of cupcakes baking… My husband works nights and bakes cupcakes for my orders during the day. OK, that AND seeing you write a new post!! I have nearly everyone in the office reading your blog!
Car-dancing to Katy Perry with my 8-year-old stepdaughter.
My dog, Black Jack, he’s adorable :D
Laying in bed on a Sunday morning with my husband and 2yr old daughter. Nothing is better.
Wow! It looks perfect! I love how you put the one pink heart on there.
Gosh, so many simple little things make me happy, I would not even know where to start, and seeing your posts in my mail make me super happy!
Thanks!
my kids make me happy!
Sugar and butter make me happy.
I am so happy that the offer we made on the house we love was accepted. Yay! (this would look great in my new home btw)
A lot of things make me happy but I’ll go with the first one that popped into my head…eating all-you-can-eat sushi makes me VERY happy!
Being with my family makes me happy.
What an adorable cake! Love the blue cake stand!
chocolate brownies with frosting and M&M’s on top, my dog’s fuzzy little ears, mail from a friend, and remembering to bring in my reuseable bags when I’m at the grocery store – these all make me happy. :)
green grannie smith apples make me happy. eating them, pictures of them , drawing them. I love me a nice green apple!
music makes me happy =)
Blue makes me happy too.
And my friends have made me very happy since I’ve been in such a “blue” mood the past couple of months!
My kids make me happy!!!
Cheezy buy true, my little boy’s belly laugh :)
Babies and cookies make me happy!!
Sweet summertime!
I get so happy when my mac tells me there’s a new posting on the Bakerella Blog! Even better: a GIVEAWAY on the Bakerella blog! (I am happy)
Coffee in the morning…with cake makes me so happy!
Comparing cupcake places with my friend Kristi makes me happy!
BEING HEALTHY AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY MAKES ME HAPPY. I RUN A FARMERS MARKET, AND IT IS SO GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH OPTIONS. IT MAKES ALL OF THEM HAPPY TOO!
My daughter’s cute giggle makes me smile! So do cupcakes :)
Cooking for my husband!!! He enjoys it so much! It’s great to bless him :)
thinking of winning this cute plate makes me happy
Looking at your cake makes me oh, so happy!
When I get a text in the middle of the day from my 14 yr old daughter, when my 2 yr old son tells me that he loves me and hugs for no reason from my 9 and 10 yr old girls! These are a few of the things that make me happy! :)
I live in Brazil, and show my parents that i can cook a cute, delicious and wonderful kind of food and they like it, thats makes me happy and special. :]
I like baking things and surprising my friends with the treats. It always makes me happy to see them so excited about what I made for them.
Watching my preschool class bake and assemble a cake makes me happy!!
Cake makes me happy! and my family, and breezy warm days with blue skies.
Love it!!! I love colored cake plates!
cooking for my family and friends. Seeing smiles of enjoyment not for the food but being together and enjoying the moments that are too far apart with our busy lives
My husband and ice cream make me happy. I couldn’t live without ice cream and my husband…well let’s just say he’s the best!
What makes me happy…. my kids, my husband, my mom…. true friends and the love of family. I love cooking and baking and decorating cakes…. and I love to collect cake stands… I have many and use them all the time for all kinds of things… from cakes to cookies to candy … The blue one is just gorgeous… Thanks for all you do! Many Blessings… Tammy
My 5 year old daughter makes me happy!
the color of that cake plate makes me happy! it reminds me of my favorite beach in hawaii (which also makes me happy!). thanks for the chance to win this fabulous cake plate :)
Repurposing old furniture and scrap fabric into something new and cute make me happy! Also the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking make me happy.
Seeing my family and friends smiles when I bake them cakes makes me happy :)
your website makes me happy :)
a friend’s face when they see the wedding cake you made for them.
This website makes me happy … and baking of course :D
Listening to my 2 year old play the piano makes me happy. (which is what I’m hearing right now)
That adorable cake also makes me happy. Thanks for the fun contest!
This cake stand makes me happy
My kids make me happy. Baking makes me happy. All things Disney make me happy. Winning that cute cake stand would make me happy! =)
having my baby girl kick me from inside my belly. : )
Freshcut colorful flowers in a pretty vase, arranged nicely makes me happy. =)
Cooking in the kitchen with my two kids makes me incredibly happy!
The love of my life Taylor makes me happy. Every single day.
As nerdy as this sounds, going back to school makes me happy. I’m not ready for the real world quite yet!
Autumn makes me happy! Time for apples and canning and crisp days with coloured leaves and rain and corduroy!
beautiful baked good make me happy :) especially eating them :D
having my girls love my cakes no matter what they look like makes me happy
Cooking for my family makes me happy.
Ice cream makes me unreasonably happy!
My soon to be husband makes me happier than anything – This would be perfect for our wedding cake in November! I love the blue.
Pretty paper napkins… paisley, polkadot, floral… in beautiful rainbows of color!
My pets makes me happy… and sugar… :)
i love baking a cake for someone and just surprising them with it for no reason!:) it makes me smile b/c it makes them smile!:) …or surprising them with cupcakes! so fun!!
Baking makes me happy !!
Getting my Bakerella email every Monday morning….
My baby boy makes me so happy. His smile is infectious! I love him so.
What makes me happy? My kids, a day at the beach, cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, strawberries, crafts, balloons, flowers, parties…
Besides this cake? Having dad wake up early to take care of the boys so I can attempt to get another hour of sleep. They wake my up anyway, but it’s the thought that counts.
My three girls all in pink…
My grandhildren! This cake stand is lovely.
What a happy little cake! The blue cakestand is just perfect!
A red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting after a bad day in uncomfortable shoes makes me happy!
Family time makes me happy. We don’t have to be doing anything super exciting even. Just doing and being together is happiness.
What makes me happy is when you bake something that has a surprise and to see the look on peoples face. I once made a 15 tiny layer cake for my Fiance’s Birthday and the looks on his families face when we cut into it was priceless :-)
love the single pink heart!
Life makes me happy (and that blue cake plate)
Mimi
The first day of teaching makes me happy!
School starts tomorrow and my kids are SO excited! That makes me happy…I’m glad they love to learn!
I’m a foodie, so food always makes me happy…. that and the sound of my little girls laughing!
Garlicky food makes me happy! :) and your pretty pretty cake pictures – beautiful!
crying at movies makes me happy.
Thanks for the chance to win! It’s lovely.
Coming home to an empty house and making myself a nice dinner. Then doing the dishes with Lady Gaga playing far too loud.
Finally having my debt paid off makes me really happy! Winning this for my amazing cake decorating little sister would me me pretty happy too!
I love this cake stand – it makes me happy, but also organizing my house makes me happy and that’s what I did all weekend!
I also love my new niece Avrey, she makes me super happy! Hopefully that’s enough happy!
Quiet makes me happy
Chick-fil-a makes me happy!!!
CAKE STANDS make me happy!
family vacation!
Decorating cakes at work make me happy .. I love my job!
Books make me happy! So do coffee, a big cupcake, and snuggling with my husband on weekend mornings.
This cakeplate would also make me happy as it would be a beautiful addition to my fledgling cake stand collection!
My absolute favorite thing in the world is sitting on my bedroom floor, playing hand and foot (a crazy long card game), eating personal digiorno pizzas and cookie dough with my best friend.
Anything involving baking or baking products comes in a close second. :)
That is so totally cute.
I don’t have a cake stand oddly enough.
It would be perfect for my daughter’s first birthday party!
Keep rockin’
Roo
Sunshine!