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.
Getting to share my baked goods with others makes me happy…it makes my booty happy too when i’m not “forced” to eat it by myself!
Today… air conditioning would make me happy! It may only be 87 outside, but it’s 86 in my office!
Fishs Eddy makes me happy! :)
Not only is that cake stand beautiful…but so is most of the stuff in their store. Its good & bad to have it only a few blocks from where you work!
My new boyfriend Andy makes me extremely happy!
Watching my oldest son walk into his first day of preschool and shake some other kid’s hand and say, “Hey. I’m Aidan. Wanna play with the playdoh?”. My boys make my heart full. That AND the cookies I just baked for them!
Being with my family makes me happy, and having that cake stand wouldn’t hurt either.
Stuart’s Vinyl Cafe and quiet kids
Days when my children let me sleep in late makes me very happy!
My newborn baby girl! I was stuck in a house of “men folk” until she arrived 4 weeks ago. I have been kissing her sweet face and looking at all of her pink clothes since!
the first day of school makes me VERY happy. but that one little pink heart also makes me awfully happy.
An hour’s worth of peace and quiet … and a cupcake snack.
CROCHET makes me happy! Well, yarn arts in general.. but crochet is my current obsession. Especially AMIGURUMI :D
What a beauty:) Spending time with my 8 year old sister (mini me )makes me happy:)
I love blue!!!! And cake stands make me happy too (even if they don’t see the light as much like yours)
My 4 month old daughter ALWAYS makes me happy, just looking at her. Then she smiles, and my heart melts.
Baking makes me happy and even more so if I make something creative.
A positive pregnancy test made me (and my husband) very happy! A good excuse to bake a cake!
Hearing my children laugh … that brings me so much happiness when those around me are happy also. Enjoying the moment!
sitting on the beach eatting a cookie makes me happy :)
Clean plates, because people have eaten and enjoyed everything on it.
Blowing bubbles so my little 21 month old boy can pop them.
Reading makes me happy.
What an amazing cake.
I have to say my husband makes me happy. He just started his first day of his Master’s Program today, I’m so exicited for him!
Tomato season!
OH wow cute I have to get one of these if I don’t win this one! The style is a lot better then the glass one I have!
I think it looks beautiful! All of it.
Wow, this is the first day I have subscribed to your blog…what a great way to start to read all the wonderful happy thoughts . That makes me happy, hearing my children laugh makes me happy, people complimenting me on my cakes makes me happy…..spending time with friends and catching up with friends makes me happy…..make it a happy day!!
Chocolate. Anything chocolate. I <3 chocolate so much =)
Opening the front door in the afternoons when my husband comes home makes me happy :-)
Decorating cakes makes me happy! I’m still an amateur, but I LOVE the looks of delight on others’ faces when I give them a cake/cupcake/cookie that I have decorated!
i try to cook and bake everynow and then. i will admit that i tent to look up more recipes then actually trying to make them! and when i try its not always perfect of course, but what makes me happy is when i catch my husband sneaking pieces chocolate chip blondies that i thought i destroyed before dinner ! :)
seein’ my babies smile and a job well done
Spending time with my family makes me happy.
Baking makes me happy!
Spending unstructured time with my family makes me happy.
Baking and decorating cakes with my 12 yo daughter makes me happy. It must make her happy, too, because she asked to do so just yesterday. Of course I said yes. :)
Creating something with pretty colors :)
Bake cute cakes, meet friends, breastfeed my baby. They all make me happy!
When I feed my husband yummy foods, his face, hands, and shirt are covered in sticky crumbs :)
My children make me happy. . . . and crazy but that isn’t what you asked. :)
Lemons. The smell, the taste, the way they look sitting in a bowl on the countertop. I just love everything about them.
Going out for a meal at a nice restaurant with my two daughters (ages 10 and 12) makes me really happy. They are a joy to be around now that they’re past the terrible twos.
My son making cupcakes!
My husband and my dog!
Cookies, brownies & a glass of wine :)
Good books and cookies make me happy!
Baking makes me happy!
Just knowing someone else will enjoy the cakes just as much as I do makes me happy, especially when it’s one of my grandkids.
My grandchildren, baking and knitting.
That cake looks great!
Dessert makes me happy! lol :)
I think the cake looks amazing even if you felt it wasn’t perfect! It always impresses me when people make their own cakes and cupcakes. Baking with my daughter makes me happy :)
making dinner for my friends and husband makes me happy!
Food makes me happy!
I love…. your blog!
going to see family on the southern coast of Ireland makes me happy!
Rainstorms and fall leaves make me swoon!!
cupcakes with sprinkles make me happy!
Really like your cake btw, especially the single pink heart.
Watching my son (14 months) eat cake or cupcakes and make a huuugeee mess makes me happy. It is the funniest thing I have seen!! He is just like his mommy, he LOVES sweets!
You did really well!! I chickened out on using fondant for my girls’ birthdays, and stuck with buttercream, but I’m determined to try it one day!
Listening to my kids playing and laughing together makes me happy :)
I LOVE cake stands, I have a few that I am always looking for an excuse to use them.
Finding this website makes me extremely happy, I’ve barely looked at it and already have tons of ideas, can’t wait to get done with my Monday cleaning and back to the kitchen to create something wonderful!!!!
Cooler weather makes me happy!
baking yummy treats for my friends, sipping a tall glass of sun tea, cuddling with my niece and decorating with my sister makes me happy! i love your site and all the yummy things you make. the cake balls are always a HUGE hit with my family and friends :)
Sunshine, no matter what the season, makes my day! (winning would also me happy!!!)
…love the single pink heart…nice!
Cupcakes make me happy – edible cupcakes, cupcake jewelry, a giant cookie jar in the shape of a cupcake – I just can’t help but smile when I see cupcakes :)
hearing my children sing makes me happy :)
A fresh, delicious meal made from ingredients I just bought at the Farmers Market makes me happy.
hahaha…cake plates make me happy!!!
anything looks better on a cake plate
Listening to a gentle rain makes me happy.
New posts on your blog make me happy! Your cake looks amazing, I don’t believe you about ‘uneven surfaces.’
aside from pretty pretty cakes, what makes me happy is coming home to my dogs, every day. their tails wag so hard, i think they’re going to whip themselves around in circles. it’s pretty much the best moment of life.
Being with my family and friends and sharing my baked goodies.
There are so many things that make me happy, but most of the time, the simplest things make me the happiest – like sitting on the softest spot on my couch and reading a good book on a rainy day:)
Baking cakes makes me happy!
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this cake stand! So cute and adorable!
The fact that my NEW double oven is getting installed on Wednesday!!!
Receiving compliments on my baking makes me happy. :)
That cake is IMPRESSIVE. I thought three layers were hard… but wow.
I love that cake stand!
coffee makes me happy!!!
My kids laughing and playing together. Nothing makes me happier. :)
There’s too many things that make me happy! But right now, my dog when I get home from work puts a smile on my face no matter how my day went.
Enjoying a hot cup of coffee on the patio in the cool early morning with my handsome husband..especially when the kids are still sleeping..THAT is happiness…
Butter Cream icing makes me happy
My daughter makes me happy especially when she starts to feel better after being sick and starts to act as ornery as usual.
Thanks.
the smell of anything yummy cooking in the kitchen makes me happy!
a cool pool on a hot summer day makes me happy….if only I had one :)
cooking makes me happy…:)
Reading a good book on a rainy day makes me happy
Baking never fails to make me happy, even with small disasters along the way!
Sunny days in the fall…I can’t wait for fall weather to get here!
snuggling with the hubby makes me uber happy.
My daughter in the morning. I love to take in her smell….it’s heavenly!
Baking makes me happy. It’s not that I’m good at it, it’s because my kids love to do it with me!! But I’m learning, and they’re learning–we’re learning together. And we make wonderful memories together. And one day, my boys will make me wonderful baked goods.
Baking with my daughters makes me Happy!!! It’s fun to see there creative minds at work as we think up interesting cake/icing combinations and then again as we decide how to decorate our cakes or cupcakes!
This is a cute cake! Thanks for sharing.
A relaxing day with my family makes me happy.
My dog waking up with bedhead makes me happy :)
My English bulldog Ming makes me happy everyday…especially when he us SILLY!
The smell of fresh cut grass makes me happy…but I don’t get that too often bcuz I live in Las Vegas! haha
Flowers and sunshine or a book, a very large cup of tea, and a good book make me happy :)
having an adventure in the kitchen turn out positively, that always makes my day!
What makes me happy is a sunny day with nothing on the to do list but play with my girls!
Hearing my son “belly laugh” while he is watching a cartoon makes me happy!!
bakerella.com makes me pretty darn happy!
Hugs make me happy! Especially bear hugs from little ones and my puppy, who I taught to give hugs :)
My kids loving school!
Cute cupcakes makes me really happy!
Love the blue stand…and the pink heart draws attention with the negative space.
Baking and cooking with my (almost) 10 year old daughter makes me happy. We love to watch Food Network together and try recipes from magazines and shows – it allows us time to bond, and teaches here math (measuring, addition, subtraction, etc) and how to cook and bake!
Soccer makes me happy =)
What a gorgeous cake stand!!
Spending time with my family makes me happy!
A long soak in a bubble filled bathtub with a good book. Ahhh…happiness…
FINALLY getting a full-sized mattress tonight so my boyfriend and I don’t have to smoosh ourselves onto a twin!
Spending an afternoon with my two little girls playing dress up and tea party!
I’m crazy about teacups! My favorite thing to do is getting a new one, then curling up with some hot mint tea i n it on the couch and act like I’m super fancy and proper (eventhough I’m wearing sweats and watching “Ice Road Truckers”)! ;)
What makes me happy is snuggling with my hubby and our dog Wrigley on a weekend morning
being with my kids makes me happy… especially because school starts next week :)
My kids make me happy – more specifically, my 4 yr old daughter saying “You’re the best Mommy ever!” and my 1 yr old son chiming in, “MOM! Makum makum dagoydagoy.”
Cupcake wrapper… i know sounds silly but i love to collect them. You never know when and what you might need to i like to be ready for anything!
Thinking about making Christmas cookies with my grandkids make me happy.
Pink makes me happy. :)
The smell of my freshly bathed baby makes me happy! Especially when I am cuddling him before he goes to bed.
Chocolate fudge frosting makes me happy!
My kids, my husband, my dog, and my cakes make me VERY happy! I love the blue of this cake stand, it makes me happy too!
I love this cake. Even if you didn’t know what you were doing, I bet it turned out better than anything you could have planned.
Silly giggles, big smiles, open hearts. They make me happy.
My Husband Nick makes me Happy…He treats me just like a princess…My heart still melts when he looks at me and gives me a wink…
baking wit my kids make me happy ^_^
Seeing a new Bakerella post in my inbox always makes me happy!!!
What makes me happy and downright fall on the floor in laughter: my potty-training 2 year old daughter running to make it to the toilet in time and then coming out to the hall with her panties to her ankles saying…”mommy, my water come down!!!” She said it for the first time last weekend and we all just died, lol!! Those innocent moments from her and just being a mommy in general are what makes me happy!!
Oooh gorgeous cake!
My kids make me happy :)
Having people come take my oldest child so I can sleep when my baby is sleeping!!!
A beautiful Summers day and a cool glass of Iced Tea makes me happy! I love your blog- thanks for sharing with us everyday!
My three sons
Disneyland and baking makes me happy. =)
SHOPPING ALWAYS MAKES ME HAPPY … well… at least untill the bills come in!
Me wanty! Cake decorating makes me happy, and the thought of my cakes upon that fanstic blue cake stand makes me ridiculously happy, ’cause I don’t have a cake stand. Also puppies make me happy, so there’s that.
Making food to share with friends makes me happy. Food brings everyone together and makes them happy too! I love the one pink heart on that cake
Baking with my almost 4 year old son makes me happy!
So awesome! I’m not brave enough yet to do a layered cake like that, but I want to.
Baking something new and having people love it!! That makes me happy!!
Beautiful simplicy!
A piece (or two, or three, …) of dark chocolate!!
The inner / outer beauty of people, the organic beauty of things around me makes me happy.
What a gorgeous cake, would be a pretty wedding cake.
Sleeping in until 7:30am, snuggled up with my baby girl, hubby and our two dogs makes me happy.
love it! love it! love it!
what makes me happy? lots of things… my little boys, my hubby, cake…. the list goes on and on!
Baking makes me happy
I love the blue cake plate—and I love the simplicity of the cake
all white with fondant and one pink heart….cute. Have a great day!
My sweet grandson. He makes everyone happy.
I love the single pink heart on the cake! The cake stand is beautiful. Baking while dancing around the kitchen to my music makes me happy :)
I’d be in trouble if I didn’t say my kids.. so my kids… and a weekend morning with the newspaper and coffee. :)
My precious family!!!
my family and chocolate cupcakes makes me happy
Making the cakes and then eating them with my kid with a tall glass of milk.
that cake is gorgeous! pretty photography makes me happy. and funny one-liners on really good t.v. shows. here’s one for you, ”there ain’t no party like a liz lemon party cause a liz lemon party is MANDATORY.”
My doggy!
a perfect summer day makes me happy!
Waking a little late on Sunday morning with my love and then lounging in the backyard pation eating a lite breakfast :)
sunshine… chocolate… sand dunes by the sea…
Watching my baby laugh makes me happy.
a clean house makes me happy…when it stays clean for more than 2 1/2 minutes.
Lazy weekends make me very happy.
My dog, Tivo makes me happy.
What makes me happy…
I love it when I have gorgeous food, whether it be the plate, the garnish, or whatever. I enjoy looking at it and experiencing it and then, of course eating it! Lol!
My family makes me happy!
Snuggling with my daughters at night takes the cake!
The special needs kids I work with make me happy. They are the most amazing kids ever!
Plenty of things make me happy, but my cat is the most consistent among them. Even when she is being a brat, she makes me laugh.
what makes me happy is fresh new fabric just waiting to become something else:)
Wow, that cake looks BEAUTIFUL! I love love the single pink heart, and the cake stand is so perfect. Making cream filled cupcakes and decorating them with frosting and sprinkles makes me happy.
Baking for friends and family makes me happy!
My cake decorating class I am taking next month makes me happy. I sure could use a cute stand to display all my hard work! :)
I’m happy that my 5 week old is almost sleeping through the night!
A day at the beach with friends & family…
Chocolate makes me happy!
big earrings, good hair days, and not setting the alarm make me super happy!
family makes me happy :)
My boys make me happy. I love making cake pops for them. Cake pops make my boys happy. :)
Thunderstorms make me happy!
baking makes me happy!
My husband and son make me happy!
All things cake makes me happy! ;0
and making something new and fun..having my family eat it up~
Today, your post on doing this cake made me happy!! You have such a lovely way of describing what you are doing and making us feel like we are right there with you!! Love your site!
Baking makes me happy, especially when I top it off with ice cream, yum!
Polka dots, pugs, roses, chocolate, a stack of unread books, seeing my adult children, and baby toes all make me happy.
my cats, kids, dog, anything green…make me happy. I love cake stands too! :)
Baking in general makes me happy, especially cakes and cupcakes. :)
Cakes! Oh yes! They make me very happy!
my new hubby makes me happy. we have been married for 15 days now. ? life is good
Baking and having it turn out the way I had hoped makes me happy, and seeing my son smile.
Waking up to the love of my life every morning makes me beyond happy.
my mum makes me happy
she is pretty and nice
pink and blue make me happy. i keep telling my tattoo artist that i want to get a rose that is pink and blue.
Baking cupcakes makes me happy!!!
Seeing my baby boy sleep and smile. Oh, so cute!
Being creative!
chocolate makes me happy!
What makes me happy is coming to your site and looking at all of your yummy creations!
Singing, baking, my best friend coming over and making maple-walnut pancakes for breakfast just because.
Chocolates chip cookies make me happy. And would look darling on that plate!
I too love glass cake stands and plates! What makes me happy is going to your website and seeing the latest postings!