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.
I’m currently taking Wilton’s course 2 in cake decorating. Decorating and baking cakes makesme HAPPY =) Thanks for hostimg a giveaway, I’m always in awe of your work and photos!
Sea glass. And blue glass :)
Girl’s night makes this stay at home mamma very happy! Getting out with my best girl’s is SO necessary every once in awhile!
My grandson makes me deliriously happy and he loves when we bake something yummy or watch Monty Python videos.
My daughters’ laughing makes me happy.
baking sweet treats for my friends makes me happy… when we all enjoy together!
Doing things with my girls makes me very happy!
Nova
My family and life make me happy!!!!
The fact that I just applied for a Master’s program! That makes me very happy, indeed :D
Love that cake!! Def a nice idea to bank for my daughters next birthday!
Something that makes me happy is my kids! Esp when they are making eachother laugh! (one is 3 and one is 7 months)
When my husband comes home from work!!!!
What makes me happy, making a beautiful cake, everything going well and the person I made it for has tears in her eyes :)
I have not baked long, so this makes me soooooo Happy :)
Snuggling on the couch watching TV with my husband makes me happy!
My family makes me happy! =)
my 2 year old Makes me Happy every day no matter how bad things are going … she is the sweetest?
Hearing my kids laugh and (surprisingly) the color blue. My kitchen used to be yellow with white cabinets and cobalt blue tiled counters. It was happy!
If you can stack and fondant a cake, anyone can. It looks so yummy
Digging through old cookbooks and baking obscure recipes for company makes me happy…ok and a little nervous too. They usually turn out! :)
honestly, that one pink heart makes me happy. the cake looks great, don’t sell yourself short, girlfriend!
Seeing my husband play with our girls. They worship him almost as much as I do!
Chocolate always makes me happy!
cake pops make me happy….those & a quiet evening on the couch with my blanket and remote control! :-)
my baby girl make me happy!!
Gorgeous sunny days make me so happy!
Collecting cake decorating books, cake servers, and cake plates makes me happy.
My baby girl…happiness in a warm, snugly package!
Oh My Gosh! Your cake looks AMAZING!! What makes me happy is when I am baking with my friend making cakes or cupcakes and always forgetting one tiny piece of the recipe because we are yakking away and not paying enough attention to the recipe… (but we can 90% of the time recover and NOT start over -whew!). Then it becomes a game to our other friends to guess what we missed in the recipe!! It is always a good time!!
My baby boy!
What makes me happy? The Pots de Creme that my 17yr old made for my birthday this weekend. Round one – burned chocolate, scorched cream. Round two – PERFECT in every way. Best birthday dessert ever!
Cooking for those I love ALWAYS makes me happy……and coming to this website and seeing a new post!
My children’s happiness makes me happy!! You are brilliant by the way!!
MMM, this is such a fun blog.
what makes me happy? running in the rain!
xo
Your cake is adorable, I love it! Something that makes me happy is baking while listening to music :)
Wah! So cute!
What makes me happy? Playing Pictionary with friends and realizing it’s feakishly late, but not caring, because you’re having too much fun!
cookies make me happy
Being able to hang out with my daughter who is a busy working mommy now!
My son laughing makes me happy!!
Twinkies make me most happy!!
The raspberry-peach jam I made this weekend.
My hubby, dog and baked goods make me happy. :)
Looking at your website and bookmarking all the cute little things I am going to do for my daughter’s second birthday on Valentine’s Day! Including this cake…and I love the plain white fondant hearts with just one pink heart. I wish I could come up with this stuff on my own ;o) Can’t wait to get your cake pop cookbook btw!
my two baby boys make me happy!
I love snow. Playing in it. Watching it fall. Everything about snow.
please pick me! please pick me! i’ve been searching for that perfect cake stand and this one looks like a winner! =)
Cherry Chip cake pops make me happy! :)
my kids licking frosting off the mixer…
my pink kitchenaid mixer makes me happy :)
Seeing this cake plate makes me happy, my little boy’s first birthday part is in October and I’m going with a red and aqua theme. This plate would be PERFECT!!!!!
I love it! It was so fun to read your description. I just tried to do a very simple 2-layer cake for my son’s birthday last week. It wasn’t as easy as I hoped, and it certainly wasn’t as pretty as yours! The cake would have looked better on the blue stand, though… =) Thanks for the chance to win!
Love, love, love the plate…and the cake is fabulous! Sharing my home with friends that I love makes me happy!
Faceted bicone beads make me happy, because they come in a million colors and their angles reflect little flashes of light. I really want to learn with sugar so I can make bicone cake jewels.
The sound of my 14 month old son cracking up laughing as daddy chases him around the living room makes me happy.
Watching little faces light up when I bring out the mixer and food coloring!
puppies ;)
Anything blue makes me happy. It’s my absolute favorite color!
Spending quiet with my hubby (which we don’t get much of) and when my 9 month old son looks up at me and gives the biggest smile ever.
Absolutely gorgeous!
pancakes for dinner makes me happy :)
I am very lucky to have a lot of happiness in my life, but my current happiness is seeing just a few leaves fall from the trees- it means fall is coming soon! : )
Bakerella makes me happy!
Baking delicious fresh bread on a cold, cold day makes me happy. And eating it with family and friends.
I love the cake! Playing basketball and going to the gym makes me happy :D
My daughter taking her first little baby steps makes me happy!
Oh beautiful! Down blankets make me so happy!
sharing food….it makes me way happier than it should.
Making cakes and traveling makes me happy!
Bakerella makes me happy! Having a tough few weeks and this site has brought back my smile for a bit. Thanks!
My two year old boy’s laughter and hearing him sing “Jesus Loves Me” on the top of his lungs.
What makes me happy is trying a new recipe and it coming out right the first time. I have not been “happy” with the last 3 recipes unfortunately. Awesome cake by the way. Love the single pink heart idea.
I just came home from vacation and before I left I cleaned the house. I love myself for cleaning ahead of time :)
oK… I LOVE LOVE LOVE cake plates. It’s a little problem I’m trying to overcome. I have yellow with bunnies, pink ruffled, a navy with snowmen, a purple ruffled, 3 tiny red ones, a small pink glass one, and a couple of gorgeous cream ones… I need this one to complete my collection don’t you think???? :) I love the blue, and it would look great with my peacock and lemongrass fiesta ware! the cake is gorgeous btw…..
cupcakes make me happy! i love to bake and eat them. yum yum yum
My kids make me very happy! Biological and Foster kids. :)
This blog of course!! But most of all my daughter!!!
The smell of rain.
Hearing my daughter read her book out loud while sitting on the deck melts my heart.
Baking makes me happy! no delirious! Love to bake! I love the blue cake plate! Thanks for offering this!
Look the face of my daugther with a big face of surprice and a big big smile when I make a Cake for here with no reason LOL….
Traveling with friends makes me super happy =)
I absolutely love this blue cake stand…sure beats the clear glass one I broke ten years ago and never replaced!!!
Just last night at bedtime, I told my husband that every time I come across our dog Sam, he makes me smile.
Laying on the beach with a book or magazine makes me very happy.
My two year old singing country songs about whiskey in one breath and the most beautiful rendition of Silent Night I’ve ever heard in the next.
this cake plate puts a big smile on my face. Eating sweets also makes me uber-happy!
Snuggling with my husband watching movies makes me so so happy! And for a first-time fondant-er, that cake looks really really nice!
My two sons bring me great delight. Now I am pregnant with a girl and that make my world seem complete.
Making a great dinner for the family makes me happy.
Puppies make me happy. :)
Cardigans make me happy! I’m looking forward to fall weather!
Oh man, that cake stand makes me so happy- I want, I want, I need! But seriously, watching my kids sleep makes me deliriously happy.
I can’t believe that that is your first fondant covered cake. I’ve been decorating cakes for years using buttercream frosting, but I’ve been too afraid (and lazy) to cover a cake with fondant. I use it a lot to make decorations. Your cake looks wonderful and the one pink heart is very sweet!
That cake is beautiful!! A clean house makes me really happy.
That cake is gorgeous! It (maybe just a tad smaller) would be so cute for a bridal shower!
Spending time with family and friends makes me happy. I LOVE your cake!
What makes me happy… seeing how excited my boys get when they see my baking pans out on the counter. They know something yummy will be waiting for them after school.
Being inspired by Bakerella.com
Days like today when it’s not too humid and not too hot, but enjoyably sunny out. That makes me happy.
Brand new, fresh play doh. :)
my baby girls make me happy.
Seeing the joy a cake brings to someone! The look of the birthday boy when he sees his favorite character in cake, a mom to be seeing a cute cake for her upcoming baby, and of course the faces of the bride and groom seeing their wedding cake or grooms cake for the first time! That makes me happy!
Cuddling with my boyfriend on a rainy day
Blue makes me happy and sunny sunshine-y summer days spent with my kids :)
The sound of my cat purring!!
Reading your blog makes me happy.
No. Wait. Eating what I have made from your blog makes me happy.
No. Wait. Winning contests makes me happy. Hint Hint ;)
What makes me happy, at this moment, is knowing that the tough stuff for Monday is done and I can sit here with my tea researching recipes for my family and customers.
Winning giveaways makes me happy.
Ooh a perfect cake stand to try a fondant baby shower cake for my lovely sister! :D
Caroline
PS : I love what you did with your cake! Quite Elegant!
Baking for my friends and family makes me happy!
Snuggling in the cool weather with my dog and a nice dessert!
Smores makes me happy!!
what makes me happy is making other people happy! that’s the best type of happiness!
Fresh baked brownies…instant happiness!
Seeing updates on this website makes me happy.
CAKE!!
my husband and daughter make me happy!!!!
My boyfriend in uniform makes me happy. :)
sitting in bed and reading on a rainy day makes me happy!
Cupcakes (both the baking and the eating), the color pink, my kids, my husband and sunshine … these are simple things that make me happy! :)
Dr. Pepper makes me pretty happy! Maybe you can work that into one of your next baking endeavors…
When I bake bread, and it actually rises properly, naptime (for the kiddos so I can craft or cook), and kisses make me happy! I’m loving the blue cake stand, so winning this would make me happy too. Just sayin’.
Painting and mashed potatoes make me happy!
snuggling with my puppy after a long day at work…
Reflecting every night about the my day, and knowing that I have been worth something, especially my work at special needs school makes me happy. I love their smiles and the twinkle in their eyes.
baking. and seeing how happy others get when they eat all the yummy baked goods makes me even happier
Since my mind is in the baking realm: Testing new recipes on friends makes me happy. I love how even though something doesn’t turn out the way I pictured people still love it and ask for more.
Sharing my creativce talents makes me happy…and the recipients reactions makes me happy.
my husband’s laugh makes me happy
Being at home with my pup and a good book make me extremely happy.
LOve the color blue…..so just love the cake stand too!
One thing that makes me happy is having my family over and eating a WOW dinner! (then me sitting while others clean up!)
my boys!~
My baby makes me happy. And baking. I am feeling very inspired to make a cake now.
Robins Egg Blue makes me happy.
I’m not going to lie….I love watching my kids grow up. One of my happiest moments is sending them to school on the first day every year….I smile with tears in my eyes and have a great feeling that it is okay to let go and be happy for them as well as me.
Today is my son’s first day back to school. And that makes me happy! Overjoyed, actually!
Double spice chai tea from Stash and a Sunday newspaper with the morning all quiet and to myself…that’s what makes me happy!
Spending time with my family makes me happy!
What makes me happy???……i think it would have to be the look on peoples face when they eat a desert I have made and they really like it! That makes me smile inside and out! :-)
My boyfriend makes me happy. He’s always trying to make me smile : )
Ohhh your cake is so beautiful!
Something that makes me happy is cake decorating for family friends because the end result makes them very happy :)
My cousin’s new baby makes me happy!
My granddaughters make me happy! I love the one pink heart on the cake – great idea and a beautiful cake!
Bue oceans make me happy!
Cooking and baking make me happy!
Just hanging out with hubby and the boys….
Cake plates make me happy! I have my moms, my grandma’s and mine. I blue makes me very very happy!!
Baking for my family and seeing their eyes light up!
This blue cake stand makes me happy! I love brightly colored things!
I LOVE making little snacky treats for my daycare kids, then watching them enjoy eating it. They totally get “INTO” their little treats!
Smooches from my hubby make me very happy. A cute cupcake works too!
Your website makes me happy! And my grandbabies :)
An empty house, good book and bottle of wine makes me happy :-) It’s like the perfect storm, but in a good way!
My daughter makes me happy :)
and ice cream!!!
baking makes me happy, and my boyfriend makes me happy, and my best friend makes me happy, and webcomics make me happy and the vlogbrothers and nerdfighteria makes me happy and sunshine and beaches and laughing makes me happy.
and free cake stands make me happy.
Everything about cupcakes makes me happy :D<3
Yellow makes me happy, but I love that blue cake stand!
Hearing my children sing Praise to Jesus On their own.
I love cake plates!! I’ve got I think it’s 12 to my collection so far :)
It makes me happy that others eat and enjoy my bakery. I am starting to bake for my friends’ life events and loving it~!
Hearing my children sing Praise to Jesus, On their own.
watching my baby smile at me after she wakes up from her nap. (she’s happy, i’m happy!)
cooking and preparing good food for my family and then watching them enjoy it makes me tremendously happy. love your blog and have been blessed by it.
Summer vacation makes me happy! I will enjoy my two more weeks of vacation until school starts again! (I’m a teacher)
uhm… this plate makes me happy. If you include canadians in your giveaways, please enter me. :)
Being with my friends is what makes me happy.
That is too, too cute! Today, the first day of school made me happy, but so will seeing my beautiful girls when school’s over! ;-)
My baby’s wriggly toes make me happy!
This makes me happy too!! So cute! :)
Pink makes me happy …
Looks like I’m going to have to try cake stacking now! The cake is gorgeous!! (My daughter requested an identical one for her birthday….good thing I have until December to practice!!) Thanks for the chance to win!!
What makes me happy??? Baking & mass producing
Baking makes me really, really happy. It’s just so…calming and soothing. Plus, there’s instant gratification!
I love reading to my 2 girls, Ella and Lucy.
Good books and good cupcakes make me extremely happy!
Listening to my two year old laugh at his older siblings makes me smile and wish I could bottle the moment!
Chocolate makes me happy, especially when I bake something yummy with chocolate and it turns out. Bliss I tell you, bliss.
Squeezing in here. I love cake plates. This color is perfect.
Chocolate, books, and good smelling hand soap makes me happy :)
cooking, playing games with my kids, hanging out with my hubby, peppermint mocha frapuccinos, hmmmmm looking at anything on your site! =)
happy happy happy =)
When I make cakes and everything goes smoothly and turns out great…that makes me happy! Hahaha -in a perfect world right??
This post is adorable, i love that single pink heart too!
:)
Decorating cakes makes me happy!
One thing that ameks me happy is when I try out a new recipe and it turns out so good I want to do it again the very next day, like the cheesecake bars I did for desert yesterday. Oh my goodness! Those were good!
Cooking and baking for my husband and children (and anybody else, really!) makes me very happy. There is just a lot of joy in it. I can’t explain it.
Oh. And realizing I weigh less than I think I do. That always makes me smile! Hee hee!
Love it! Your so creative!
What an adorable cake. My daughters make me happy!! They can always make me smile.
This is so so so so beautiful. I have only ever made a 2 layer fondant cake, but I have always wanted to try a stacked one. Mine was a little more whimsical- white fondant with red, blue, green, and yellow different sized circles everywhere.
Honestly, this might have to be what my wedding cake looks like. I LOVE it. You don’t do cakes? Could have fooled me.
um… I also really want that cake stand, so what makes me happy? Appropriately, baking and cooking :)
Baking makes me happy. My favorite part is when I take the cake out of the oven – I just love the smell of it!
family.
Right now, being home with my cats makes me happy! A week on vacation without wireless was too much – I have blogs to catch up on reading!
Cake makes me happy!
When HE does the dishes :)
Baking birthday cakes for my kids makes me happy! And displaying them on that cake stand would make me super happy!
I love the lonely pink heart!
The occasional Friday off work makes me very happy.
Since I am currently gestating, any type of cake or baked good makes me very happy.
Baking desserts with my sister makes me happy!
sprinkled cupcake makes me happy.
baking blogs and my kitchen aide mixer make me very happy!
Donuts. All of them.
Baking makes me happy!!!! YOU make me happy everytime I see new post!!! =)