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.
Looks cute. Taking naps with my bulldog makes me happy.
Baking makes me happy, well it makes me de-stress and then the decorating makes me stressed all over again but in a good way. I guess it’s seeing the finished product and then getting to eat it that makes me happy! x
The idea of cake decorating makes me happy!
You know when a summer storm is just starting up and the air feels all crackly and fresh and you open a window and that cool breeze blows in and you feel like you could just run outside and get swept up into that storm and become part of it? That makes me happy. When that happens I pull the comfy chair up to the window and make myself a cup of tea. grab a couple cookies and a good book to read while the storm blows over me. Sometimes I take a nap like that and have the best dreams. Do storms affect everyone that way or just me?
When my favorite teams win!
new shoes make me happy!
This cake makes me happy! Such wonderful photography too!
My kids make me happy. The optomisim of kids and the way their enthusiasm for everything is infectious.
One thing that makes me happy is when I can enter to win an awesome blue cake plate (I don’t own a cake plate at all, so it would be helpful). How fun! Love your beautiful cake, by the way.
Baking makes me very happy… but EATING baked goods makes me HAPPIER!!
Ben and Jerry’s half baked!!! Mmmm!!
Baking makes me happy. Especially baking for Christmas. Favourite thing to do
Chocolate frosting on club crackers and pretty, patterned rainboots make me happy!!
My SIX kids and playing scrabble :) Oh and peanut butter m&m’s which sadly we can not get in the UK :(
What makes me happy is being able to sleep in my own bed after returning from vacation. There is nothing like that feeling when you first lay down!
My friends make me happy.
The belly laugh of a young child! I must admit..having a piece of that cake would make me very happy too!
My cat makes me happy!
A big slice of my Mum’s Cinnamon Plum cake with freshly whipped cream makes me happy!
Riding horses makes me happy. :)
I love your cake! It makes me feel all giggly and girly inside! But I’d have to say the thing that makes my insides go all warm and fuzzy is when my youngest says in his still baby like voice” Mama? I love you my whole heart!”
Everything about this post makes me happy! Thanks!
My husband kissing me, my kids, a good dinner and friends!
Today…August 23 is my granddaughter’s birthday. That makes me real happy!
My two boys loving on each other and spending time as a family make me happy
My daughter makes me Very HAPPY!
New baking ideas make me happy!! But, a good book, some chocolate, my two dogs snuggled up, and a thunderstorm make me happiest!
It makes me happy to hear my 2 1/2 yr old just die laughing at something!!!
Chocolate!
Oh! You did it again… found something cute and made something even better to boot…
Kudos
definitely my kids.
My baby boy Wyatt!
Baking/cooking for people I love….which I did last Friday in hosting my own birthday party….so much fun!
Curling up with a good book and my kitty cat makes me happy.
It makes me happy when I took days on a cake project this
last weekend & tried new cake pans & a new
(fabulous) marshmallow fondant recipe for a party I threw for my newborn’s blessing day & then I make dinner the night before & forget to move said gorgeous cake & it turns into the most hideous blob of goo & my husby tries to convince me it’s still amazing looking & no one will notice & then he hid it in the kitchen, preslice it, & served it to everyone raving about my awesomeness. That makes me happy :)
Weird shaped earasers make me happy… I have one shaped like a meat dumpling with a smiley face (:
What makes me happy . . . walking through my hosta garden.
Love it! What a beautiful cake. Smiles make me happy!
A chance to win a beautiful glass cake stand makes me happy!
Chocolate truffles & vanilla cake batter. Not together of course.
This super cute cake plate makes me happy! Thanks for the giveaway
Reading blogs when I should be working.
drinking coffee with my boy in the morning. and cake :-)
Well, my kiddos and my hubby make me super happy, but right now I’m also a llittle obsessed with key lime pie (or, really, anything lime, for that matter) so that makes me happy, too!!!
Coffee makes me happy! :)
I forgot to leave what made me happy. I love that today is August 23 and it’s only 72 degrees in Salt Lake City, Utah today! It’s usually 98+ in August!
Snuggling my kids, and smothering them with kisses makes me extremely happy!!!
Baking makes me happy!
the smells of my three boys and a steaming cup of chai tea makes me blissful.
Oh Bakerella – that is a glorious cake. I love that you put one pink heart on the cake. So cute.
I love it! CUtting into the (very ugly) cake I made for my daughters’ birthday to find a fun rainbow inside makes me very happy.
Cool fall weather makes me happy!
Gorgeous! My first big stacked cake was for a friend’s wedding cake and my boyfriend thought the kitchen had exploded. So don’t worry: you’re in messy company!
I think it’s great for your first time with fondant. I’m too intimidated to try. BUT, if I win the lovely blue cake stand, I will give it a go!
Fall time makes me happy.
spending time with my family
My birthday makes me happy… another blessed year to celebrate and it happens to be tomorrow!!!
Buying the supplies to try to make Cake Pops for the first time EVER makes me happy!!
Finishing a good book. And eating yummy sweet things.
I love the way the cake came out!! The single pink heart really makes it stand out :)
My family makes me truly happy.
I love to watch my two girls being silly, laughing and playing together. When they are happy, I am super happy! I love them so much.
Learning to bake from scratch and the delicious products!
bakerella makes me happy and inspired me to make 100 cupcakes for my son’s wedding last weekend, AND my new daughter-in-law makes me happy too!
Lizbeth
Love the cake. I love a slice for breakfast- thats would make me happy.
My vacation back home to see my friends and family is making me very happy right now. :]
My family, makes me happy. Hearing the squeals of delight when I come into a room of 8 month old girlies, or hearing a 4 year old running down the stairs yelling “I’m up Mama!” That’s happy.
My family makes me happy!
Rainstorms and Harry Potter make me happy!
Family, baking and being together!! :)
Traveling makes me happy.
I love this cake!
Now for what makes me happy… trying out new recipes and having my 2 year old son, Brendan, be the taste tester. :)
I love the simplicity of this cake and the single pink heart just sets it off! I always tend to like the simple things in life much better than the fluff and fancy!!!
my little bean makes me happy…she’s 17 months old and puts a smile on my face everyday!!!!
Seeing the cakes and other thins you do make me happy! What a lovely cake! Love the pink heart!
Take a really great picture makes me happy!!!
I love your website, keep up the creativity!
Love the cake stand!! Love the cake even more :)
Bunnies and pugs!
My family makes me happy! ;-)
Random acts of kindness make me happy!
And cake! :)
My 2 year-old makes me happy!
Clean houses make me happy. Making tall, stacked cakes scares me!! :)
My roommate baking all of these wonderful creations makes me happy. Slightly overweight, but happy nonetheless.
OHHHH so muc h about this website makes me happy, the cake with the hearts makes me very very happy. Hearts are my very favorite. I love seeing what Bakerella will come up with next!!!
Having time off makes me very happy!!
My family and friends make me happy.
I have 3 little girls and Friday the ultrasound tech announced that our fourth baby will be a BOY! I’m beyond happy these days :)
omg cute cake! just one thing? hmm, i’ll have to say my family :) then thrifting and baking!
baking! I love that cake plate! blue is awesome it makes me happy also!
in answer to ur question, my husband makes me happy. he’s in iraq right now fighting for us, so he also makes me proud.
btw, that is the prettiest color blue ever!
That cake with ONE pink heart makes me happy!!
5:00 would make me really happy on this gloomy Monday!
My new puppy makes me happy! The cake looks beautiful!
Of course my husband & son make me happy…but so does an ice-cold Coke from McDonalds in the mornings! It’s a must to get my day started.
That cake is gorgeous! Love the cakes stand. Looking at this cake and your website makes me happy. :)
Blue is definitely one of the things that makes me happy.
On my iPod (tiny little nano, how I appreciate you), I have a copy of Jack Jack Attack short from the Incredibles movie. Whenever I am in a grumpy mood, watching this makes me feel so much better. It cures what ails me without costing me a lot of money at the chocolate shop!
Making cakes and gumpaste flowers run a very close second to playing with my 3 beautiful grandchildren!!!
Polar bear cubs make me happy :)
What makes me happy right now? Ice cream. Any kind. mmmmmmm………..
Anything SWEET makes me happy!! That one pink heart “makes” the cake…so pretty!!
LOTS of things make me happy, but sitting with my kids…watching rain….and baking are my top three. Love the cake!….and the Stand ;)
After a long drive from my current home (in Maine) to the place where I grew up (in Western New York), the thing that makes me happiest is finally turning onto my road and being astounded at how nothing really ever changes…
A brand new book to read while laying in the sun.
Seeing my children smile and hearing them laugh makes me happy.
Trial and error during baking makes me happy! I’m not the best at fondant either but I love trying to work with it anyway.
Getting your e-mails with the beautiful photos and yummy ideas is wonderful…..especially when my girlfriends and I get to talk about all of your cool stuff on our runs each morning and then wonder how many extra miles we have to do to bake more (eat more)!
Baking makes me happy.
My son! Every single thing about him!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE baking every Sunday with my boyfriend Greg, a civil engineer. I research and select something fun to bake and he’s in charge of drawing up the blueprints and diagrams. We start very organized and meticulous, but we always end up with frosting up to our elbows. Sundays are happy happy days!
My new puppy makes me happy. He’s a Siberian husky and he’s the first thing i see when i get home from work and he always makes me smile.
My two children!! :)
Baking cakes for others, when I get to see how excited they are when they recieve it makes me smile.
My three kids make me happy ~ plain and simple.
When I try something new and it works out great, that makes me happy. And family and shaved ice!
What makes me happy? Anything with a bow on it. I just realized that I own 4 pairs of shoes with bows on them (that being said I would happily purchase more!)
snuggling up in my bed with a good book on a chilly night :)
my kiddos giggling together as if they were in on the same secret
creme brulee, a good book, and a sleepy cuddly kitty make me happy.
My one year old daughter. :)
Beautiful cake!! Who ate it?
One thing that makes me happy: An egg over-medium with toast and strawberry jam and a cup of coffee in a huggable mug – especially if my sister’s here to enjoy it with me!
Spending time with my beautiful granddaughters makes me very happy.
My kids!
what makes me really happy is seeing the faces of the people that receive my baked goods. it makes me feel like baking is what i was meant to do.
The smell in the air after a rainy day! Hehe.
Sundays make me happy. They are the one day of the week that my boyfriend “usually” has off, so its the one full day that we can spend together. And most times, our Sunday consists of no planning, and just simply spontaneous events, such as enjoying the summer sun, riding our bikes along the beach, grabbing lunch at the local cafe..those are the BEST days.
sorry, i made a mistake, my blog URL is maybedogagility.blogspot.com
Cupcaking! And that cake plate… Love it! :-)
A blue sky with only a few clouds make me very happy!
Something that makes me happy….snuggling in bed with my newborn. We just brought her home two days ago. :)
My favorite color BLUE! The cake is soo cute.
The single pink heart definitely makes this one sweet looking cake. How did it taste? Looks are important, but gotta have it and EAT it! :D
Hmmm….Baking, Music, and sleeping on long cold nights make me happy!!…and relaxed!!
Hanging out with my mom all morning today while she was passing through Utah where I live now. My mom makes me happy :)
Cookies make me happy.
Oh so many things make me happy. Family makes me happy. Blue and Yellow make me happy. :)
I love baking…it makes me happy.
My kitty purring the morning makes me happy!
Kissing my children and then reeeaaallly kissing my husband makes me happy!
Shopping! For clothes and shoes and cooking/baking utensils… and also freebies!
When my daughter bakes with me, it makes me happy. She gets so excited at each step, and so proud at the end result!
Anything and everything to do with making cake makes me happy! Except the cleaning up part. :)
Anything pink and sweet makes me happy :o)
oh my goodness, has it really been two hours that i have been randomly coming back to the computer to look again at Fishs Eddy? i even made a registry just to send to my husband at work for gift ideas for me. how lame can i be? first you made me fat, and now you’ve made me a dish-a-holic. thanks. thanks a lot.
Cookies! I just tried a new recipe for chocolate mint cookies and they were amazing!
That cake looks awesome! Especially on that lovely little blue stand.
listening to my kids playing and giggling. Also, a nice warm chocolate chip cookie make me happy!
So many things make me happy: sewing, baking, canning, reading, painting, music, my Church, my family, kittens, and the wind blowing in the trees. I think the blue glass cake stand would make me happy, too!
What makes me happy is making a cup full of emergency chocolate cake, snuggling in a blanket and watching a chick flick. :)
Life makes me HAPPY!!!!
Sharing cupcakes (with sprinkles) with my boys…gotta love it!
My children and warm sunny days in my garden.
Warm Summer days spent with my family makes me happy!
family makes me happy
Brand new books make me happy, so do old familiar ones.
cupcakes, and sunshine, and hearing my daughter giggle makes me happy :)
The double rainbow I saw yesterday made me so happy! And baking itty bitty pizzas with my son ranks pretty high up there, too!
I’m the happiest when eating cake batter from the bowl. With an extra large spoon!
Chocolate makes me sooooo happy!
When what I bake makes people happy, that makes me happy!
Cupcakes make me the MOST happy!
Pretty, even messy, latte art on the top of an 8oz cup of ethiopian coffee… Maybe the happiest thing in the world.
First of all, your cake looks awesome! It is enough to make me want to try it too!!!
What makes me happy? Hearing my 2 year old niece say “I love you Auntie”
Cake pops make me happy!
Creating a yummy meal with my husband and then sitting down together to enjoy our work.
Baking with my son makes me happy. He gets so excited about what we can create together in the kitchen!
Love the cake and the stand!! Eating a piece of cake would make me very happy right now!!
Being done with the first day of classes for this semester!
Eating dessert never fails to make me happy!!
What makes me happy? Knowing that I have your book pre-ordered and soon to be in my home! And of course my precious boys!!!
My childrens face’s always makes me smile.
Learning new things makes me happy! Right now I am currently learning to decorate cakes (both buttercream and fondant), so I have an abundance of happiness… and a lot of hard work ahead of me. :)
Baking and spending time with my loved ones make me extremely happy!
My husband! And long summer nights. And this blue cake stand would make me happy too.
I’ve been looking all over the place for THE perfect cake stand. If I win this one, I think I’ll have found it. Cooking and baking with fresh ingredients makes me happy. Last night grilled new potatoes on the grill as part of dinner and finished the meal off with fresh peach cobbler. Yum!
Being able to quit my job and now be a SaHM makes me happy!
Wow, look at all these comments! The stand is mightly lovely though. Baking makes me happy, as well as my job. I love it :)
Reading your blog and the anticipation of recreating your ideas makes me happy
Oh my that is the sweetest cake ever. I love that little pink heart. And today, seeing this message while checking email at the library because my dsl is out (C-R-A-Z-Y), I’d say that cake right now in this moment makes me happy. I could so love all over some cake right now. Mmmmmm. ‘-)
spending a lazy, rainy day morning in bed with my boyfriend for a few extra cat napping hours is something which i love!
My funny, funny 3 year old niece, Jade, makes me happy. :)
My baby boy!!
Hi!
Reading your posts/blog makes me happy. Also, throwing my son a really awesome 3rd birthday party in October would make me really happy. He loves Thomas the Train & I’d like his cake to have the Thomas theme. Your cake stand is the perfect Thomas the train “blue.” It would be lovely to display his cake on it.
Your cake is stunning – make more!! :)
Exercise makes me feel happier about eating all the marvelous cake. Nice job!
My two little girls make me happier than I ever thought possible!
It makes me happy to be with my family and to have someone “real” like you invited to my kitchen.
Making your cake pops makes me happy — but sharing them makes me even happier! So far my son and I have made cupcake pops, ice cream cones, and skull pops. Rave reviews every time, and of course I am sure to credit you. Thanks!
I love this cake, its adorable.
Drinking warm tea and watching a gushy chick flick is something that makes me incredibly happy.
Being with my entire family
Being a mother makes me happy. Photography makes me happy. And of course, baking makes me happy…and heavier:)
Cake makes me happy :)
Shopping and cupcakes make me happy especially when I can do them both.
What makes me happy…A perfectly clean house, napping children and my “me” time that I use to peruse my craft and cooking blogs :)
Baking all day in my kitchen for friends and loved ones makes me happy! I love to share my love of baking with my grandchildren. The boys love the whir of the mixer and think they are operating a machine. My granddaughter wants to lick all of the batter when she thinks I’m not looking. I just smile inside!
Hanging out with my dog makes me happy. She is older and slower now, and would rather lay in the shade and stalk birds and rabbits than run around like a lunatic like she used to. I love her. =)
Love this cake!! My two kids make me happy!
Baking and checking the Bakerella site make me happy. I know that sounds cliche, but it’s really inspired me to start my own side business. So far so good. Who knows where it’ll go, but it’s very exciting. Thanks for all the great tips!!!
My daughter makes me happy… even when she’s pooping and vomiting and peeing on me. She’s a precious little hedgehog.
Your cake is pretty precious, too! I smell wedding cakes in your future!
snuggling with my son and watching him take his first steps.
and….
cupcakes with swirly frosting.