Baking and Decorating a cake

I want to make my parents' anniversary cake this weekend. problem is, i USED to do this all the time but literally haven't in years so I seem to have forgotten and need some tips.

1. what kind of pan would you use for the cake, for about 20 people?

2. what do you use for the icing? do you make your own, or buy? and to actually decorate/write on the cake? do you use a bag and tips, or buy storebought (i personally don't like the taste of those, but it's been a while)

3. anyone have a really good, really moist cake recipe? was thinking either red velvet or chocolate frosting with yellow cake (or vice versa).

4. any tips/ideas on making it pretty? Even a website would be helpful.

I've lost my decorating mojo

TIA for any advice!!!

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

cake recipe

i made this cake and got rave reviews for it. youc an easily plug in the number of servings and it will automatically update for you. I had used pre made vanilla icing and mixed merengue powder in to help firm it up .

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

thank you!

anyone else for decorating tips?

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

Posted by Egg

thank you!

anyone else for decorating tips?

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by Egg

thank you!

anyone else for decorating tips?

where do you live?

i have pastry bags and a bunch of tips that you can borrow if you want.

then you can add your writing.

or have you seen dorie greenspan's perfect party cake? i think that would be awesome! (but you wouldn't be able to write on it unless you omitted the coconut)

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

Red Velvet Cake Recipe....super moist and always a hit. With the amount of people you may have to double the recipe.

Ingredients
Cake:
2 cups sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
Icing:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup melted marshmallows
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) round greased and floured pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely before frosting.

Icing:
Blend cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl. Add marshmallows and sugar and blend. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

What did you decide to do? And how did it come out?

PICS!

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

thanks for asking! i did red velvet cake and cupcakes and my decorating attempt was totally amateurish but the cake was delicious! it was semi from scratch, but i made the icing and frosting from scratch. DH said it was too cream cheesey but everyone else loved it. I also had a crisis b/c i forgot my wilton decorating gun at home so I literally RAN to Grandma's Kitchen in Wantagh (which is AMAZING) and got there 5 mins before they closed.

Here are pics; not great, but not terrible for my first attempt in like 10 years... my parents were very happy!

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

Posted by Egg

Posted by maybeamommy

Posted by Egg

thank you!

anyone else for decorating tips?

where do you live?

i have pastry bags and a bunch of tips that you can borrow if you want.

then you can add your writing.

or have you seen dorie greenspan's perfect party cake? i think that would be awesome! (but you wouldn't be able to write on it unless you omitted the coconut)

I live in Queens. I "used" to have all that stuff; i think it's at my mom's though. I do have the wilton gun with the different tips so I can use that. I might also get some more stuff at Michael's this weekend.... thanks for the offer though! I was thinking more what to use for the frosting/icing... i guess I can just make a butter cream and add food coloring? I'd rather not use storebought if i can help it. I'm just drawing a blank on what i did like 10 years ago.


I'm going to google that cake. was also thinking red velvet, since I made that once and it was a BIG hit, and since it's their 45th anniversary maybe i'll do some sort of red icing / hearts decoration. hm...

thanks for your help!

Re: Baking and Decorating a cake

very nice! i wish you had pics of the inside too