hi i was wondering if anybody knows how long a fruit cake would last once it has got its marzipan and icing on. i have seen cakes where the colour of the cake has come through to the icing. i know that it takes quite a while to decorate a cake and this is why i ask
CommentAuthorx~Hails~x
My cake friend says she would never make a cake more then 3 months before, then she would ice it about 2-3 weeks before the date its needed for
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CommentAuthormichgib
wow this might be a change of plans for the cakes. my daughter who will be 16 and chief bridesmaid wants to make the cakes, i want a traditional 3 tier one for the day and a 7 tier cupcake one about 200 cupcakes for the evening. i think maybe it would be wise to get the day cake made as i know we will be very busy and 200 cupcakes will take ages to start with
CommentAuthorx~Hails~x
You have a while yet babe, have a play around, see how long it would take to do what you want.......... then go from there
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For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart
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CommentAuthorRags
Personally I wouldn't attempt 200 cupcakes....sponge doesn't last nearly as long as fruit, also with fruit you add loads a booze which helps preserve it. I'd buy the cupcakes from M&S etc by the time you've bought the ingredients and had the oven on for 20 hours you will have probably spent as much as you would buying them ready made.
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its going to be part of her portfolio as she is going to open a cake shop when she leaves school that is why she is making the cake and she is very excited about it. i have been making cakes for years but i never got into the decoration part of them and that is what she wants to do
CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
Icing starts to go creamy in colour the longer it is left. It is best waiting until nearer the time to decorate the cakes. Sponge really needs to be done no more than two days before the wedding to be fresh so it can put a big strain on you if you are doing it yourself. Fruit cakes will last a few months so you can make them early and then decorate them nearer to the day. I decided as I wanted to do my own cake that I would decorate fake cakes in advance as I want the icing to be a cream colour and its cheaper to buy white icing. I'm then going to serve up sheet cakes from the back as it all works out at about £80 for everything!
CommentAuthormichgib
thanks for that will bear it in mind
CommentAuthorRachie :D
Freeze it xxx
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CommentAuthormichgib
never thought of freezing what a good idea
CommentAuthorfelicity.h
go for a chocolate mud cake mix for the cupcakes or ginger or something that gets better with age but isnt fruit or do fuit for the cup cakes if you wish. Chocolate mud cake gets nicer every day for 3 to 4 days then will last another week. just keep it sealed and it does well in the fridge as its like brownies and a little bit gooey.. yummy need to make more. Parkin is a good one. but if you do normal sponge do madeira. i prefer the normal cupcake mix but with 200 to make its gonig to be tough. but im sure your daughter is well aware of what shes doing and shes got alot of time to practice. :) i hope she has fun doing them x
CommentAuthormichgib
thanks for that felicity im sure she will have fun. so far she has only made birthday cakes for people she made a brilliant monster for her brothers birthday cake and they are always so nice there is never any left to store xx
CommentAuthorfelicity.h
well thats deffinately a good sign.... you should get her 'the essential guide to cake decorating' book its got recipes for cake (including chocolate mud - yummy :D so hungry for it now) different types of icinging fondants etc and it gives loads of step by step guides to making flowers and little people etc. It is the best book i own. Any cake maker would love it. Also get her some plasticine (sp?) or modelling clay anything like that, the best stuff to practice making models and flowers. Id like to point out im not an expert just some tips ive picked up from having children (the plastacine lol) and this book. I will have to continue being a member just to see how it went. x
CommentAuthormichgib
she has got silicone moulds for decrative objects she just needs to practice on her piped icing techniques. as for the plasticine i think she would kill me she likes to practice with the fondant icing so that she can eat what she makes lol
CommentAuthorfelicity.h
ahh well i get sick of the stuff pretty quick plus its cheaper as i can re use it. plus its me being lazy cos i cant be bothered to keep making the stuff. if shes doing pipe work then no she cant use plasticine really. lol
CommentAuthorChrissy
I used to make wedding cakes before I got arthritis and iced fruit cake can be kept for ages although I wouldn't make them until about three months before either. Here's some tips if you'd like them?
The cake will seep through to the icing if the marzipan/icing are too thin. Cakes must be stored in a cardboard cake box at room temperature so they don't sweat, I used to put tissue paper around mine to capture any unwanted moisture. Make sure the tissue paper is white. I made my flowers etc from pastello (sugarpaste) these can be made months in advance as they set like china. If stored correctly they will not discolour. Madeira, carrot or similar are the way to go sponge wise as they are firm, easier to ice, easy to carve, last up to two weeks at room temp and freeze perfectly. If you want to freeze the iced cake make sure there are no decorations attached that contain wires etc. Wrap cake entirely in tin foil. Then place in large freezer bag and then put in a box or feezer proof container to protect against damage. Pad out the box with polystyrene blocks to keep it secure if necessary.
Hope that helps :o)
JD is taken so I'll settle for being Mrs Marge :o)
CommentAuthormichgib
wow thanks for that really helpful xx
CommentAuthorChrissy
No problem babe, if you need to know anything else just give me a shout, only too pleased to help :o) xxx
JD is taken so I'll settle for being Mrs Marge :o)
CommentAuthormichgib
i will and thanks again
CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
Also if you want to practice cake decorating it is well worth getting a dummy cake. You can then put on and take off the icing as much as you want to get it right. Also get a cake polisher (its like a plastic trowel) that will smooth out the icing and make it shine. Again with the piping you can practice this on fake cakes and then wipe if off after. To do this either cling film or paint the fake cake so it is suitable for reuse. If you get a box of icing you can use it, wrap it up again and re use it again over and over until you can do it perfect every time. Also because they are perfect shapes it makes it easier for when you are first starting out. When you come to do the real cakes if you have any lumps and bumps at the bottom or sides etc fill them in with icing first so when you lay the top layer on it sits nicely.
You tube also have some great videos on how to make gumpaste flowers etc and they are not as hard to make as you think. If you do want things like flowers do use gumpaste as icing doesn't set like gumpaste does and you can't roll it as thinly. If you want to use large amounts of it then it works out cheaper to buy the powder then mix it with water and colour it than it does to buy the ready made which is expensive!
