Professional icing for a homemade cake

Rachel1981 · by **Rachel1981** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 3:37 pm

Hi Wollies,

After shopping around for a non-traditional wedding cake, we decided that our budget wouldn't stretch to the beautiful croquembouches I have my eye on.

So my Mum and I going to make our own 3-tier biscuit cake! What could possibly go wrong??!

We need help with the icing and the quotes we've got are all too high. Does anyone else have any recommendations or brilliant suggestions?

Thanks a million everyone!

spaced2012 · by **spaced2012** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 8:12 pm

ill be interested in the replies to your post

would you consider going on an icing cake course?

my H2B wants to make our cake (or at least one layer) so i'm thinking of sending him off on a course if he wants to finish it right. we might both do it. if we go that far we might as well do the whole cake!

Rachel1981 · by **Rachel1981** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 9:08 pm

Hi Jemsner,

I would love to do a course but we're getting married in less than 6 months and cakes look attractive enough to me already without any added temptation!! Seriously though, it's such an art, I'd love to have a beautiful cake, I just don't have the money some places are asking!

I'm going to make a three tier chocolate biscuit cake I think. Do you have any ideas yet?

yumyumcake · by **yumyumcake** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 9:50 pm

What style finish do you want on the cake? Do you want it white with a sugarpaste covering or would you go for a chocolate decoration?

Rachel1981 · by **Rachel1981** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:01 pm

A chocolate decoration would be lovely, we're trying to steer away from the traditional

TBH, we don't really mind so long as it makes a potentially shoddy homemade cake look delish!

spaced2012 · by **spaced2012** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:12 pm

to be honest i'd be happy with a smooth all over white icing.
ribbon or other decoration can be added..go to kitchen complements (dublin) or other similar shop for inspiration.

using roll on icing like this:
http://shamrockfoods.ie/products/Ready-to-Roll-Icing-16-3.aspx

and using a method like this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iykrcxzW6os

i found icing 'smoother'
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=icing+smoother&tag=googiehydra-21&index=aps&hvadid=4065655980&ref=pd_sl_z7dp8jqvw_b

the more I think about it, the more manageable it seems! ;o)

(im wed in june btw)

spaced2012 · by **spaced2012** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:13 pm

my friends had a black cake over halloween weekend!

yumyumcake · by **yumyumcake** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:25 pm

The simplest chocolate decoration to use is the little chocolate rolls, kind of like chocolate fingers. You can buy them in boxes and just stick them around the sides of the biscuit cake with melted chocolate or chocolate icing. You can stack the cakes on top of each other and just crumble some of the chocolate on the bit of cake that will be showing around each tier and on top tier. You can get these chocolate cigarillos in white or dark chocolate.

Google 'chocolate cigarillo cakes' images and you will see loads of ideas.

yumyumcake · by **yumyumcake** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:37 pm

Jemsner, where in country are you? I know of quite a few classes, might know some in your area.

spaced2012 · by **spaced2012** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:39 pm

that is a great idea. i've seen it done before for a cake, can also get it white chocolate.

ooh making me want cake now!

yumyumcake · by **yumyumcake** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:45 pm

You can get a stunning effect for very little hassle using the chocolate curls, main thing is to make sure you keep them straight and keep them up against each other, no gaps, as you put them on. Have a practice run with a packet of chocolate fingers and an empty roses tin (every house surely has one after Christmas!) Stick on the fingers with chocolate then pull them off and eat them!

spaced2012 · by **spaced2012** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 10:47 pm

im in dublin!

just seen your 2nd post now. im thinking it might not be necessary but open to looking at options

yumyumcake · by **yumyumcake** » Mon Jan 09, 2022 11:01 pm

If you didn't want to do a class then maybe try to catch a few demonstrations, Decobake regularly have them in their shop in Athlone, I think they do them as well in their Clane, Co. Kildare shop and they are opening shortly in Dublin and they will surely have them there.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decobake- ... 3949115542

spaced2012 · by **spaced2012** » Tue Jan 10, 2022 8:29 am

thank you for that website/shop...i will defo be visiting them hen dublin shop opens.

i think we'll do the whole cake now start to finish. my H2B, who has never baked so much as a bun in his life, thinks its very romantic to do our own cake!! and is strangely delighted :o)ll

Rachel1981 · by **Rachel1981** » Tue Jan 10, 2022 8:57 am

Those decorating ideas are great!

I'm happy to pay for a professional to make the cake look great, I just can't warrant the prices I've been quoted. Does anyone have any recommendations of someone in Dublin who is reasonably priced?

Thanks a million!

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