Jann in TX Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) Can't believe that my baby just turned 14... she had about 10 friends over for a party-- everyone brought donations for the local food pantry it was great not having the 'token gift' mess to deal with (and the food pantry is always low this time of year). On a funny note-- her oldest sister (25 yrs old) came over for the party and mentioned that my grey sweater matched my grey hair perfectly... time to visit the hairdresser! Here is a picture of her cake-- this year's theme was 'steam punk'. I decided on the octopus at 11pm last night-- stayed up until 1am but he came out cute! The gears are out of chocolate and are dusted with a metallic edible dust. The octopus and roses are gumpaste -- dd will keep them around for a while. Top cake was chocolate fudge with a semi-sweet chocolate ganache filling, bottom cake was white velvet (doctored cake mix recipe in post# 23) with a white chocolate ganache filling. Both were topped with buttercream and marshmallow fondant. The goggles and the pocket watch were borrowed from DH... Edited January 30, 2016 by Jann in TX 31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Whoa! Awesome cake!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Wow. DD16 is jealous. Awesome job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 My DD would LOVE that cake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 How wonderful and resourceful to have people bring contributions to the food bank! And if I had to make a cake like that I'd have to start a week ahead so I could try and try again.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MercyA Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Wow! I am impressed! :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Cool cake! What makes cake "velvet"? I always assumed it had something to do with red...since white velvet exists I guess it's something else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 That is a seriously cool cake! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Great job!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in IN Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Amazing cake - I always love to see your creations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Wow Jann, that is spectacular! Happy birthday to your dd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Happy Birthday to your DD, and what an awsome cake!! I'm always so jealous of people with talent. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingaway Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Great cake! I can't show it to anyone in my house because then they'll want one and I can't make or buy one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I'm just speechless at that amazing cake! You're truly an artist. I'm lucky if I can get plain frosting to not look like I slapped it on with a spackle knife :001_rolleyes: Happy birthday to your DD! I hope she enjoyed her party and your wonderful creation :D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 I made the cake over a 5 day period... just a bit every day (well a few hours Thursday night and Friday morning!). You could say I was 'homeschooled' for cake decorating. I did take a class at a vo-tech center 30 years ago (after a HUGE cake-wreck DH signed me up for a class as a 1st anniversary present). All of the techniques used on this cake I learned by watching You-Tube videos (I learned the rose from a Craftsy online course). DD made about half of the gears and dusted/colored most of them. White-velvet is basically red-velvet but no food dye (dd is allergic to red dye). Think white cake with sour cream and/or buttermilk for a slight tang. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Love the cake! As a steampunk fan, I have to ask what else at the party went with the theme? I'd love to see pics if you're willing to post! We were thinking of a steampunk theme for our next big party and I could use some ideas. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Many happy returns of the day to your dd! And that cake is fabulous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessMommy Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Can't believe that my baby just turned 14... she had about 10 friends over for a party-- everyone brought donations for the local food pantry it was great not having the 'token gift' mess to deal with (and the food pantry is always low this time of year). On a funny note-- her oldest sister (25 yrs old) came over for the party and mentioned that my grey sweater matched my grey hair perfectly... time to visit the hairdresser! Here is a picture of her cake-- this year's theme was 'steam punk'. I decided on the octopus at 11pm last night-- stayed up until 1am but he came out cute! The gears are out of chocolate and are dusted with a metallic edible dust. The octopus and roses are gumpaste -- dd will keep them around for a while. Top cake was chocolate fudge with a semi-sweet chocolate ganache filling, bottom cake was white velvet with a white chocolate ganache filling. Both were topped with buttercream and marshmallow fondant. The goggles and the pocket watch were borrowed from DH... sm cake e14.jpg OMG!! I love it! I love steampunk... fabulous job, BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Very cool cake! I love steam punk. The cake brought to mind Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan trilogy. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lilaclady Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Love the cake. I am sure she will have a wonderful party. Happy birthday to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I made the cake over a 5 day period... just a bit every day (well a few hours Thursday night and Friday morning!). You could say I was 'homeschooled' for cake decorating. I did take a class at a vo-tech center 30 years ago (after a HUGE cake-wreck DH signed me up for a class as a 1st anniversary present). All of the techniques used on this cake I learned by watching You-Tube videos (I learned the rose from a Craftsy online course). DD made about half of the gears and dusted/colored most of them. White-velvet is basically red-velvet but no food dye (dd is allergic to red dye). Think white cake with sour cream and/or buttermilk for a slight tang. That makes it even more amazing. I'm so uncreative in this way, I literally can't even fathom being able to create something like that on the fly. It just doesn't compute :lol: A little OT, but do you have a particular recipe you use for your white velvet cake? Our traditional family cake is red velvet, but my DD reacts badly to red dye, so my mom used the same recipe but left out the red dye. It wasn't quite the same--it was drier, and the color was an unappealing brown (not that we didn't put a serious hurting on it anyway, but I know she'd love to improve it if she could!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jann in TX Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) White Velvet Cake (can be any flavor) 1 boxed cake mix of choice flavor**--for White Velvet I use French Vanilla1 cup sugar1 cup cake flour (regular all-purpose flour will also work)1/8 tsp (2 pinches) of salt 1 cup sour cream or vanilla yogurt (fat free is OK but I prefer low fat or regular)1/2 cup melted butter (1 stick) use only real butter (salted or unsalted)1 1/3 cups milk (or buttermilk-- you can also add a tsp of vinegar to regular milk)3 eggs (slightly beaten)1tsp vanilla extract Stir dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and mix on medium speed (low if using a heavy duty mixer like a KitchenAid). Pour into prepared pans (I grease with Crisco then dust with flour). If using cake pans-- wrap cake bands * (wet) around pan before adding batter. Bake at 335 F until center springs back. (lower temp helps cake bake more evenly) I will get around 30 cupcakes or (2) 9-in cake layers 2 batches will make a 12X18 cake Hint-- for cupcakes use FOIL lined liners. Paper liners will work but the cake will show through and final product will look ‘greasy’ (colors will not be as bright). * cake wraps are a metallic/fabric band about 1.5 inches wide that you wet then wrap and fasten around the cake pan. This is the secret to level moist cakes! You can get these at Michaels, Hobby Lobby, most Walmart stores. They are great and last for years! ** Do not follow directions on cake box. This recipe is a substitute.For a good chocolate cake I use Betty Crocker Triple Chocolate Fudge Edited January 30, 2016 by Jann in TX 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILiveInFlipFlops Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Oh, thank you! I've never come across cake wraps before, I'm so intrigued. Off to research... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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