Basics of birthday cakes???

[Daffodil Mumma]

Oooh ok the marshmallow fondant looks pretty cool but another questin....where do get the gum stuff so it sets hard??? Just any decorating shop online??
lol Im starting to wonder if Im in over my head already!!!

[Becs_bubs]

I haven't actually used gum paste before to be honest, but I know I've seen it online before and in cake shops. There are always lots of youtube tutorials to look at which can be really handy, cause then you actually get to see how it's done rather than just read instructions.

I tend to just do whole cakes in marshmallow fondant (MF) these days....I used to use buttercream and do piping etc, but now I just can't be bothered Here's my cakes - not overly masterful, none of them done with special tins or cookie cutter shapes, all freehand, so not perfect. But if you're going to go with MF and you want to cut straight lines, I'd recommend a pizza cutter - works wonders (that's how I got the strips on the popcorn cake )

My cakes on FB

Just remember - keep it simple, cause simple cakes can still look good! And it's only a cake

[Daffodil Mumma]

Oh wow your cakes are awesome!!! Thanks for sharing my DS saw the Buzz and fire truck ones and went totally nuts!!! lol

[Becs_bubs]

Ah thanks The firetruck was just in Jan gone, we had two parties in one day - that one for my son's first birthday (he got a Little Tikes Fire engine cozy coupe for his birthday and we got photos taken at the local fire station of him and the truck/jacket/hose etc, so the party was themed around that) in the morning, then at night my daughter had a movie party for her 9th with a projector and lots of junk food Never again will I do two in one day - just the cakes alone gave me a headache!!

But they're only little once..that's what I keep telling myself everytime I am up till 2am decorating cakes, anyway

[Roryrory]

"Planet Cake" is great for ideas on cakes

[Netix]

I think its best to ice a cake the day after its baked, as it tends to be less 'crumby'. Am I right in saying this?

[toomanyshoes]

I think its best to ice a cake the day after its baked, as it tends to be less 'crumby'. Am I right in saying this?

Yes and no, really depends on the texture of the cake, if you can be bothered doing a crumb coat, if you want to bother with something under the fondant, etc.

I've frozen cakes plenty of times and never had an issue, moist cakes thaw out better though. If you're worried about dryness fill it with something moist.

Personally at this time of year if you're using butter cream I would keep it in the fridge, I've never had issues with that either.