Posted by Fran on August 09, 1997 at 14:16:43:
In Reply to: Re: wedding cakes posted by Karen Upright on August 09, 1997 at 09:44:40:
Hi Karen,
Thanks for the personal experience of making your own wedding cake. I've thought this through and think that individual cakes on pedestals will allow me to do most of the work the day before and will be easier to transport as well. That way I won't have to work with dowels and positioning together at the site. One of the reasons that I want to do it myself is that I want it to taste good. I live in Nebraska and you can get beautifully decorated cakes, but they all have that shortening taste or the crumb is so soft, it turns to a gummy lump in your mouth. I want a cake that tastes at least as good as it looks. I'm thinking of doing different flavors for the layers. So far, I've selected an almond paste flavored cake featured in Baking With Julia. I've made many sample layers with different twists and it is always a hit with my friends. It has a marvelous texture. I'm also thinking of a carrot cake layer, but haven't found the right recipe yet. I want it firm, not too much pineapple and no raisins. The quest goes on.
Fran
: I made my own cake -- it was the only way to get what I really wanted, but I recommend allowing LOTS of extra time the day of the wedding, just in case something does go wrong. It sounds like your cake can be nearly finished before it's brought to the site, and that will help you. I assembled mine on location, which required more time and patience and offered more opportunity for mistakes. I ended up in culinary school about six months later and I now own a restaurant with pastry shop and catering, so be careful where this will lead you.
: The upside was that the guests loved the cake and actually ate it, which is something that often doesn't happen with those ghastly-sweet shortening-based supermarket creations. There's little substitute for actual buttercream and fine quality ingredients.
: I think doing your cake is fine, but I don't recommend being involved in catering the rest of the event. It's too detailed and you'll get mired down and end up not having any fun at your own party.
: Good luck to you.
: Karen