I understand if you don't want to do it but there is nothing wrong with what the bride wants. My husband had only 2 requests for our wedding and you bet your butt he got both of them. Sadly I don't think the guests will like the frosting and the bride will spend all that money on cake that won't be eaten which is heart breaking. I just thought of another compromise. Like the person who suggested the top tier, why not do every other tier and really funky up the cake. Guest will get a choice and see what your work and flavors really are like but the bride gets her wish. I would suggest 4 tiers even if it's too much cake and do the largest in your regular buttercream work and alternate from there. I would tell the bride the truth. That doing the whole cake this way risks your reputation. A caterer is not going to let you serve store bought food under their name but they might make your fav recipe. Personally we had a very untraditional wedding and worked specifically with vendors who would do something like this One last comment, how big is the wedding? If it's small, will it really hurt your reputation if 70 people see this cake? Good luck

I agree that the added cost of the cans could make a difference in her desire to have the whole cake made of it. However, it is her day. We used to do some really bizarre requests. One was a screaming yellow cake with black writing on it...it was hideous...but they loved it. And we didn't lose business over it. I agree with another poster that suggested you doing a small trial cake to show her what issues you have with using the frosting. Maybe create one with your own buttercream that resembles the canned stuff so they can taste the difference. You might also keep in mind that most people at weddings will not notice if the icing is canned or not. What we consider sacrilege is no big deal to the populace at large. Heck, most non-caker people out there USE the canned stuff! If your cake is delicious and moist and you decorate it with some of the great ideas people have suggested (I like the thought of the huge chocolate curls), then your reputation will continue to be intact. Perhaps use your own buttercream as filling! Good luck!

Oy, a dilema indeed! However she's already told her she doesn't want fondant and she doesn't want extra cakes. Here are my thoughts:

1. Smoothing canned frosting wouldn't even be on my radar. Definitely create a swirled pattern, etc. and go with that as your design. You might be 5 shades of angry fighting with sticky frosting that won't crust!! Altering it will change the flavor and that might be as important to her as the colored chips in it. As a side note: if it's just the colored chip look/texture he likes and not necessarily that particular vanilla flavor, would both of you be open to you trying to recreate that look with your own recipe?

2. I totally agree with carmijok that a large majority of those wedding guests are not going to be thinking "this is canned icing and not homemade buttercream...how terrible!" instead they will most likely recognize it and think "the bride and groom must love this icing enough to choose it for their wedding cake." I think guests are savvy enough to know that the bride designed her cake.

3. I would ask the bride what her vision of the cake looks like. Is it just a huge birthday cake idea? Smooth and elegant? Flowers, borders or just plain, but tiered? After you get more of an idea of what she wants, you can steer her in a "decorator" view direction. Smooth outside? Nope, sorry, canned frosting won't do that..but hey, you could have that as a delicious surprise filling! You want it on the outside, all layers? OK, that's a lot of extra money in cans and it will have a textured look, but I can do it for you.

Work with her to make her dreams come true, IMO! She'll certainly take all of the credit for choosing that icing- so to me, it just makes you look good for being able to honor her wish and help her surprise the love of her life.

I wouldn't for reasons already stated by others. The added cost may deter her, if not, are you sure she understands what this will look like? Who knows, maybe they'll love it .

I don't think there is anything wrong with fulfilling a bride's "dream". I would certainly let her know that this frosting has its issues.

One thing you can do as far as decorating is slap on that frosting and stick a cake knife on the side and pull straight out. You get a funky peaked design. repeat it all over the cake and wrap a ribbon around the base. Or, do as Chasey said and swirl it.

I had a friend who wanted an reptile cake for her son. She also wanted canned icing. I went ahead and did it for her. It was sticky and hard to work with but the end result was great. The kids lived it and I would do it again in an instant. (Although, it was not meant to be elegant, and was not meant for a huge party as a wedding)

If you are going to do any piping make sure you have cornstarch nearby to do any touch-ups.

I agree with all the points Chasey made. I would do it and enjoy the fact I am doing something fun and non-traditional!
If it is the look he wants then mix colored jimmies into YOUR frosting. If it is the taste and look then charge more and buy 25 cans of the stuff and have fun!

Tracy

I have one more idea that might work for both of you. SInce it's going to be an elegant B&W wedding. Offer to do an elegant cake with your regular bc or fondant. Make a small (4 or 6 inch) cake the way she asked. Then when it comes time to cut the cake, have the DJ or Banquet manager, (whoever) announce that the bride has a surprise for her groom & have someone bring out the little cake. This way, both cakes can be cut. She gets the "real" cake & he gets his cake. SHould make for a cute pic and a cute video too.

I would do it.

If you ever feel that something is beneath you, remember, all the greats have (mod edited) themselves out for their craft.

FYI - Pilsbury recommends adding 1 1/2 cups PS and beating for 3 minutes for "decorator frosting". I'd get a can and give it a whirl. Sounds like fun.

thanks for all the great suggestions. Especially to those of you who really read what I wrote. She is NOT interested in a groom's cake, anything with fondant and she does not have a problem with my buttercream. She has eaten it and likes it but this is something special she wants to do for her groom.

I appreciate the photos - one of them looks like it might have used this very frosting! No one wants to be trashed all over town for bad work but at the end of the day it is THEIR day. I am just trying my best to figure out how to make their cake as special as any other wedding cake while helping the bride to surprise her groom.

It would never be my first choice to ice any cake with canned frosting but I am not the one paying for it. Price is not an issue with the bride. Keep the great ideas coming!

I'm sorry but I don't understand how anyone - wait - any professional - would consider doing this. Yes, a bride can have her requests fulfilled, but that doesn't mean I am the person to give it to her. A request like this is not up to my wedding/special event standards.

And yes, some greats may have (mod edited) themselves out for their craft, but I'm not one of them.

Let us all know how it comes out.

Standng by ccr03.

No way, no how.

I used canned chocolate icing on these cupcakes (requested) and it handled very well. I actually bought a LOT more cans than I needed and used some leftovers to ice a small cake just for my family to eat and it smoothed really well, actually better than my regular icing...it did take a little longer to crust but it definitely crusted after about half an hour and I was able to smooth with a paint roller. so it's definitely possible to fill this request..........maybe suggest the chocolate chips be added as a "sprinkle" after the cake is iced?

Wow, marisworthit, rude. Just because I am not a "professional" does not mean I do not have standards. I am legal and do a fine job for myself in my little area. People like different things. You have the right to say no to a customer. I see nothing wrong with making a bride happy on HER day even if it is different than what I would choose for myself. Especially if it includes making her husband happy on HIS wedding day.
Tracy

Yup.

I can almost guarantee I would've quite literally laughed in the bride's face It may be their wedding, but it's my reputation and name attached to that cake and there is not a snowball's chance in HELL I would do that for ANY customer.

I bake as a hobby for family & friends & I wouldn't do it, period! People talk about how good my buttercream is & to know that I made a cake with that canned vanilla frosting---YUCK!

ADDING ANYTHING to it WOULD NOT be what the bride wants, because it wouldn't be "that frosting" that the groom requested. THAT SAID.......You're in trouble now anyway.....If you do the cake as she wants it, you take a chance with the guest talking & If you don't do it, you take the chance of the bride talking about you to others, saying how difficult you are, etc etc.....

I'd still have to talk to her, tell her that you REALLY REALLY want to do her cake & that you really want it to be special, but that you ALSO have to think of your rep, then suggest some of the ideas already posted. (Sorry I didn't read them all.)

If it was me & she was willing to compromise, I'd suggest all tiers be funky & cool (not sure how many tiers it will be).....do 1 OR the back half of 1 for him with his frosting (may have to add white color), other half your BC & colored choc chips (to match the front). Another tier funky & none of them smoothed.

I sure hope this makes sense to you. ALSO whoever cuts the cake, just doesn't serve that back half for the guest......he takes it with him on the honeymoon???????? GOOD LUCK!!

I don't think the OP ever asked if she should do it or if anyone else would do it. I think she was just asking for ideas/thoughts/suggestions about a cake that she has already agreed to.

I am by no means a professional baker/designer, but if I was, I would be very concerned about my reputation. Would she ask Dolce & Gabbana to make fake leather shoes and a polyester tux? That being said, why not go with an honest approach to the bride? Tell her that you would love to make her cake, and you do agree that it is her day...BUT...you are very concerned about your reputation. Be honest...Tell her that you've worked very hard to build up a good reputation and are scared that making a cake with canned frosting would destroy all those years of hard work. Then ask her if she can compromise with you. Maybe just doing the top tier, maybe doing a grooms cake (at a huge discount) that can be announced as a surprise cake (like the other poster suggested).

Let her make the decision if she wants to retain you for her cake. I don't think she would ever bad mouth you if you are up front and honest with her about your concerns.

buncha cake snobs

To op, don't stress too much. I'm sure you'll do a great job.

Maybe you could get some of the candy coated chips and mix them with your frosting for her to taste. You could make 2 cupcakes and use that on it to let her take to him to get his reaction. She doesn't have to tell him why he's tasting it.

If you google 'candy coated chips', you'll find ton's of places. You can also get small jars of them from Wilton at Walmart/Joanns/Michaels/Hobby Lobby, etc.

Also, if she wants to go this way, then you could frost the cake without the chips, then stick the chips on as a decoration. You could make borders and patterns even.


Here are a few places that came up from a google search.

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/candy-coated-chips-16-oz?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Ingredients&utm_content=chips&utm_term=candy+coated+chips&gcl

http://www.cakeart.com/store/e-StoreOperations_viewItem.asp?idProduct=21307

Run, don't walk away from this bride.

I just wanted to add that when I put the canned icing on those cupcakes I did make them sign a waiver stating that I was using "store bought, canned iced per their request" and that I wasn't held responsible for the integrity or taste of the product. They signed it happily and they LOVED their cupcakes.........they're also 1 of my biggest ordering customers and that was their first order and they had been turned down by 4 other bakers for their request of canned icing!

Do you think the bride would go for a REALLY funky cake with a topper that is a carved replica of the can of frosting (done in your own way... with fondant or whatever you need to make it look good)?

That way, it is obvious to everyone that the canned frosting is an inside joke between the bride and the groom... The rest of the cake can be HIS frosting... But should not affect your reputation.