LOL. Okay, so I was in a hurry today, i know that was my first mistake - so don't remind me I baked 3 8" layers, and cut them level to cool (chocolate cake btw). Anyway, I made a whipped chocolate ganache filling (which doesn't like ANY heat), and proceeded to fill the layers when they seemed cool to the touch...did I mention they'd only cooled for about 6 minutes? I got the layers stacked on top of each other and filled, and noticed the bottom layer buckeling under the weight, and the top layers proceeded to slide off to the left because the ganache melted. I had to deliver this cake in 90 minutes, and didn't think I had time to re-bake, so I tried to turn it over to the top layer (which seemed more stable). In the process, entire cake spilled out over my cooling rack, and exploded onto the counter top underneath (slipping thru the cracks in the cooling rack.)

I did the only thing I could do, re-baked several thin layers, and then stuck the suckers in the freezer till firm and cold. Since I wasted all my ganache on the first one, I scraped up what i could salvage, and dumped it all into my mixer along with some whipping cream, and beat the tar out of it until it was buttercream consistency. I used this for my new filling and frosting...Finally, thank goodness for CC, because I used a photo I had seen as inspiration to recover from this mess (I took Pirouette cookies, and stood them up around the outer edge and tied the whole mess with a bow, to hopefully hold it together.)

The cake was delivered only a few minutes (okay 30) late, but the client was none-the-wiser. (thankfully it is raining and traffic is a mess...good excuse no?) Anyway, thanks for reading, makes me feel much better to share.

WOW What a mess!! Great recovery! I love the finshed cake!

you are the queen of staying calm under pressure! Way to go and complete a pretty cake!

WOW, GOOD IDEA, THAT LOOKS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! I WOULD HAVE TOTALLY FREAKED OUT

Good recovery. It's very pretty.

is it just me or does anyone else think that big chocolate gooey mess looks delicious! THe cake turned out beautiful!

LOL...for the record, I did freak out. Thank goodness for four year olds with fast thinking reflexes! And yes, the chocolate gooey mess did taste rather good. My DH made a "cobbler" of sorts with it and some vanilla ice cream. Luckily at that point, I could see the humor in the whole situation.