My biggest cake disaster (to date) would have to be the anniversary cake I made for my in-laws. It was to be for their 25th anniversary so was a big party... this thing was as big as a wedding cake!
Anyhow, I was busy making (I bake from scratch) the large layer (16" round) when an old friend called to say hello and catch up. No problem, I thought, I'll chat while I work!
Now I keep most of my dry ingredients in large tubs (sugar, flour, icing sugar, cake flour, etc) to keep myself organized.
I mixed the cake and put the pan in the oven. Washed up and prepared to bake the second layer... the first cake should be almost done, so I checked the cake in the oven... BIG LIQUID MESS!! I couldn't figure out what I had done, but when I checked my tub, I was practically out of flour, so off the the 24 hour grocery store for me! (This was after all, 11pm the day before I needed the cake!)
Got back home and got ready to re-make the cake (still have no clue what went wrong!)
Opened the new bag of flour and went to dump it into the tub. OMG!!! That's NOT flour!!! I just put 8 cups of ICING SUGAR into that cake instead of flour! NO wonder it didn't work LOL!
Opened up the RIGHT tub... of course I have LOTS of flour (just no icing sugar!)
Anyhow, it all worked out ok (well aside from the fact that I didn't sleep that night) and my in-laws LOVED it! This was my Marzipan Fruit cake and my MIL kept pulling off the fruit and taking them to people, saying "look what my DIL made for me!! You have to try one!"
Ah..yes...I have done such things while talking on the phone...I put the laundry softener bottle in the fridge once!!
I prefer to bake when my little ones are at school and I decorate at night when everyone is asleep. I figure that even though I am losing sleep, at least I wont add to much of this or not enough of that.
one time i forgot to put the eggs in my cake...it looked retarded and i couldn't figure out why until i saw a full carton of eggs and then it hit me like 
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
That happened to me yesterday. I was making spritz cookies and forget to put in all the flour. Oh well my kids said these were the best tasting cookies!
Distraction is the worst! I'd share my stories, but I'd be typing all day and you'd be sick of reading about it! I am very glad that you were able to get the cake done with excellent results. I'm finding that the sacrifice of sleep is a given when it comes to decorating cakes.
I have learned over the years to get everything ready before I start baking. I measure the flour, sugar, butter, liquid and anything else that goes in the cake or pie and put them in separate bowls in order. It is a little more trouble, but if a grandkid or husband comes in or the phone or door rings, I know which one I have added to the mixing bowl. After a few times of not adding flavoring or sugar, it has saved me. I just use the diaposable bowl and line them up. Not so many disasters anymore thank goodness. I'm sure the pies are good anyway.
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I have learned over the years to get everything ready before I start baking. I measure the flour, sugar, butter, liquid and anything else that goes in the cake or pie and put them in separate bowls in order. It is a little more trouble, but if a grandkid or husband comes in or the phone or door rings, I know which one I have added to the mixing bowl. After a few times of not adding flavoring or sugar, it has saved me. I just use the diaposable bowl and line them up. Not so many disasters anymore thank goodness. I'm sure the pies are good anyway.
I am with you on that one. I measure everything out and lay them all out so I can see them. If it's a recipe I don't know of the top of my head. I print it and tape it at eye level so I can See it. I have a pen and I check stuff off as I add Them. This way I wont forget to add anything.
Princess
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