A Bunch Of Questions, And What Can I Do Early? Please Help!
Decorating By maggiev777 Updated 27 May 2007 , 2:13am by maggiev777
I am making a cake for DS's bday on Tues June 5. I am not the most experienced decorator and so I'm scared to death to try to do it all last minute - I have to leave myself time for re-dos!!
I think I am going to make a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Then I want to decorate it with a frozen buttercream transfer (I think - I've never done one of those before!) and maybe either small buttercream flowers or MMF polka dots. And bc trim.
- Can I make the carrot cake on Saturday? If so, how should I store it? In fridge or on counter? And is a sealed container sufficient, or does it have to be wrapped in saran or something? Or should I frost it with the cream cheese frosting right away and store it that way?
- Can I put a FBCT on top of a cream cheese frosting?? Does it matter if my cc frosting doesn't really crust? (I can change my recipe if it matters, but I like my recipe so I'm hoping it doesn't really)
- Can I make the FBCT on Friday? If so, do I just store it in the freezer, or in the fridge? Then do I have to wait until Tues to put it on the cake, or can I put it on the cake ahead of time too?
- Can I make the MMF polka dots on Friday? I've never done any fondant before at all - is it okay to mix fondant decorations with regular BC decorations? Or is that tacky or weird? And if I do them, can I put them on the cake ahead of time or do I have to do that on Tues?
Sorry for soooo many questions. I'm just trying to avoid last minute stress, kwim?! Thanks for your help!!
Can I make the carrot cake on Saturday? If so, how should I store it? In fridge or on counter? And is a sealed container sufficient, or does it have to be wrapped in saran or something? Or should I frost it with the cream cheese frosting right away and store it that way?
- Can I put a FBCT on top of a cream cheese frosting?? Does it matter if my cc frosting doesn't really crust? (I can change my recipe if it matters, but I like my recipe so I'm hoping it doesn't really)
- Can I make the FBCT on Friday? If so, do I just store it in the freezer, or in the fridge? Then do I have to wait until Tues to put it on the cake, or can I put it on the cake ahead of time too?
- Can I make the MMF polka dots on Friday? I've never done any fondant before at all - is it okay to mix fondant decorations with regular BC decorations? Or is that tacky or weird? And if I do them, can I put them on the cake ahead of time or do I have to do that on Tues?
Maggie, I think it would be fine to make the carrot cake Sat and then after it's completely cooled, I wrap mine in cling wrap and put it in the fridge. I personally wouldn't frost it right away and yes you can put fondant decorations on butter cream.
Hope that helps a bit. Sorry I can't answer all of your questions.
Yorkiemum
OK---here are my responses; I hope I got 'em all!
You can make the cake on Sat. Double wrap it in plastic wrap (such as Saran) and store in the fridge. You can frost it first, if you want to; it will help seal in the freshness. Maybe do a crumb coat, then wrap and put in the fridge. Do the final coat of frosting on the day you decorate.
Yes, you can use your FBCT on cc frosting. It does not have to crust.
You can make the FBCT a week in advance if you keep it in the fridge, or two weeks ahead if you freeze it (wrapped). (You can also use melted candy melts for the transfer instead of BC; store it in a cool, dry place, covered, for a few weeks.
If you make the MMF dots on Friday (today is Sat.!), they will get hard; it's OK if that's what you want, but if you want to place the dots on the edge, they won't be flexible. I like to do fondant the day of, or maybe one day before, decorating.
Yes, you can mix BC (or cc) frosting with fondant decorations--it's done all the time and it looks really nice.
Hope this helps! Be sure to post your pic!
1- I would store it in the freezer until you are ready to decorate, so it will still be fresh. Wrap it in Saran wrap almost as soon as you take it out of the pan.
2- I don't see why not. If it doesn't crust you will just not be able to use melvira's method or viva method.
3- I have never done an fbct but have you read the tutorial?
4.- Lots of people mix the two frostings but have you thought about doing your dots in FBCT? I don't know if this is possible but it would look cool!
Wow, y'all are quick! I ran downstairs to get supper and came back and my questions are already answered! Thanks so much for all the input.
I'm glad to know I can do some of this stuff ahead of time. That will greatly help my stress level!
I did read the tutorial on FBCT and am planning to follow it exactly. I think I will freeze it, so then I can go ahead and make it this Monday instead of waiting til Friday. That way if it is a disaster I will still have a week to come up with Plan B for my decorating!
Thanks for the warning on the MMF dots drying out. I think I will just do a test run next Friday so I know for sure what I am doing, and then on Tues I will make the real dots so they will stay pliable. I had not thought of doing them in FBCT but am looking forward to trying out MMF... maybe I will do both and just use whichever turns out the best!
All the help really is appreciated. Hopefully things will go well and I can post a pic after it's all done! 
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