My Four Tier Cake Started Melting And Leaning
Decorating By Kfadams29 Updated 3 Jan 2018 , 10:04pm by kakeladi
This weekend I had an order for a 4 tier cake for my co worker. I made the cake 2 days ahead because I didn’t want to have to rush the day of and I also wanted my frosting to set. The cake was on my kitchen table and it was perfect. The frosting was stiff, no melting, and no leaning. I delivered the cake and it was still in good condition upon arrival.
When I arrived at the home I saw that my co worker set up her cake table in the middle of her living room under a light that was giving off a lot of heat, also across from the cake were about 20 hot plates heating up their food for the party. Not to mention 20 people sitting in the living room. I ran back outside to get my tools to setup and her son locked my car door with my keys and tools inside! I went back inside and noticed that someone had taken the cake out of the box and sat it directly under the light. I went into panick mode but didn’t react. I let my co worker know that my keys were locked in the car and her son did it. She called for help and I stayed outside waiting on the locksmith which took about 45 mins. When I went back inside to assemble the cake I noticed that their was some damages to the cake from whomever took it out of the box. No problem, I had my tool.As more people started coming in they began gathering around the cake and it was hot!!! It had to be every bit of 85-90 degrees in the House. I asked my coworker and her sister if there was somewhere cooler to place the cake and she said they wanted to leave it there for pictures. So, I stacked my cake and finished decorating and noticed that the frosting was melting due to the heat. I immediately let the customers know that it was too hot in there and the light is a problem. She ended up turning the light off and turning on the fan. The fan cooled it down a little but it was leaning due to the melting. I tried everything to help that cake but it still was not the way it should have been. I felt bad and not to mention I was a nervous wreck. That has never happened before and I’ve been using the same recipe for a while now. I don’t know if it’s my fault if there’s? Did I do something wrong? Was it the temperature or was something off in my cake?
Under the circumstances, I doublt any cake would have survived. We all know that heat and humidity are the enemies of frosting and fondant and being directly under a light didn't help anything. It sounds to me like you make every effort, but the deck was stacked against you.
it's true that cakes cannot withstand heat like that -- but knowing that the cake was in a hot purgatory, why did you let it cook in there for 45 minutes until the locksmith opened your car -- the leaning could have been from the melting or that someone else got it out of the box -- but if you had gotten it to safety before you got your car fixed -- you wouldn't have had to write this post -- know what i mean --
i had a line on my cake orders that said "i reserve the right to make the cake to the best of my ability" -- so when the cake table was in front of a sun filled window -- we drew the drape or moved the table -- i never contacted the bride for stuff like this -- i just made the executive decision & got it done -- so going forward -- you are hereby duly authorized to be bold/assertive enough to take care of cake things properly as you see fit to ensure sweet success --
best to you
I have done many, many cakes in hot weather/conditions and didn't experience melting problems. As for the cake leaning - I personeally don't think the heat/melting icing had much to do with it. If it was properly doweled it still should have stayed up straight.
But I agree w/K8. As a decorator you have to learn to take matters into your own hands and *tell* people when there are problem matters that need to be addressed *&* how best to address them. You are the professional. You know your job better than they do. Stiffen up that backbone and next time out you should not have such problmes :)
Would you share your icing recipe? I cannot find one that does not begin to melt in high heat and humidity. I've tried all the recipe suggestions and they just don't hold up no matter how long they have had to set up. Would be forever grateful! Thank you!
https://www.cakecentral.com/recipe/22469/2-icing I have used this recipe for many, many years both in an area of high humidity and dry heat.
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