Hi! I’m new to the page and am looking for advice on making a cake for my son’s birthday. I usually use Duncan Hines box mix with Wilton icing. He cannot have dairy. I’ve found that my DH cakes taste great BUT they are so fluffy it’s hard to decorate. Any tips? I’ve never taken the Wilton classes or any baking classes. I’m just a mom needing to make another birthday cake for her dairy free boy. Thanks!! It’s hot wheels theme this year (8 years old) so any tips on that would be great too!
Is the cake room temp, cold, or frozen when you decorate?
I'm thinking the icing you are using is part, if not all of the problem you have instead of the cake being too soft/fluffy. I have made many, many DH cakes and never had a problem icing them. I don't remember ever using Wilton icing but maybe you just need to get it to warm room temp &/or stir it until it softens up a bit. You could try using this recipe - using all shorteneing instead of the part butter: https://www.cakecentral.com/recipe/22469/2-icing Make it using 3 cups of shortening and be sure to use lots of flavoring to help counter act the taste of all shortening.
As for the decorating are you making a sheet/flat cake or round? Are you placing toy Hot Wheels on it? What did you have in mind as a decor theme? I once made a round cake w/a tractor. I airbrushed part of the top green then rolled the toy tractor thru that......you could icing the green on or dry brush powdered color. Can't find the pic but as I remember I also used a toy barn and some animals to finish off the farm theme. Maybe that will trigger some idea for you. I'm picturing a small circle of plastic to form a loop that stands up on the cake w/the HW at the bottom about to speed thru the loop.
I am surprised you ae having trouble icing a DH cake mix, too. They are soft, but I never had trouble with the icing. If in doubt, make a sheet cake, which will be easier to ice and will give a nice surface area for a race track and the cars.
By the way, I've never tried it, but couldn't you substitute almond or coconut milk for cow milk, in the cake mix?
I've never used Wilton icing so not sure what the consistency of it is, but I have made many DH cakes and have never had a problem icing them. What troubles are you having? Is the cake tearing when you ice it? Are you getting a bunch of crumbs mixed in when you ice? What is the consistency of the Wilton icing?
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