Needing creative advice for a cupcake cake
I have an idea for a cupcake cake (redundant?) for my husband's birthday.
The end result is that I need to make an edible barrel, preferably cupcake size.
The best idea I've had so far from suggestions around friends and family is just to buy a straight sided muffin tin and carve a bit off of the tops and bottoms to make it barrel shaped. I'm still musing over icing for this idea. I'm leaning towards basic piping to "glue" on thin black licorice for the slats and the wrap around. Then icing that people can just put on their plates and dip these cupcakes in.
I thought you guys might have some different ideas.
And I'll just tell you what it's for: Hubby is turning 30 and we're having his 30th birthday party at an arcade that specializes in stand alone video games of the 80s. He also works for a video game company. I'm making barrels and flame cupcakes for a cupcake cake that will have Donkey Kong on the top of the cake stand. He'll love it.
Ideas? BTW, I'm a competant baker. My mother will be helping me, who is a VERY good baker, so we can do nearly anything.
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14 Comments:
Popover pans would give you taller cakes, and since they're sloped, you'd just be carving the top to match the bottom. You certainly wouldn't have to fill them all the way full, so you could have them as tall as you wanted.
dbcurrie at 12:01AM on 08/26/08
I'll second the popover pan. You'll have much more carving room, and they should be closer to the right shape.
You could also bake cupcakes, level the top, and stick the two together with frosting. That would also make a barrel-esque shape, but they might be taller than you want.
amanda0730 at 12:29AM on 08/26/08
As minor student of 3D art and baking I have done something like this.
For wood I always make a pliable chocolate fondant. Mix white into the chocolate and it will make wood. Some dark, milk and white together are brownish and make great patterns if you pay attention to details. Example Big circle of dark choc fondant, small circle of milk and smaller circle of white (kind of placed on top of each other like a Target logo) then use your rolling pin on it pressing them into each other, then pull and manipulate for wood grain. Tastes good, looks good, I bet it kicks ass. Have fun with it.
JerzeeTomato at 1:16AM on 08/26/08
I was recently at my aunt's house and I noticed that her copy of "Family Circle" featured a cupcake cake (16 servings) was on the cover. I didn't read the recipe, but I would imagine it would explain things in detail. Good luck, sounds fun!
LadyMarmalade at 9:21AM on 08/26/08
This isn't what you want to hear, but for a log, I think a jelly or cream roll cake would be much easier and look better!
HeartofGlass at 9:40AM on 08/26/08
Your project sounds great. I have an idea, although it won't yield you a barrel per se; it will yield you a cake-size cupcake cake (wow, that's a lot of cake). The Baker's Catalog has an oversize cupcake pan that might fit the bill: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail.jsp?select=C80&byCategory=C137&id=5875
Maybe it would give you the height or size you want, if a popover pan is too small. This makes a cake with an eight-inch diameter.
PAWriter at 10:51AM on 08/26/08
I did want to keep the barrels small, cupcakish sized.
I did seriously think about just doing a jelly roll or cream roll cake. Just cut them up and then icing them invidiually. I'm just not sure if that would be more or less work.
The popovers is a good idea, I didn't think of that.
Hm, fondant scares me. But that sounds like a wonderful idea too. Much to muse over. Thanks guys! I'll check back later for anymore.
Varuna77 at 11:58AM on 08/26/08
What if you made a cake with tiers and decorated it with barrels and had Donkey Kong as the topper? You could make the barrels out of fondant or maybe find plastic ones at a party store. You could even find the little hunter guy and have him climb up the side of the cake, ha!
cm82 at 1:41PM on 08/26/08
Ooo, cm just started off a new train of thought that might be easier.
I DID find lollypop molds of barrels. Maybe a tiered cake with the barrels instead of cupcakes? That'd be fun too.
Varuna77 at 1:46PM on 08/26/08
There used to be a hard candy called root beer barrels. They really looked like brown barrels about 3/4 inch high. Maybe that would help as some sort of decoration. Good luck.
Blue Iris at 2:38PM on 08/26/08
I remember root beer barrels. I haven't seen them in ages. And Varuna77, don't be afraid of fondant. It can be your friend. :)
PAWriter at 4:44PM on 08/26/08
I was thinking about your post last night as I walked past a Korean cake shop. There was round, 1-layer cake with flat chocolate long ovals stuck to the outside... kinda like a fence. It looked like they just spread out some melted chocolate and cut out the shapes. Maybe you can do that? But instead of ovals, do some thin strips... it might give some nice detailed texture and it'd taste great too!
I'm not a baker but I thought I'd help you with this idea... maybe it'll spark something better. Good luck!
smile at 10:15PM on 08/26/08
There is actually a cake mold available that is a cupcake cake. I believe it is by Wilton. They sell it in Michael's Crafts, and I'm sure you can find it online. Good luck!
Mich23 at 7:59AM on 08/27/08
I just went to Wilton.com, and they definitely have the mold. Enter in cupcake cake pan.
Mich23 at 8:04AM on 08/27/08