Anyone ever baked/decorated a 3D cake B4?

coasterqueen wrote: Has anyone baked/decorated a 3D cake B4? I am making a 3D Teddy Bear cake for Megan's birthday that will go on top of a large sheet cake. The 3D teddy bear cake will be megan's cake to destroy. I won the cake form on ebay and waiting to receive it.

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for baking a 3D cake so that it doesn't fall apart? I hope to get the pan SOON so I can do a test run this weekend.

Also, how far in advance of the party can I bake/decorate the cake and how would I preserve it for that day? The party is on a Saturday and I would really like to bake/make it either Thursday night or early Friday morning. Is that possible?

MyLuvBugs replied: My mom used to make me one every year when I was a kid. Teddy bears, Cabbage patch kid, Cookie monster....those were some of my favs. She had ALL sorts of frosting decorating tools. Wow. Haven't thought about that stuff in a LONG time.

I'm assuming you have a pan in the shape of a Teddy bear? Just make sure that the pan is well greased before putting the batter in. That way the cake should just pop right out when its done cooking. Also, if it breaks up a little, just use some frosting to put the pieces back together. It's all going to be covered up with frosting anyway, so noone will know.

I would bake it on Friday, and then keep it covered and in a cool dry place until the party. But if you're too busy, start Thursday night, and then just decorate it on Friday. Make sense?

Good luck!! I know you'll make a beautiful cake. Show us picures when it's done.

amymom replied: Erika said everything I would have!!!

luvbug00 replied: I did twice and one came out good and the other was the leaning tower of pizza!! LOL! post a pic when you finnish!!

jem0622 replied: It should not fall apart. My mom made them before (teddy bear and panda bear). The challenge is in the decorating! Have fun!

ETA: Get a container of quick release, made by Wilton, to ensure that the unveiling is a clean success! And I would add a package of Jell-o brand french vanilla pudding to the cake mix (if doing yellow cake). If you do chocolate cake then use chocolate pudding. Makes it even more yummy!

3_call_me_mama replied: I have done several cakes that were shaped and only a couple 3-D like the bear you're talking about / GIRL you are ambitious!! it usually reccommends that you use poundcake to make it (cause it si denser. But adding puding to teh mix works well too) I usually make mine the morning before and then frost that night so t can sit overnight. I put mine in the fridge (or the garage if it's a winter birthday!!) after it's frosted to let it "set". I use teh buttercream frosting recipe from wilton and it always truns out fabulous. The best thing to do IMO is have LOTS of those disposab;e decorating bags and to read teh instructions before you start. (If your pan doesn't come with the instructions go to www.wilton.com and click on cakes and then shaped pans and look fo rhte 3-d bear and it will give you step by step instrctions form baking to frosting to serving. (what tips to use etc) i've never had a bad cake from following their steps. For best results do when kids are busy elsewhere (ASLEEP) cause 3-D cakes aren't easy to have little one assist with!!

coasterqueen replied:
Okay you are scaring me now, lol. I HOPE it turns out well. Knowing my luck the test run one will and the real one won't. I think the hardest part will be decorating it with all those stars. I also am not sure what I'm going to do per se. I know the bear is going to be pink and white. I did buy some spray stuff but it was from Betty Crocker, though, in the specialty cake section of our craft store here in town. The other one was a bit more expensive, the one mentioned in this thread so I didn't get it.

Can I just use those Betty Crocker Spray cans that have the little attachments to do stars and stuff? I used that for Kylie's butterfly cakes and they turned out ok, but this is much more large scale because of the ZILLION stars it will take. I'm not going to make hair, I'm just going to star it, lol.

DH's cousin did a Pooh Bear 3D cake last year and put it on top of a large sheet cake and it was so neat looking. I sure hope I can get mine to look that nice. I just have to figure out how to make it look part of the sheet cake too.

3_call_me_mama replied: Yes, you can use those little cans but i have never seen it in pink. It may also use a lot of cans to cover al teh sides. I bet it'll come out great Karen!! Have Fun!

coasterqueen replied:
Thanks Carrie. I looked at the spray I bought yesterday and it was Wiltons no stick spray.

Also, I did find those cans in pink at the craft store, but you are right it could take a bit. Just seems less messy. I sure hope it does turn out ok. I'll post a pic after I do it.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: A full sheet?? Plus the teddy bear?? How many are you wanting to feed woman??

My mother is a cake decorator. For my best friend's baby shower she made a sheet cake with the teddy bear on top holding a blanket. She made it look like it was in a play pen.

I'm not helping. Just put lots of icing between the 2 parts of the teddy bear. It shouldn't fall apart.

Did you test it already? Another thing my mother always does is FREEZE THE CAKE BEFORE ICING. It makes it a million times easier to frost and it keeps the cake moist. Decorators secret.

I can't wait to hear how it turns out.

coasterqueen replied: Well before i got on here tonight I asked Dh if he wanted to help me get the cake going. He looked at me and said "woman, it's 8:30 at night". So I guess he wasn't willing to help. So we are going to try in the morning. I'm afraid of how to pour the mix in the upside down teddy bear so I wanted his help.

So I will probably bake it really early in the morning and then not even frost it til the girls go to bed tomorrow night.

The guest list for her part is 56 people so we'll need a full sheet. The teddy bear itself is more for decoration, I guess, but that's going to be the cake Megan gets to dive into. Yeah I know it's gonna be a mess because it's a big bear. Oh well, that's what birthdays are for, FUN!

I think I'll call Dh's cousin tomorrow and see how she put the Pooh bear she did on a full sheet and how she made it look ok, because that's what I'm afraid of.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Oh it's not 2 parts. Hmmm. Just make sure the little clip things are on real tight. there are clips aren't there?

Gosh, it's been so long ago since I watched my mother make one....I can't remember a thing about it.

I can ask her for tips if you'd like. I'm not a cake decorator. I ordered Ethan's since my mother won't be here tomorrow. I can decorate cookies and that's about the extent of it. You are brave.

Anyway, you could bake the cake tonight and freeze it over night. Then decorate it tomorrow.