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How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

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How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Youngerberry » Fri Apr 02, 2021 2:43 pm

How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30, if I only have a standard oven and a few springform tins? Of the few cakes I have baked, none have been on this scale. My first thought is to simply cook about 5 different cakes, and perhaps link them together somehow. It's for a 50th birthday party (hopefully 30 will be allowed by then).

I've got two 6" springform round tins, two 8" springform round tins, one 8" square tin, an assortment of maybe 3 roughly 7" shallow non-springform tins, and a pair of stupid 6" silicone moulds which look like they're meant for making a giant cupcake.
Last edited by Youngerberry on Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Pampy » Fri Apr 02, 2021 2:59 pm

You could do a tiered cake

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby aero280 » Fri Apr 02, 2021 3:25 pm

I think that tiers is the way. Maybe not many. Look on it as a series of traybakes stacked up. That way you can check that each layer is fully baked/not overbaked. A rectangular cake is more easily cut into (say) 5 x 6 pieces.

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Suelle » Fri Apr 02, 2021 3:25 pm

30 isn't a huge number - a large round cake can easily be cut into 12 or 16 portions. What's the biggest tin you have?
Traditional home baking, and more:
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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Suelle » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:05 pm

You could join 2 or 3 differently flavoured round cakes together, as in the 2nd photo on this link, then decorate them as one piece, for continuity.

http://jabishahinthekitchen.blogspot.co ... -cake.html
Traditional home baking, and more:
http://mainlybaking.blogspot.co.uk/

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Youngerberry » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:10 pm

Suelle wrote:30 isn't a huge number - a large round cake can easily be cut into 12 or 16 portions. What's the biggest tin you have?


The biggest tin is 8", but there is always the traybake option.

I've got two 6" springform round tins, two 8" springform round tins, one 8" square tin, an assortment of maybe 3 roughly 7" shallow non-springform tins, and a pair of stupid 6" silicone moulds which look like they're meant for making a giant cupcake.

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Youngerberry » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:11 pm

aero280 wrote:I think that tiers is the way. Maybe not many. Look on it as a series of traybakes stacked up. That way you can check that each layer is fully baked/not overbaked. A rectangular cake is more easily cut into (say) 5 x 6 pieces.


I'm liking the idea of a traybake, although I'm a bit worried that a sponge of the width of a tray might be hard to cook in the middle. I don't have many smaller square tins (just one in fact, plus two bread tins)

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Youngerberry » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:13 pm

Suelle wrote:You could join 2 or 3 differently flavoured round cakes together, as in the 2nd photo on this link, then decorate them as one piece, for continuity.



Yes, thanks: and I suppose I could attempt to bake a giant 50... plenty of space for all the candles!

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Youngerberry » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:15 pm

Pampy wrote:You could do a tiered cake


Yes, but how many tiers of 8" round cakes would I need? I imagine it'd end up a tall wobbly disaster waiting to happen.

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby aero280 » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:32 pm

A traybake is thin, cooking the centre shouldn't be a problem.

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Suelle » Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:03 pm

I wouldn't advise a tiered sponge cake unless you're an experienced and confidant cake baker and decorator and already have the right equipment. There are too many things to go wrong.

I think 3 x 8" cakes will be enough. It would be nice if they were double-layered - a filling as well as a topping helps if the cakes turn out a little dry.

To make it look special, buy something like this to display them on:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Uten-Decorat ... 95&sr=8-30
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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby ZeroCook » Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:41 pm

.

I'd go for a sheet or slab cake aka traybake (dislike that word :? ) i.e. a cake baked in large oblong pan, very popular in the US where cakes for large gatherings are common. Good format to decorate, too.

https://tinyurl.com/ychybd6e

9x13"/23x30cm is a common size and two side by side joined up on the presentation board would give you a good size for an occasion.

Are you having a lockdown party??? :o


.

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Stokey Sue » Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:57 pm

At one time I had to make large cakes so often I invested in a 10 inch sandwich tin, it takes a 3 egg mixture so I can bake 2 or 3 layers and sandwich, I might not bother now I have sheet pans and could make square or rectangular layer cakes, easier to cut into portions, a 13 x 18 inch sheet is a 4 egg mixture

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby karadekoolaid » Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:14 pm

satellite cake.jpg
satellite cake.jpg (1.24 MiB) Viewed 3187 times

Make a satellite cake: the 8" in the middle, surrounded by three 6". You can make another bit of sponge for the connections and slather them in chocolate.
easy peasy. :lol:

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Amyw » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:14 pm

My first thought was with several large gins :bounce: ... sorry not the most helpful response :D

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby Pampy » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:14 pm

Rather than using pillars positioned on the cakes to make a tiered cake, you can buy tiered cake stands, like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wilton-Tier-Pi ... 93&sr=8-56 or this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GuangYang-Mult ... 93&sr=8-62 or this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chrome-Finish- ... 8-297&th=1

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby herbidacious » Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:55 pm

Amyw wrote:My first thought was with several large gins :bounce: ... sorry not the most helpful response :D



:lol:

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby ZeroCook » Sat Apr 03, 2021 1:49 am

karadekoolaid wrote:
satellite cake.jpg

Make a satellite cake: the 8" in the middle, surrounded by three 6". You can make another bit of sponge for the connections and slather them in chocolate.
easy peasy. :lol:


Too many gins.

Or not enough :geek:

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby karadekoolaid » Sat Apr 03, 2021 3:25 am

Too many gins.
Or not enough :geek:


:lol: :lol: :lol: single malts, maybe... the last time I drank gin, I had a hangover for 3 days. 1979. Never touched it since :gonzo

However; youngerberry asked for a solution - at least I gave her one :gonzo

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Re: How would I approach baking a cake to feed 30?

Postby ZeroCook » Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:34 am

.
Indeed kdka!
Did exactly the same thing with Jenever BITD as it happens - and ditto have never revisted it. Ditto tequila. It was rough. :lol:

Did consider multiple round cake configurations but couldn't come up with elegant or novel or satellitic solutions for joining them without potential disaster scenarios. Cake stand idea elegant but at over 40 squid might opt for brandy or ordering something from the cake shop in lieu of time, materials and cash saved :lol: That 3rd cake stand's a bit scary, Pampy :shock: :lol:

I'd go with the 12x18 slab cake. 54 decent sized slices or 36 good sized slices. What's not to like :D

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