Bakers: Can I pull off this cake??

plaidfrogg

DD's 7th birthday is Thanksgiving Day this year. She's very excited and has requested a turkey cake. After some searching I found a cute one that doesn't look like a cooked turkey.

Now, the extent of my cake making skills extends to a bundt and pretty basic stack and frost (though I did once successfully manage a hand-piped Elmo transfer), so I also tried to find something I could manage.

So what I'd like to know from anyone with better skills:
-  Do you think I could pull this off??? (if not, am open to suggestions)
-  The recipe (link) tells how to set this up so it stands, but I'm worried the recipe makes it sound easier than it is. Any thoughts or tips to ensure success?
-  How are the eyes made? Are there candy eyes to buy or should I try just a brown m&m pressed into white frosting?
- I don't like store-bought frosting, but am nervous to substitute to get the right consistency. Do you have a go-to recipe for frosting? If not, are there any store brands that don't taste like plastic?

Turkey Cake recipe: http://www.parentsconnect.com/recipes/turkey-cake.html

 

 

FinallyKrisB

It looks cute!  And honestly, not all that hard.  It's more "building" a cake than decorating it so probably more time and patience is required than actual cake decorating skill.

I usually use the Wilton buttercream recipe.

http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Buttercream-Icing

You can add more milk to thin it out to the right consistency.  There is also a recipe on the site for chocolate buttercream.

jen5-03

I think you can probably do it. The eyes are blobs of white icing with chocolate chips pressed into them. But Wilton does make candy eyes.

CareBear01

I think the hardest thing will be getting all of the icing not looking like a mess once you get it put all together (or that would be my biggest problem!).  You'll have to post pics once you do it!  It looks super cute!  I may need to save it in case my "turkey" ends up having a T-day b-day one day!

plaidfrogg

Thanks for feedback! I agree...it's more about building the cake. I was thinking of baking the layers  and cutting out the pieces today and assembling it tomorrow.

My 2 biggest concerns:

1) How to make the layers *flat*?? I know bakers sometimes use string or wire to cut the top of a layer that domes up during baking. I've tried that before, a little uneven, but fine for a stacked cake that can be leveled out with frosting . I'm worried that skimming the top will make the layer too thin and compromise its stability when set upright.

2) Will it really be able to stand w/o some kind of support?

Just thought of another..

3) How do the cookies stay on? The recipe just says to "arrange" them, but doesn't say anything about how to attach them so they will remain affixed. I assume frosting for the adhesive, but again, wonder if the cake will be stable enough to hold all that and if they cookies will stick for more than a few minutes.

Maybe I should have gone with a different project. Eek!

kreeper611

plaidfrogg:

Thanks for feedback! I agree...it's more about building the cake. I was thinking of baking the layers  and cutting out the pieces today and assembling it tomorrow.

My 2 biggest concerns:

1) How to make the layers *flat*?? I know bakers sometimes use string or wire to cut the top of a layer that domes up during baking. I've tried that before, a little uneven, but fine for a stacked cake that can be leveled out with frosting . I'm worried that skimming the top will make the layer too thin and compromise its stability when set upright.

Well, I have a cake level tool.  But before, I would just use string and start it with a knife, then run the string across to level it off.  I usually do this while it is still in the pan - so if any of it is below the edge of the pan you'll have to cut more.  Just fill the pan pretty full - you'll end up with a lot of extra cake to toss but it might work out better.  Plus I usually toss the extra parts in the freezer and will use them for cake balls or something. 

2) Will it really be able to stand w/o some kind of support? My guess is no.  I would get some dowel rods to keep it standing straight and to keep the two layers together.

Just thought of another..

3) How do the cookies stay on? The recipe just says to "arrange" them, but doesn't say anything about how to attach them so they will remain affixed. I assume frosting for the adhesive, but again, wonder if the cake will be stable enough to hold all that and if they cookies will stick for more than a few minutes.

Probably frosting.  That stuff is like glue if you use enough of it.