By Michelle Anderson
Cake Decorating Expert
Sometimes you see a cake in a magazine or online and really want to
try your hand at a new design. Trying new things such as a topsy turvy
cake is exciting but never lose sight of the fact that cultivating the
habit of being organized and planning before baking or decorating can
save a great deal of time, money and stress. Always take into
consideration the weather, time of year, space allotted for the cake,
theme, number of guests and distance to travel when planning your
creation. These elements can dictate shape, size, covering, filling and
type of decoration on the cake. Keep your skill level and experience in
mind as well and always practice any unfamiliar design elements before
the big cake assembly day. Cake decorating should be fun not ulcer
inducing!
One of the most interesting and delightful cake trends
for any occasion is the topsy turvy or mad hatter cake. Anyone who has
seen one of these whimsical cakes will delight in their crooked gravity
defining layers.
Although these cakes look like they are about to
topple over they are architecturally sound and surprisingly easy to make
even for a beginner. This type of cake simply takes a little more time
than a traditional sedate tiered cake.
Topsy turvy cakes can be
two tiers high or several stacked layers and the range of decorating
options for the theme is endless. These unique cake creations are
usually encased in fondant and further enhanced with more fondant cut
into patterns, shapes, pearls
or draped like fabric. Butter cream is also a nice option for covering
and decorating this style of cake or even a combination of both fondant
and butter cream. The cake can be an explosion of pretty colors or even simply white or cream for a more elegant presentation.
The
secret behind these toppling masterpieces is that the tiers actually
sit on a flat surface the same as every other tiered cake. The optical
illusion is created through clever cutting and even with special cake pans.
A mix of cake shapes can add to the look of the mad hatter cake. Try
combining round, square, oval and hexagonal tiers together for effect.
The angles on the tiers can be cut at any angle and then each lower tier
is further cut out in the centre to create a one or two inch flat
surface for the top layers to sit in. So the cakes are not just sitting
on angles. A cake board and dowels are also utilized to make the cake
even sturdier.
source: about.com
