Baking a cake for a themed party can be a daunting prospect, especially if the baker is a beginner. With so many possible cake shapes, sizes, flavours, and decorations, it’s hard to know where to start when making a cake for the occasion. So what is the best approach to getting started?
Usually the person baking the cake will know the theme in advance. However, sometimes the host will ask the baker to create a themed cake from a list of options and then the party centered on that.
One can break down the approach used by many bakers into 5 stages:
- Generate ideas for a theme and pick the most appropriate one. It’s always a good idea to allow time to reflect on the options. Each theme will evoke different mental images and feelings. These help to kick-start the creative process involved in choosing the most suitable option.
- The theme will dictate the shape or form of the cake to be baked.
- The shape of the cake will determine the size and shape of cake tins needed.
- Some form of icing will usually cover the cake shape.
- The theme will determine how you can decorate the cake.
Ways to Generate Ideas for a Themed Party
Themed parties are usually for children, but they have become increasingly popular for adults in the last decade. Birthday themed parties are the most common type and are a great way to celebrate with friends, family or even coworkers. So why not take that opportunity to have some fun and show off your creativity with a themed party?
Themes typically reflect someone’s personality and interests. They tell you something about the person and can be unique and personal. However, it’s not always the case and some people prefer a random or wacky approach.
Coming up with ideas for a themed party doesn’t have to be hard. The most common ways include:
- What are the person’s favourite TV programs or movies? Does one program or movie standout?
- Does the person have a significant hobby? Hobbies say a lot about someone and carry deep meaning for those receiving a themed party.
- Most people play video games. Do they have a favourite?
- Does the person like a particular type of food?
- What genre of books does the person like to read? Do they have a favourite all time book?
- What sports does the person like to play or follow? Do they support a particular team or sports person?
- Music is personal to most people. Do they follow a particular genre, band, singer or musician?
- Is the party for a specific holiday period, e.g. Easter or Christmas?
- Does a holiday destination hold meaningful memories for the person?
- Does the person like showbiz or glitzy events, e.g. Las Vegas Night?
Brainstorm ideas for a themed party by making use of websites, books, magazines, and other resources that are specifically geared toward providing creative direction on how to put together a unique theme. Websites are also an excellent resource for looking up different themed home décor ideas, party favors, costumes, and food items. Generating new creative ideas doesn’t have to come from just one source, though, so it’s important not to limit any idea generation sources.
Shape of Cake to be Baked
There are many cake shapes possible and these include: round, square, rectangular, oval, triangle, pentagonal, hexagon, heart-shaped, swirled or tiered as well as inversions, permutations and combinations of them.
With a themed party, the theme will dictate the shape of the cake. The cake should reflect the occasion it will serve. Here are some basic examples:
- If you are hosting a wedding themed event, then it is traditional to use a rectangular or square shaped cake.
- A themed children’s birthday cake might be round, swirled or even jagged-edge shaped.
- If you want to make a very simple yet elegant looking cake, try using a round shape with white icing.
- A heart-shaped cake is traditionally the basis for a theme related to love or possibly a daughter’s birthday party.
Traditionally, round cakes are layered in various ways, e.g. with buttercream icing (frosting) or cream cheese frosting. Also, square cake layers can be stacked in a variety of ways, including piling them on top of each other to create a tiered cake.
One can achieve more complex shapes by combining basic shapes and building them up in layers. Obviously, a person’s skill set will determine the level of complexity achievable. The overall shape will come together when icing the cake.
Cake Tin Shapes
There are many types of cake pan and cake tin shapes and these include round, square, rectangle, loaf tins, heart or flower shaped, tart pans, muffin, angel food cake pans and Bundt cake pans that have a hole in center, tube pans with divider for two cakes, mini cake tins, speciality cakelet, specialty and 3D-assembly shapes e.g. numbers, letters, Christmas tree, dinosaur, footballs, Halloween, skulls, etc.
Round cake pans and square cake tins are the most commonly used shape. However, remember that you can cut the baked cakes into any shape and layer these to form more complex structures. Off cuts can fill any gaps before applying the icing.
The size and shape of the cake to be baked will obviously determine the size and shape of the cakes tins used. Cake tin sizes vary from tiny 1″ (25mm) micro or multi-size tins up to 14″ (350mm) or more. A medium-sized shape will be best for most people to handle. Too small or large brings technical difficulties that may require a lot of skill and experience in baking, icing and decorating.
Icing the Cake
Once the cake shape has been achieved, the final stage is usually to cover it in some form of icing and decorate it.
There are many types of cake icing including:
- Buttercream icing is made from softened butter, sugar, and cream, or alternatively, confectioners’ (powdered/icing) sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. It is great because it can be used both on the outside and inside of a cake. Unfortunately, it struggles in extreme heat and becomes very soft or melts.
- Fondant icing is a type of frosting made from icing sugar and water that has been heated to thicken the mixture. Corn syrup and gelatin may also be added to the mixture. This type of icing is usually smooth and can be quickly rolled into a dough-like form, making it a popular choice for cake decoration. Fondant icing is also more stable than other types of frosting, which means it won’t melt as quickly.
- Ganache is a thick cream that is used in many dessert recipes. It is typically made with chocolate, heavy cream, or butter. Ganache can be poured over cakes for a glasslike finish, served as a sauce on top of pastries, iced cakes, and cupcakes, or used as a filling. Ganache can contain up to 50% chocolate.
- Marzipan comes in many forms, including a popular paste-like consistency. All forms are sweet tasting. It’s typically made from almonds, sugar, and egg whites, although other ingredients may be present, e.g. apricots, pistachios, rose or orange flower water. Marzipan can be used as an icing or molded into various cake decorations.
- Royal icing is a sweet, creamy white frosting that is used to cover cakes and other desserts. It is made from powdered sugar, egg whites and lemon juice or cream of tartar to give it its characteristic white color. Royal icing is often used for cake decorating because of its versatility, consistency and creates decorations that do not collapse easily. It can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Whipped cream is a sweet and light dairy product that often tops desserts like pies, cakes, and sundaes. It is made by whisking heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract together with a mixer or by hand. The aim is to create soft peaks. The whipped cream is then left to chill in the fridge to thicken for at least 30 minutes.
Decorating the Cake
Cakes can be decorated in various ways. Sugar added to various ingredients forms the basis for creating various shapes, balls, pearls and flowers, e.g. sugar, cornstarch and gelatin (gum paste). These shapes can be painted with food pigments. In fact, it is possible to have images printed on special frosting paper using edible inks. Other cake decorations use edible gold leaf or flowers attached to floral wire.
Cake piping can add color and detail to your cake and involves using a pastry bag filled with frosting, cream or icings. The tip of the bag determines the shape of the piping. You can pipe letters, numbers, shapes for borders for cakes, flowers, stars, etc. The best thing about piping is that it creates beautiful details on cakes without having to worry about perfect placement of frosting or fondant.
There are many cake decorative techniques, such as:
- Food coloring techniques e.g. airbrushing, hand painting, marbling, ombre, etc.
- Patterns and textures techniques on icing using tools, fondant, buttercream or piping e.g. basket weaving, chevron, damask, ruffles, etc.
- Dusting techniques e.g. petal dust.
