Making a good homemade cake?

[Nenibay]

I'm trying hard to sick with our budget for DDs bday party. I got a $45 cake quote which I'm having trouble stomaching right now. Is a homemade cake just out of the question. I'm not a baker but DD is a bit picky so she doesn't tend to like boxes of cake or frosting lol.
Or, anyone know cheaper places to buy a good bakery cake? Needs to feed about 25 adults and 10 kids.

[greencrayon]

When my lab had parties, we always used Costco cakes. I don't eat cake, but everyone really loves them.

[redheadbaker]

What size cake was the quote for? How intricate the decoration?

The cost of ingredients, specifically eggs and dairy, are getting very expensive, which also factors into the cost.

[6fsn]

If you can get a Costco cake it'll be the best $18 you spend. They have limited themes so I usually get plain and dress it up with other decorations.

Another option might be to bake your own cake and then buy the frosting you know she likes. Frost the cakes and put on your own decorations.

[water*drop]

I don't have a go-to recipe, but decoration-wise, there are tons of youtube tutorials for how to make those rose cakes that are all over Pinterest, and they are super forgiving if you just practice a few swirls on foil or parchment paper or something first to get the motion down. Promise. I am the least patient person ever when it comes to piping icing, and I've done a variation of these for several cakes because they're easy and fast. You do end up using a TON of icing, though.

[momin2013]

I've tried a handful of recipes, but have never made a cake that I've liked as much as a boxed mix. So if it were me, I would make a boxed mix and call it a day (for that amount of people I'd do two boxes and either make 2 9x13's and layer them, or 48 cupcakes). I'd probably have another dessert too, as that's quite a few people. I'd be afraid with only cake they'd eat all of it and I would hate to run out.

But you say your DD doesn't like boxed cakes. Around here, I think the cheapest would probably be either Costco or a supermarket. If that's still too pricey, you could get a smaller cake and then another dessert that you think would be popular and hopefully people will have one or the other.

[bowies]

Someone on here posted a recipe to make the box mixes taste like homemade - I think it involves butter instead of oil?

Cream cheese frosting is really easy to make - 2 sticks butter, 1 package cream cheese (both softened), 2 lb. bag of powdered sugar (dump a little in, mix, then more, mix, etc.), and 2 tsp vanilla. Done!

[drloretta]

I made cupcakes. Cheap and easy

[starburst]

The Hershey's chocolate cake recipe is really good and easy to make.

Or I'd just get a sheet cake from Costco or the grocery store and call it a day.

[Deleted]

water*drop, those rosettes are super easy to make! I made small cakes for each of the girls for their first bday and did the rosettes. Mine didn't look as good as that picture but they still looked good and everyone loved it.

OP, I also think Costco is a good option if you have it available. Or cupcakes. You can get cupcake toppers for cheap to decorate them a bit more if you want.

[rondonalddo]

I do homemade cakes, but for 25 adults and 10 kids, if you're not a baker, I'd say get a Costco cake/cupcakes. If your DD doesn't like that, there are lots of recipes for enhancing boxed mixes and then you could just do frosting from scratch. Try to save yourself as much time as possible.

If you decide to do all from-scratch anyway, you can make the cake/cupcakes and frosting ahead of time and freeze them. Just thaw in the the fridge and throw the frosting back in the mixer once it's thawed to get the texture right for frosting. That way you don't lose a whole day to baking or end up staying up super late the night before the party trying to finish it. Ask me how I know :-)

[mrshandy]

I love doing homemade cakes for the kids birthdays. I'm not too great at it, but it's a fun endeavor (I do lots of sampling to make sure it's yummy)

I love the Hersheys chocolate cake and usually just google to find a good frosting recipe. There are a ton out there. We had about that size party and I did a triple layered 9x9 square cake. It turned out pretty good. I used the Trader Joes chocolate cake recipe on the cocoa box and that made enough batter. It's a bigger recipe than the Hersheys.

[sjh722]

I have done cupcakes with homemade frosting before - if you use tips and a bag to swirl the frosting on, they look fancier.

If you are close to Costco, their cakes are really good and only $18. They would easily feed that many people. I have ordered a plain cake from them with no decorations, then a theme decal or decorations from Amazon too. For DD1's 2nd birthday, I ordered a plain white cake with blue frosting on the edge, then ordered a frozen decal from Amazon and put sparkly blue sprinkles around the edges of the decal.

[shamrockshake]

if you want a "semi homemade" this really is amazing. I bake a LOT, a ton from scratch, and this is still one of my faves.

www.food.com/recipe/white-almond-sour-cream-wedding-cake-69630

and really, homemade icing is the most important part. Even boxed cake is decent if you put homemade buttercream on it

www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/easy-vanilla-buttercream-frosting#.cfkhya:CFF6

but I use 2 sticks of butter to every pound (4ish cups) of sugar

edit- though I concur that Costco cake is actually pretty good

[awkwardpenguin]

Definitely a Costco cake. If you do bake, I'd do cupcakes for that number of people to avoid the hassle of baking a sheet cake. I baked my own wedding cupcakes using this recipe:

www.food.com/recipe/basic-buttermilk-cake-220082

For cupcakes bake 18-20 minutes.

My go to buttercream:

www.mybakingaddiction.com/buttercream-frosting-recipe/

[shellbear09]

I would bake my own cupcakes. That's what I did. Or go cheap at Costco.

[momin2013]

The more I think about it, the more I freak out at the thought of making cake (especially from scratch) for that many people. I would want it to be fresh, so I'd probably either be up late the night before, or wake up crazy early the morning of the party to bake and decorate it. And then I'd probably be exhausted for the party.

Seriously, I'd probably get it from Costco if at all possible.

[halfpint]

Costco is where it's at, man.

I've also really liked Target's cakes, if you have a SuperTarget nearby - they aren't going to be super fancy, but they aren't bad, and really reasonably priced.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 31, 2015 8:48:14 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

The more I think about it, the more I freak out at the thought of making cake (especially from scratch) for that many people. I would want it to be fresh, so I'd probably either be up late the night before, or wake up crazy early the morning of the party to bake and decorate it. And then I'd probably be exhausted for the party.

Seriously, I'd probably get it from Costco if at all possible.

I make DS' birthday cake from scratch every year. I always make it at least two days before, sometimes three. It's fine.

ETA: Costco cakes are delicious, but if you want a homemade cake, don't freak out about making it in advance.

[momin2013]

Jul 31, 2015 8:50:06 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jul 31, 2015 8:48:14 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

The more I think about it, the more I freak out at the thought of making cake (especially from scratch) for that many people. I would want it to be fresh, so I'd probably either be up late the night before, or wake up crazy early the morning of the party to bake and decorate it. And then I'd probably be exhausted for the party.

Seriously, I'd probably get it from Costco if at all possible.

I make DS' birthday cake from scratch every year. I always make it at least two days before, sometimes three. It's fine.

I've made DS' cakes so far, too; both times I've found the cake o.k. on day 1, but after that it's seemed dry (hence the reason I say I prefer boxed cakes).

Please don't take the time to type it out, but if you happen to have a link to a cake similar to yours, I'd greatly appreciate it!

[nextbigthing]

DEFINITELY Costco! You can't beat it, it's delicious and it's under 20 bucks. You can order custom designs ahead of time.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 31, 2015 8:53:33 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

Jul 31, 2015 8:50:06 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

I make DS' birthday cake from scratch every year. I always make it at least two days before, sometimes three. It's fine.

I've made DS' cakes so far, too; both times I've found the cake o.k. on day 1, but after that it's seemed dry (hence the reason I say I prefer boxed cakes).

Please don't take the time to type it out, but if you happen to have a link to a cake similar to yours, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Last year, I made the Hershey Perfect Chocolate Cake, and a second cake using a pumpkin cake recipe from Annie's Eats. When I make a vanilla cake, I use the All-Occasion Downy Butter Cake from Rose Levy Berenbaum's cookbook, The Cake Bible.

For extra insurance, soak the cake in simple syrup before frosting it.

[momin2013]

Jul 31, 2015 9:09:43 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jul 31, 2015 8:53:33 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

I've made DS' cakes so far, too; both times I've found the cake o.k. on day 1, but after that it's seemed dry (hence the reason I say I prefer boxed cakes).

Please don't take the time to type it out, but if you happen to have a link to a cake similar to yours, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Last year, I made the Hershey Perfect Chocolate Cake, and a second cake using a pumpkin cake recipe from Annie's Eats. When I make a vanilla cake, I use the All-Occasion Downy Butter Cake from Rose Levy Berenbaum's cookbook, The Cake Bible.

For extra insurance, soak the cake in simple syrup before frosting it.

Jotting these down - thank you!!

[Nenibay]

Wow! Thank you ladies for so many great ideas!! I think my MIL has a costco membership so ill ask her if she could pick one up for me.

[Deleted]

I always make my kid's cakes, but they're not Pinteresty. They're just... cake. With frosting. And sprinkles. Or cupcakes, with frosting.

Personally, box cake is fine but homemade frosting is worth it.

[mlt]

There is a definite trend at some of the parties we have been to lately to have homemade cakes. I would do it. Or cupcakes. I think homemade always tastes better anyway!

[Muddled]

Does DD like cake? How does she know if it is boxed or not? Why don't you do something else for dessert? Doughnuts, perhaps?

[browneyedgirl9]

We have had great luck with cakes from sams club or Wal-Mart.

[Nenibay]

Jul 31, 2015 12:34:37 GMT -5 Muddled said:

Does DD like cake? How does she know if it is boxed or not? Why don't you do something else for dessert? Doughnuts, perhaps?

She must have a chefs pallet, I swear she can recognize various flavored and qualities of things. She will only eat a bite of two of boxed cakes (I've tried many brands) but will eat huge pieces from bakeries. She also will not eat more than a taste of icing from a tube. She just knows. It's so weird.

[Muddled]

Jul 31, 2015 18:03:05 GMT -5 Nenibay said:

Jul 31, 2015 12:34:37 GMT -5 Muddled said:

Does DD like cake? How does she know if it is boxed or not? Why don't you do something else for dessert? Doughnuts, perhaps?

She must have a chefs pallet, I swear she can recognize various flavored and qualities of things. She will only eat a bite of two of boxed cakes (I've tried many brands) but will eat huge pieces from
bakeries. She also will not eat more than a taste of icing from a tube. She just knows. It's so weird.

You may have a future pastry chef on your hands!

I happen to think that icing is pretty obvious, too. Cake I would be less likely to notice. I do think that making a cake from scratch is just as easy as making it from a box. The box really only skips the step of mixing the dry ingredients together, right?