Making a birthday cake

[Chellerin]

I have never been one to make cakes & now I have a thermie I think I should try. My daughter is 8 at the end of this month & I would like to try & make a monster high cake. I bought a 27.5 x 27.5 cm square cake tin today so I have a few questions .....
What cake recipe should I use? Do I need 1 batch or 2?
I will probably purchase an edible icing cake topper off eBay so how do I go about icing it? I have googled monster high cakes & there is some really awesome ones out there but I think they have fondant? Icing.....looks very technical.
Any advice would be appreciated......Thanks
Chelle

[Cornish Cream]

I had to ask Mr.Google what is a Monster High Cake

Many people on the forum have had good results making the Bimby Chocolate Cake and using it as a base for different Birthday Cakes.
Another alternative would be Kimmy's Moist Carrot Cake.

My niece used Tenina's recipe Marshmallow Fondant Icing to cover a birthday cake for her DS.She said it was good.

[cookie1]

I've just checked Mr Google too. I would agree with CC. Either of those cakes would be lovely. Do you have time for a test run? 
The fun will be in the icing. Don't forget to share a photo. Congratulations on deciding to do the cake , I'm sure your daughter will be thrilled.

[KristySpiegl]

My go to at the moment is this one. Its incredibly simple and has thoroughly been tested after trending on Facebook. http://cantstopbaking.com/2015/06/21/chocolate-devils-food-cake-thermomix/
It makes two 20cm round cakes but fits in my 30cm square which is 10 cm deep

[Chellerin]

Thanks everyone. I will have time to try one out 1st as her bday isn't until the 28th.  I purchased a monster high edible topper from eBay today the icing is my main worry, I haven't done that before.
Chelle.

[cookie1]

You could make a batch of cupcakes and practise on those. Or just make the icing and practise on a plate and then mix the used icing back in before it sets. I'm sure you will be fine.

[Kimmyh]

The bimby chocolate cake CC mentioned is the best recipe for birthday cakes. I have made the chocolate Devils food cake mentioned and I don't thinks it's a great kids cake. More for adults tastebuds. As far as icing goes. Buttercream or store bought fondant would work. It's really up to you. For a first timer I would suggest icing the cake in buttercream, getting it as smooth as possible and placing the decal topper on top.

[Chellerin]

Thanks KIMMYH. I'm about to make the practice cake, I'll do it in the tin I'm making the cake in to make sure the mixture is enough
Thanks everyone for your input.
Chelle

[Chellerin]

Probably a silly question, can I colour buttercream icing?

[judydawn]

Chellerin, here's a u-Tube video showing how to colour buttercream icing.

[Chellerin]

Thanks judydawn.
Ok next lot of questions. Done my test cake...haven't iced it though.
I would inc a picture but it is too large & I don't know how to downsize it 
It is only about an inch high then is rises in the middle, would I need a fatter cake?  Do I cut the top off where it has risen so it is flat to put my cake topper on?
I'm a real novice at this cake stuff!!!! Lol

[judydawn]

I'm not a great cake maker. I don't think the height matters too much but I would level the top off.

[Chellerin]

Oh the pic did work!!!! Lol

[Jamberie]

I would probably level the cake off and then (because I'm not terribly neat) turn the cake upside down so that the cake topper will be perfectly flat I don't think the height is terribly important either (or you could make two cakes and sandwich them together with buttercream if you wanted it higher -still levelling both cakes if necessary)

BTW, great job on your first cake

[Cornish Cream]

This article might be of use to you to get a flat top to your cake Chellerin.
How to bake a flat cake layers.