I’m surrounded by cake. Right now. Literally surrounded.
I’m also eating a vegan enchilada… but that’s neither here nor there.
I’m taking a break on this Friday Wedding Cake Extravaganza Madness Day to give you a glimpse of what’s going on in my kitchen.
The only thing not pictured is my enchilada and crazy crazy hair. It might be best to use your imagination on those.
Chocolate cake. It’s secretly vegan!
I used this cake recipe and multiplied it by four to make a two layer 10-inch cake and two half sheet cakes (for behind the scenes slicing).
Vanilla Butter Cake. Too yummy.
I used this cake recipe, multiplied it by eight and made a two layer 14-inch cake and a two layer 6-inch cake.
Phew.
Oh! I freaked out and had to check tomorrow’s weather. I need to make sure my buttercream can hold up to the sun heat. I’m good. Just a maniac.
Back to the cake. It’s baking. Right now.
Next up? Whipping up the buttercream.
Who wants to come help with dishes? Seriously.
65 Responses
Hi Joy! Can I ask how you divide your batter evenly between pans? I can never divide them evenly, thus I never get the same sized cake, one is taller and the other is shorter, I can’t cut them in half and make a four layer cake. Any tips?
Hi Joy,
I wanted to ask, how on earth do you get the tops of your cakes that straight. Whenever I bake, the cake I bake resembles a small hill, but yours appear to be perfectly flat! Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I’ve been commissioned to bake my first birthday cake soon!
Thanks so much for your wonderful blog that inspires me everyday!
Mridula
recipes and ovens are often different, giving you different cake results. if you cake mound up a bit, just trim them down with a serrated knife. no big deal!
hi there..
if only I know Ur site earlier, really inspiring!
Seeing this, I really wish you could have made my wedding cake!
Joy – you are amazing! I can’t wait to see the finished product!
Hi Joy. I wrote you a haiku. I hope you like it =D
“Dear Joy the Baker
Vanilla. Chocolate. Yum.
It looks very good!”
That’s cute!
Hey Joy!
I’m a really big fan from greece and I would totally appreciate it if you could answer my question:
WHAT is half and half???
I dont really get it.
Thanks!!
Hi Vana!
Half and Half is a mixture of half heavy cream and half whole milk.
I’m so glad someone asked that, I’m from Ireland and I’d never heard of it either.
Haha, I’m from America and i still didn’t know what half and half was xD Thanks for asking Vana and thanks for answering, Joy.
So is Calabasas where the wedding is or where you are? Cause I grew up in Canoga Park, so I totally know where that is! :)
How do you get your cakes so flat???!?!?! I must know your secret.
dude! i just whipped up the choccie vegan cake (for a birthday tomorrow) and tho mine came out a little crumbly it looks and smells amazing. and yes i did munch a little on the crumble to ensure it tastes good, tastes AMAZING
thanks joy!
You are totally my hero!
that’s all i was thinking while reading this post: oy. the dishes.
and that you’re the only person that can make a pic of a measuring cup look interesting. your photos are beautiful.
Hey Joy! I hope it all went down well today. Can’t wait to see a picture of the finished product!
Andrea
P.S. I totally love Ms. Magid’s vegan chocolate cake. It’s so delightfully chocolatey and moist!
Hey Joy! Will you publish the recipes for the chocolate and the vanilla cakes!! Pleasasseee!!!
Wow! You have some really lucky friends! Looking forward to seeing the end results! Wish I could taste them too!
*love*
Keep up the good work! You can do it!
mmmmm me waiting
can’t wait to see the finished product !
Looks great! I want some!
go joy go!
you rock!
Jealous of the weather. Forcast for Richmond, KY today? “Oppressive Heat”, ie humidity so high you can drink the air. We are talkin two extremes of hair- crazy or limp. I would come wash your dishes, but my survival insticnts will not allow me to step outside the airconditioning. Have a wonderful time!!!
kudos Joy! i’m sure it’s going to be fantastic! i’ve been asked to make my friend’s wedding cake so i’m going to use all the tips you offer. are you freezing the cakes before assembly?
Oh my! The Young couple will have a truely sweet moments!!!
keep going joy! u can do it :D
A secret vegan chocolate cake? Amazing! Want that recipe please – in due time, of course:)
I can’t wait to see the finished product! Hope you got all those dishes done…I can’t imagine how many there must be.
Joy….I’ll come do dishes. I LOVE to do dishes:)
yumm!!!! They look good and they aren’t even put together. And I love buttercream! Still excited for your end result Joy!
If you cover the airfare from nyc to cali, I would clean every dish in your kitchen, dirty or not. Seriously.
The cakes look scrumptious and like an endeavor I should try someday soon to test the skills I have gathered from your many lovely blogs.
Ah, I can only imagine the amount of work and stress that goes into this, but the finished product will totally be worth it, and I am sure will be a thing of beauty. :) Your friend is so lucky to have you making the cake for her, we will all be eagerly awaiting photos!!!
Hmm.. ok.. do you have a secret 20 qt Hobart back there or something? I make wedding cakes pretty often.. like 4 times a year or so.. at home with my regular gear that includes a 5qt Kitchenaid mixer. It normally takes me longer than one day to finish all the cakes and all the buttercream (usually 4 or so batches of buttercream in my mixer.. spread out a bit over some time to avoid the motor overheating when my sugar syrup cools). Oh wait – what kind of buttercream are you making? I make italian meringue buttercream. I usually do fillings and frostings on day 1, cakes on day 2, then fill, frost, assemble, and decorate on day 3 .. or thereabouts (the schedule has some flexibility built in).
What’s your trick?
I can’t imagine what your kitchen (and house!) must smell like by now. I love how it’s sneakily vegan but you’re making a buttercream… is the buttercream vegan, too? Good luck with the rest of the cake! :)
Wei-Wei
!!!
this cake looks wonderful! you’ll do it! I’m sure!
Im so excited to read this adventure! I have made a few wedding cakes and lots of elaborate celebration cakes so its nice to sit back and relax and read about someone else’s stress! :D
Okay so that wasn’t nice and I have to admit I do feel some of that stress just by looking at your pictures. My next wedding cake is looming up on July 4th and the next celebration cake is coming up on July 28th, so with all the research and prep and redesigning I never truly feel relaxed.
Good luck Joy I know you will do awesome, I’ve seen proof of your awesomeness!
I’ll be reading and hanging on every bit of wisdom!
Deese
I’ll do the dishes…and I absolutely HATE doing dishes. But I have a feeling we’d have a great time. A little liquor, some dirty dishes, and some serious bowl licking. Yumm.
Btw, tried the Pretzel M&Ms yet? I bet they go great with some Shiraz. Hehe.
Are we gonna get the cake recipe? Looks Yummy!
Yummo! I always like to wash dishes when we make masterful delicious treats!! I will gladly help you!
You blog always makes me smile. :)
Why is the cake secretly vegan? So you made the cake vegan without the bride and groom’s permission? I’m confused.
not to worry. it doesn’t taste vegan… it just happens to not have eggs or butter in the batter.
i’ve already slathered the entire thing with buttercream frosting. it’s not longer vegan. rest easy.
Haha. I feel fine. I was just thinking about the couple and their wishes. Good luck with everything!
Goodluck joy. Can’t wait to see your finish product! =)
I’ll come wash dishes!!! I wish I was making a cake right now. Maybe I will!
Joy!
Joy!
Oh to be in your kitchen!
I’d love to just sit back and watch!
And I promise I’d wash alllll the dishes!
I know that wedding cake will be BLESSED with lots of happily forever afters!
xooxoxoxo
You sound like me with that iPhone-checking. Keep up the tough baking! You can do it. :)
Just curious. Are they 3″ pans? If you stack two of those and if they are 2″, you won’t get 4″ high tiers. Good luck with the cake and cleanup.
Lovin the cake updates! I can’t wait to see the finished masterpiece, I know its going to be beautiful!
Nice. I’m lovin’ this day by day story. Keep it up. And I want lot’s of pictures…. I love how you share Joy.
Ron Merlin
I could go for some cake right now! Can’t wait to see the finished result – I know it will be fantastic.
You can do it Joy! You’re fabulous. And your cake will be fabulous. And heck, for what it’s worth, I’d love a chance to hang out at your place and wash your dishes. :)
This looks like some serious yum! Hope you’re having fun making the cake and not getting stressed out. By the way i’m insanely jealous of the weather forecast in your area. Mine is filled by thunderstorms instead of sun. Kinda sorta depressing.
You are so brave! As for crazy hair (I feel your pain), I always wear a bandanna when I bake. Your cake is going to be GREAT! Can’t wait for the big “reveal”!
If it makes you feel better, I’m crazy haired all the time, with no excuses whatsoever. Sending you good juju and dish cleaning energy from Houston!
I should clarify…from one crazy haired gal to another!
Pleasure to clean up after you! Cake looks wonderful. Have fun with your crazy haired self.
Go, Joy, Go! This is going to be the best cake ever!
I didn’t see a calculator on the table to do the multiplication, you probably used your phone;)
If I was anywhere near your state, you’d know I’d pitch in, my only request would be to lick the whisk! Good luck, you’re almost there, it’s looking great:)
does dishes = cake tasting? if so, i’d be in!
I bet your apartment smells like baking nirvana! I’m on my way over, k?!