Fancy Cakes

[HouCuseChickie]

Since we're going to be at WDW on DD4s actual 5th birthday...I'm contemplating ordering what I guess would be classified as a "fancy cake." I'm not going to go too nuts with it b/c I'll be making the cake for her school party. Cakes are one of my big hobbies (maybe one day will be a business) and I'm very picky about things. The cake I plan on making her will be Barbie's pink Dreamvette- Barbie will be driving and I'll probably do a few Toy Story characters out of gumpaste/modeling chocolate to ride with her...flavors are still up in the air.

That being said- I know the Disney cakes are nice presentation wise, and the costs I've seen are really not that bad for the pictures I've seen, but how about the taste? i.e. do they use high grade fondants that are sweet or are they guilty (like soooooo many bakeries) of using more tasteless ones? Are their buttercreams and decorator icings nice both flavor and consistency wise? And of course- cakes and fillings...i.e. I know there are ways to get more than vanilla and chocolate, but regardless of flavor- do the cakes taste fresh? are the flavors well established in the cake? is there any aftertaste? Has anyone had any fruit fillings that are slightly rancid or congealed? :hurl: Sorry- just want pretty and yummy. :slurp: Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated! :wave:

 

[MITCH 112198]

On Disney website you can look at some of the cakes avail. I got the mickey mouse head and it was great, although it looked different than the picture. I picked yellow cake w/ chocolate moouse and it had a chocolate fudge coating on top and around the edges it had chocolate poppy chucks that popped when you ate it. and the face of mickey was made out of candy. it looks on the website to be small, but that is not trus. it was about 8-9 inches across and 5 inches high.. about $50.00 worth every dime!!!!!!!!!:slurp::slurp::slurp:

 

[mickeysshoes]

I would look up HOLLYBELLE on this site..she just got married in WDW and she should be able to tell you how her cake was.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I ordered a specialty cake for Brian's birthday last November from the Contemporary's bakery and had it delivered to the Whispering Canyon. I paid $65 for it. I had read great reviews on cakes from this bakery so I was pretty jazzed. In the end I was pretty disappointed, tho. I left creative freedom to the bakers and that was a huge mistake. I've made better, cohesively themed cakes. The cake was moist but didn't have much flavor. The "buttercream" I ordered wasn't very buttery or sweet. It didn't hold a candle to what I make. If I was to order a cake again (which I'm considering for my anniversary at the Yachtsman) I would be extremely specific when conversing with the pastry chef and I wouldn't order from the Contemporary's bakery. In fact, I read some good reviews from an offsite bakery who will deliver but they're pricey. The appearance was as good if not better than anything I've seen from a Disney bakery and the taste was reportedly waaaay better.

I've read that the fondant Disney uses is sweet and marshmallow-y.

I used to make amateur decorated cakes so I feel my standards are pretty high in the taste department. I don't do the decorating as much anymore but I still bake cakes & make my own buttercream every now & then (I use only high-grade Mexican vanilla extract). If what we got from the Contemporary's bakery is what some think of as the best they've ever had (I've read that!) then I honestly feel sorry for those people. Gimme a couple boxes of Betty Crocker & let me make one of my cakes...I could make the earth move, heavens open, and angels sing for these people.
:lol:

 

[HouCuseChickie]

On Disney website you can look at some of the cakes avail. I got the mickey mouse head and it was great, although it looked different than the picture. I picked yellow cake w/ chocolate moouse and it had a chocolate fudge coating on top and around the edges it had chocolate poppy chucks that popped when you ate it. and the face of mickey was made out of candy. it looks on the website to be small, but that is not trus. it was about 8-9 inches across and 5 inches high.. about $50.00 worth every dime!!!!!!!!!:slurp::slurp::slurp:

OMG that sounds SOOOOOOOOOO YummY!!!:slurp: I might have to steal some of this for DH's 40th in a couple of weeks. I wonder if they used a chocolate fondant or if they did a spreadable ganache that dried to a coating cosistency. Either way- not a common flavor combo from what I've seen and sounds good! $50 is also a nice price for an 8-9" round. I always look at my 8" rd pan and think it's so small- until I stack the layers. Thanks! :wave:

I would look up HOLLYBELLE on t his site..she just got married in WDW and she should be able to tell you how her cake was.

Yup- I can't wait for her to get to the cake part of her TR! Thanks! :wave:

I ordered a specialty cake for Brian's birthday last November from the Contemporary's bakery and had it delivered to the Whispering Canyon. I paid $65 for it. I had read great reviews on cakes from this bakery so I was pretty jazzed. In the end I was pretty disappointed, tho. I left creative freedom to the bakers and that was a huge mistake. I've made better, cohesively themed cakes. The cake was moist but didn't have much flavor. The "buttercream" I ordered wasn't very buttery or sweet. It didn't hold a candle to what I make. If I was to order a cake again (which I'm considering for my anniversary at the Yachtsman) I would be extremely specific when conversing with the pastry chef and I wouldn't order from the Contemporary's bakery. In fact, I read some good reviews from an offsite bakery who will deliver but they're pricey. The appearance was as good if not better than anything I've seen from a Disney bakery and the taste was reportedly waaaay better.

I've read that the fondant Disney uses is sweet and marshmallow-y.

I used to make amateur decorated cakes so I feel my standards are pretty high in the taste department. I don't do the decorating as much anymore but I still bake cakes & make my own buttercream every now & then (I use only high-grade Mexican vanilla extract). If what we got from the Contemporary's bakery is what some think of as the best they've ever had (I've read that!) then I honestly feel sorry for those people. Gimme a couple boxes of Betty Crocker & let me make one of my cakes...I could make the earth move, heavens open, and angels sing for these people.
:lol:

This is VERY good to know b/c DD's birthday breakfast is at Chef Mickey's. I'd considered cake for breakfast, but maybe I'll wait until dinner. Her bday dinner is at 1900 PF, so maybe private dining at the GF can make a better tasting cake vs the Contemporary. I work so hard on cake flavors and it really bugs me when any cake - even my own test cakes - come out with less flavor than desired. My cakes are usually modified pound cakes since I do a lot of cake sculpting and need greater cake density, but it still has to be moist and tasty. Also good call on being very hands on in the design process. I also have to be mindful of the cake budget since I don't see the Dreamvette cake being cheap, so the off site bakery may be out of the question. We shall see.

The buttercream sounds horrendous! At least the fondant sounds promising. My homemade fondant is very marshmallowy, but if I'm feeling lazy - the premade brands I favor taste taffy-like and like white chocolate. Still, you usually use buttercream to coat the cake before putting on the fondant- so buttercream quality can still make or break a cake.

Funny that you bring up the Mexican vanilla extract...not quite the same thing- but I've been working with liquors to tweak some of my flavors. Most recently, I tried an 18 yr single malt scotch in my frosting. DH wasn't too happy with me, but it was REALLY good. Awesome that you used to do amateur cake decorating! DId you do cakes for your sons too? As I've found, any kind of long term cake work makes you more critical of the cakes you're served... but that's a good thing b/c I'm tired of people passing off mediocrity or less as a masterpiece. Case in point 1- all of those gourmet cupcake places selling flavored frostings on top of stale yellow cake cupcakes for $$$$$. Case in point 2- this is my most recent cake (sorry best pics were before I set up the final presentation on the cutting board w/a filleting knife) and I'm still furious with myself for not perfecting the cake flavor (was on my way out of town) and not being able to fix the tail....hehe- anger in my own mediocrity! :lol:

Well, this is all good food for thought. I know if I'm involved in the design process, it should be close to the cake I've envisioned, but it's tough to shell out the $ when flavor quality is a concern. I'm going to have to think on this one...

Thanks all!!!! :wave:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I hear ya! Serve me an ugly cake with amazing taste & texture and I'll forgive any appearance sins instantaneously. Serve me a pretty cake that tastes yucky or is dry and I'll spit it out & curse the pastry chef 'til the end of time. Some argue that commercial-produced cakes from big kitchens can't have good flavor. If they can't produce good taste then they should just sell birthday sculptures and leave cake alone. There's just no excuse for poor taste. None at all. If they take someone's $$ then they should deliver. It's simple as that.

I used to make the boys' cakes out of financial necessity more than anything. I don't enjoy the work. My skills are very limited at best. I used to buy the themed pans and/or create themed cakes. Chandler's 1st birthday cake was a Pooh cake. Brian's 1st was 101 Dalmations. I was most proud of my creativity with Brian's Hulk cake. There weren't any pans for that and this was back before the edible images. I made a great big double layer 1/4 sheet chocolate cake, frosted it in white buttercream, reached into the cake and pulled it outward, then positioned a Hulk figure inside the hole so he looked like he just burst out from inside it. It was so cool. Your fishy cake looks awesome! I'd love to get one like that for Tracey's birthday! He's a huge bass fisherman. Or better yet, a cake that looks like his boat! Oh yeah!

I've seen & heard good stuff from the GF bakery. Can't vouch for flavor. If you have any idea of what you want contact the GF private dining and see if you can email some pics or sketches along with your budget. I think they can prob'ly work with ya.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

I had a cake made for my husband's birthday, and it was delicious! It was vanilla w/chocolate mousse filling & chocolate icing. They decorated the sides w/piping, and then did a Pirate Mickey screen print on the top w/some other little decorations. It fed way more than the 2 of us, and luckily we had a fridge in our room to save it in to eat all week.

Everything was very fresh, the icing & mousse were perfect. The cake wasn't too dry, it stayed great all week. I believe ran me about $85, including delivery to our room. :wave:

 

[HouCuseChickie]

The Hulk cake sounds really cool! I could see my girls really liking something like that as well. I'm sure Brian LOVED it! I love that moment when a standard cake becomes something special and unique.

I got into this b/c of a $7-9K quote I received on a cake. It wasn't until my older daughter's Cinderella 3rd bday cake that I really got hooked. There was just something about looking at the finished gumpaste glass slipper and thinking "wow- I made a shoe!" My dad is an avid fisherman (woke us up at 4am at least once a week most summers to go fish), so he got the fish cake. Funny- I thought about a boat cake for him, but got caught up in all of my fish options (to the point where someone thought I was getting into taxidermy). There are some neat bass cakes and boat cakes on Flickr in case you're looking for any ideas.

I have to get through DH's bday before I delve too deeply into this, but I'll definitely be contacting GF private dining some time next month. Thanks! :wave:

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I had a cake made for my husband's birthday, and it was delicious! It was vanilla w/chocolate mousse filling & chocolate icing. They decorated the sides w/piping, and then did a Pirate Mickey screen print on the top w/some other little decorations. It fed way more than the 2 of us, and luckily we had a fridge in our room to save it in to eat all week.

Everything was very fresh, the icing & mousse were perfect. The cake wasn't too dry, it stayed great all week. I believe ran me about $85, including delivery to our room. :wave:

Sounds yummy too! :slurp: Good point on the fridge-definitely a great way to make it last for the trip. Thanks! :wave:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I had a cake made for my husband's birthday, and it was delicious! It was vanilla w/chocolate mousse filling & chocolate icing. They decorated the sides w/piping, and then did a Pirate Mickey screen print on the top w/some other little decorations. It fed way more than the 2 of us, and luckily we had a fridge in our room to save it in to eat all week.

Everything was very fresh, the icing & mousse were perfect. The cake wasn't too dry, it stayed great all week. I believe ran me about $85, including delivery to our room. :wave:

Oooh...which resort were you at and what bakery made your cake??? I'm interested!

I've been tempted to figure out a cake for our anniversary. We're staying at the YC & having dinner at the Yachtsman. I'd love to send the pastry chef a pic of our top layer of our wedding cake & have a Disney-fied version made. I'd love that. The last cake was just so yucky, I'm nervous to try again. I want to, tho. We'll have to see. I'm thinking on it....

The Hulk cake sounds really cool! I could see my girls really liking something like that as well. I'm sure Brian LOVED it! I love that moment when a standard cake becomes something special and unique.

I got into this b/c of a $7-9K quote I received on a cake. It wasn't until my older daughter's Cinderella 3rd bday cake that I really got hooked. There was just something about looking at the finished gumpaste glass slipper and thinking "wow- I made a shoe!" My dad is an avid fisherman (woke us up at 4am at least once a week most summers to go fish), so he got the fish cake. Funny- I thought about a boat cake for him, but got caught up in all of my fish options (to the point where someone thought I was getting into taxidermy). There are some neat bass cakes and boat cakes on Flickr in case you're looking for any ideas.

I have to get through DH's bday before I delve too deeply into this, but I'll definitely be contacting GF private dining some time next month. Thanks! :wave:

You nailed it. When an ordinary cake transforms into something special it is magical. I love that! I've often wondered what it'd be like to take a class in decorating. Piping & stuff I can do. I'd like to go to the next level, tho. Maybe even try my hand with fondant. Eek!

Glad you brought up the cake since I've been on the fence about an anniversary cake. I'm still thinking on it. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get a quote, huh?

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Oooh...which resort were you at and what bakery made your cake??? I'm interested!

I've been tempted to figure out a cake for our anniversary. We're staying at the YC & having dinner at the Yachtsman. I'd love to send the pastry chef a pic of our top layer of our wedding cake & have a Disney-fied version made. I'd love that. The last cake was just so yucky, I'm nervous to try again. I want to, tho. We'll have to see. I'm thinking on it....

You nailed it. When an ordinary cake transforms into something special it is magical. I love that! I've often wondered what it'd be like to take a class in decorating. Piping & stuff I can do. I'd like to go to the next level, tho. Maybe even try my hand with fondant. Eek!

Glad you brought up the cake since I've been on the fence about an anniversary cake. I'm still thinking on it. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get a quote, huh?

Yeah- I too would like to know which resort bakery made that cake.

Funny- I can't do piping. I start having piping panic attacks if I go beyond my star tips. I've thought about taking a class just b/c it's an essential cake skill. Like anything, fondant just takes some practice.

You'll have to keep us posted on your anniversary cake research!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yeah- I too would like to know which resort bakery made that cake.

Funny- I can't do piping. I start having piping panic attacks if I go beyond my star tips. I've thought about taking a class just b/c it's an essential cake skill. Like anything, fondant just takes some practice.

You'll have to keep us posted on your anniversary cake research!

Too bad we don't live closer. We could team up our skills and spank those Cake Girls on tv. LOL! I *can* pipe pretty good but my hands cramp up and they like stick in the position that I'm holding the bag. It's funny because when I finish I can't just stretch my fingers back out. I generally hafta whack 'em on something a few times then push 'em straight with my other hand. It's so funny to see my hand like frozen in some contorted position. :lol:

 

[HouCuseChickie]

Too bad we don't live closer. We could team up our skills and spank those Cake Girls on tv. LOL! I *can* pipe pretty good but my hands cramp up and they like stick in the position that I'm holding the bag. It's funny because when I finish I can't just stretch my fingers back out. I generally hafta whack 'em on something a few times then push 'em straight with my other hand. It's so funny to see my hand like frozen in some contorted position. :lol:

My mother can pipe- she's even done a few wedding cakes, but I just never picked up on it. I really need to work on it though b/c it will surely help me if I try piping royal icing onto fondant to teach myself brush embroidery. And maybe one day, if DH's early retirement plan works, I can open a bakery...I'll bring you on as my buttercream consultant!

On a more useful note- I was watching some Disney wedding special today and during the cake segment they noted that all of their wedding cakes are made in the GF's bakery. Mind you, this special was 2 yrs old, but they showed a couple staying at YC (or maybe it was BW) and it looks like their wedding cake was also made at the GF bakery. They interviewed the chef and his decorating team. The wedding cakes they showed were fairly traditional structures with ornate decorations; HOWEVER, they showed a few groom's cakes - and it looks like the GF's crew does some cake scuplting. It went by quickly, but I saw a golf bag/clubs cake as well as a stacked antique books cake. The chef also showed sketches clients had faxed or mailed him (very specific detailed stuff) that they used to make their clients' cakes. If you're going for your anniversary- you might see if they can make you the top tier of your wedding/bridal cake and surprise Tracey with a fish or boat cake. Of course- that's a lot of cake, but it could be fun if it's in the budget and deemed worth it. Not sure if this helps or not, but it was a nice distraction for me as I spent my day off steam mopping the floor. Yay me! :lol:

***Ooops- forgot...one of the cakes they were profiling had like 7 different flavors/fillings. Not sure what those flavors and fillings were, but it's a good sign they can work well beyond the norm if asked.