Number Cakes - One, Two or Twelve 1,2 or 12.

If you've been following my blog by now you probably already know how I feel about buying special pans.
So here again I'm doing a cake that does not rely on a special pan.

Now I'm making a number 12 cake but you could use the same techniques for almost all the numbers.

I baked two sheet cakes, and one single 10" round cake because I'm making two numbers.
If you were making a Number ONE you would need just a one sheet Cake.
If you were making a Number Two you would need a round cake and a square cake.

So lets begin.
Here are my cakes. Two single layer sheet cakes and One 10x3" high round cake.

First layer, tort and fill your cakes as needed.
Here, I cut my sheet cake into 3 lengthways, stacked two layers together.
This is the first sheet cake. Layered in Jam and buttercream. Go ahead and crumb coat it too.This will make my Number One cake.

This is my second sheet cake.  And this will make the base of both the my Number One and Two cakes.

Here you can see I have again cut the sheet cake in three layers lengthways and then stacked two together which will be the base for my number One. The third layer I have cut in half and stacked together that will be used for the base of  number Two

Now lets work with the Number Two First. That's how I started.
You can use a large cookie cutter for a guide, I'm using a round bowl to cut out the center of  the number 2.

Once you cut it out this is what you should have.

Now go ahead an crumb coat it inside out. Then cut out a triangle from the circle.... see below.. make sure you have a nice neat cut.

Now take this piece of triangle

Flip it around and place it like so.....

Now Remember the second sheet cake that was meant for the base of your cakes. Use the smaller one for the base of number two.

Use your spare from sheet one if you need to ensure your base and the side of number two are equal.

Next Roll out your fondant.

Now you can cover your cake in strips or as a whole. By strips I mean that you could roll a long strip of fondant and cover only the top and then another long strip of fondant and cover the sides.
For me its just easier to cover the whole as one cake... but it could be a bit tricky specially in the curves and corners, so if you are not use to fondant as I am; you might like to do it in smaller parts.
If you decide to do as me..
Here I am rolling a large sheet. My cake is really large so I need a big piece of fondant.

Place it on the your cake. Working quickly but gently ease the fondant in all the curves first. Then start shaping it to the cake.

It is important that you stretch the fondant into the curves slowly or it will tear.

As you can see I have managed to get a nice smooth cake without any tear.

Next start working on Number One.
Remember this sheet cake picture from above.. This is the first sheet cake. 

Now a cut a small rectangle from the side piece and shape it to form the top of your number one.

Remember the second sheet cake that is suppose to be use for the base of the numbers. Use the larger piece for the Number one.

And this is what you should have....

Roll fondant as before and cover the number one..

Now start decorating your Numbers as per your design.
This was made a Bat Mitzvah and the young lady wanted a Large number 12 in bright violet with white stars all over and snow flakes around. so here is what I did.
A white border in white... I used my gum paste extruder for this

A rope border in violet and white... my gum paste extruder again.

White stars in various sizes on the sides and mini stars light purple on the top. And of course the whole board is covered in snowflakes. and icing sugar to simulate snow..

And the girls name is English and Hebrew at the base.

And there is my finished cake..

I hope this post helped you. Please feel free to comment.
Until next time, Happy cake decorating.
Veena

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Veena Azmanov
Veena's Art of Cakes
Unforgettable Cakes for memorable occasions
Website - www.veenaartofcakes.com
Blog - http://veenaartofcakes.blogspot.com/
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