An Experiment – Baby Shower Cake

Being an experimentalist, I dare to do any of kind of experiments in whatever field it may concern. For physics research experiment, initially we get into concept, background, expertise advice and training after which, we are left alone to crack, break, fiddle own brains and not the instruments. Then gradually we master the instrument and technique.

With the thought of doing a baby shower party, did a detailed research. Mostly cupcakes trees or giant cupcake were made for these kind of parties. Creative and dreamy part of my brain rejuvenated, ordered the giant mold. Crazy me in my fantasy world went on and on imagining only about cake icing. I knew what I want use, yes fondant! Was excited, watched couple of videos did all the shopping step by step. Brought, white pink fondant, blue and pink food color, pink paper flowers, blue ribbons and mold to make fondant flowers. Since Somjai didn’t know it was baby girl or boy I had to keep blue and pink. Honestly I gave more important to pink, as I wanted her to have baby girl. Reason is very simple, Somjai is Thai and Tero is Finnish and combination of Asian and Europe is awesome and sorry but Hybrid babies are super cute specially girls.

Next on the shopping list was cupcake sprinkles, brought white, pink sugar pearls, pink sparkles and pink, white sugar heart, where is blue brr I forgot :P. Then chose angel to top the cake as kind of blessing for mum and baby, you know to be on the safe side? since didn’t want to loose the kind of challenge. Then randomly picked polka, plain white, blue and pink satin ribbons.

Crap! can you guess what I have missed in my preparation? The cake itself, ok I knew what cake I wanted to make, sour cream raspberry and macadamia cake but how about baking the giant cake is there something I should follow? Did crazy hunt after, but couldn’t find one decent recipe specially the temperature and procedure. Finally after intensive literature survey, scribbled scraps and came up with an estimation, was confident to give it a go.

Started baking on the day before the party, first batch cake batter looked fine, started with lower part of the cake, into the oven. 45 minutes not done, 1 hour not done, 1:20 min not done. Horrified, alarmed and funked! 1 hour 40 mins cake was finally done. I could feel oxygen going thro’ my lungs. Quickly made the 2nd batch, slipped into the oven. After 10 mins gave brief check thro’ the glass. My heart failed, the silicone mold filliped, half of the batter was out. It was 12.00 AM already. Had tears in my eyes. Without losing hope, made simple vanilla cake batter was careful in placing into the oven and another 1:40 mins cake was done! sigh! 2:00 AM. Next was mini cupcake, wanted to complete before sleep it was easy. You know room temperature cakes are better for icing! 4:00 AM I was done. Went to sleep, can’t remember if my brain rested. 7 AM was up again. Now you know how adamant I’m. Until unless I get thing completely perfectly done never I can rest, may be the reason why I’m into research.My mum is not very happy with this particular character of mine :p

Early(Saturday 7 am is extremely early for me!) morning started with fondant, made flowers, painted and left them to dry.  I looked at the cake, the shape looked fine, kind of felt cake was hard while leveling. Didn’t take it to mind, started fondant layering, bottom was white and top was pink. Then arranged the flower followed by decorating with ribbons and flowers. Next was icing the cupcakes, my hands were dead by then, still manged to squeeze the cream, got the most funny shapes ever, efficiently covered it with glitters. Oh forgot to mention before, same day was my best friend Shanthi’s surprise b’day party late in the evening. Rum fruit cake was baked for the party, Oh yes I’m super crazy 😀

Midori was staying with me previous day and I borrowed her hand for some help. We all landed for the surprise baby shower party.  Wooo and ahhh from many of beholder my tiredness started to fly. Somjai was surprised and very happy. Her godmother is a catering teacher she initially thought the cake was made by her godmother, felt like a complement.

RESULT: Time to cut the cake, first thing Somjai asked was why is it so hard Ananda? I could see pregnant women giving maximum force :O, yes the cake crust was hard. Upper vanilla cake was dry and bottom  so called raspberry cake was “Strange” it was something like over cooked pudding. All my friends ate the cake piece, How sweet! Cupcakes were just fine. I was feeling like a real crap, Godmother and Marjut said the intention and the message for the day was more important and it showed. So over all cake baking was BAD. It got thumbs up for decorating and the way it looked.  Total preparation time was 18 hours, the longest cake baking session I ever had.

Shanthi B’day cake was good, no problem with that. Can you imagine what I wrote in Shanth’s b’day card happy “D’bay” We laughed endlessly about it. Next day after Midori left, I crashed onto the pillow, wok up only on Monday morning! I wrote to Sarah from whom I brought the mould she gave tips of baking process, felt I should have done that before, but all experience counts. This is one cake and one night in my life I wouldn’t forget.

All set and done, I won! Very beautiful, and super cute baby girl was born about 10 days before. I can’t express how I felt when I saw baby for the first time, she smiled while she was sleeping me sitting besides her. She crawled when I touched with my super cold fingers, she slept in my arms. The first time I held my sister’s baby I cried as she is the most precious gift in our lives the same I felt with Somjai’s baby. I am visiting Somjai so very often these day venting my stress, being with her baby and her mom feeding me, feels like being at home. How blessed I’m to have few friends who become a family. My guess for baby girl was right, though many other friends said it was boy, I have bloody good insight :)) Very Happy!!

PS: My picture quality is not at its best, my tired hand led to many frizzy pictures!
Will write more on the technical details of baking when I get a chance to bake the cake again don’t be surprised if it comes after couple of years..

62 comments

  1. Choclette says:

    Super crazy you may be but also super lovely. It’s a fantastic cake – the beautiful decorating and the hours of love that went into it would have made it taste perfect I’m sure.

  2. An Open Book says:

    that was a really interesting read ananda…what matters is you gave your full heart and soul into it and it paid…i think they all look absolutely gorgeous…
    waiting for the bday cake recipe :)
    good job///once again :)

  3. Biny Anoop says:

    OMG.wats dat …i feel like being in a cake shop…..how do u do it Ananda…ur recipes and photography is fab…love it…i know i must have told it many times but i just cant help it…..
    i was staring at the pics till now…haven’t read the recipe yet….am gona do it….i wud like to make it as well but donno if i have that kind of art in me….
    Biny

  4. sinfullyspicy says:

    That looks sooo much hardwork.I am so glad to tell u that u got talent n patience girl..it is such a sweet and beautiful attempt to showcase your love for the babycoming!
    Loved every bit of it :)

  5. Deeba PAB says:

    You had me hanging onto every word Ananda…what an experience. I hear you because I’ve been there before. Whatever…the cake looks gorgeous, and you had fun, most of the time at least!

  6. Nithya says:

    Lovely lovely lovely cake.. Looks so pretty and attractive. A perfect girly girly feel it gives :) Its sheer guts to bake such a huge cake all alone. Hats off to you. You really have the aesthetics to decorate it so well. Love it totally :)

    Convey my wishes to your friend Somjai for giving birth to a little angel :)

    She is lucky to have a friend like you :)

  7. Tamanna says:

    ananda! if you’re trying to drive my crazy with all these mouth watering cake captures, then you’ve done it! congrats! i am impressed by your artistic talent and double impressed by your hard work behind it, you woke up at 7 am to finish your icing…hmmmm serious baker! =D

  8. Kulsum@JourneyKitchen says:

    When I saw the cake, I exclaimed “WOW”. Such a sweet thing to do for a friend Ananda, now I wish u lived nearer :) Loved reading about your experience, and what matters is you gave it your heart and then your friend’s ate it! That’s what we food blogger’s do cook, experiment, eat and recreate !

  9. EliFla says:

    Ananda….this cake, these cupcakes are BEAUTIFUL…..in my opinion these are not experiments…they’re a big SUCCESS, bravissima…. XOXOXOXXO

  10. C&G says:

    That’s beautiful. I’m so happy you posted a new recipe, I always look forward to see your beautiful and inspiring photos!

  11. Devaki says:

    YOU ARE AAHMAZING ~ Ananda! I can’t decide what impresses me more – the sheer hard work that went into this or the stunnng results of your astounding efforts!

    You did a beautiful thing :)

    Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors

  12. Couscous & Consciousness says:

    Oh Ananda, your cake and cupcakes all look so beautiful, and I have no doubt that anything made with such love could not have tasted too bad. Your photos are gorgeous too :-) You will make a wonderful godmother.
    Sue

  13. Shanthi says:

    One fine day in this life, I will definitely make my kids eat a “cake” made with your hands and with your love! It would be so hard to find this combination elsewhere dear!

  14. Jescel says:

    what a beautiful outcome. nevermind how the cake turned out but it’s your thought and effort that counts. what a blessing you are as a friend to do all that hardwork! … and hey, you had fun while doin it, right, so that’s what matters the most :o)

  15. Sujitha says:

    Beautiful pics….not frizzy as you mentioned…I luv to read your bolgs Sagari ka…After reading, i always feel as if i was there in the sight near you :)…Keep up the momentm gng :D…n extend my greetings to Somjai for the little angle :) God bless the little fun…Wish you have more and more fun filled moments in the cmng days…gud lucj :D:D:D

  16. Apu says:

    Ananda!! Your creativity is astounding!! Just love what you have done here and your efforts more than make up for any mishaps. Don’t wait to get baking – any folds will iron themselves along the way.

  17. ♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ says:

    THat was totally sweet, a pretty post with cutest thoughts!!
    Can imagine holding the precious baby!!
    And u sure put in ur heart with all ur love in this cake making project !!
    They are all so pretty and nobody wud tell all that u went thru in ur kitchen:-)

  18. Wendy@The Omnivorous Bear says:

    Oh poor Ananda… all those hours of work… have a hug from me. Still, the cupcakes were perfect and the decoration was divine. When you next try the cake I’m certain it will be perfect. You are so clever you will get it right… oh and the pictures are GORGEOUS!

  19. Ananda Rajashekar says:

    Priya, Kairali sisters, Shalini, simply.food, Torviewtoronto, swapna, Sharmilee, Angie, Dimah, Nandini, Prathima Rao, Treat and Trick, Smitha, aipi, Smitha, vegetarianirvana, Sandhya Hariharan, Ushnish Ghosh, NIDHYA, Indie.Tea, Padhu, Akila, Sarah Naveen, Rachana, Santosh Bangar, Gulmohar, Nicisme, Sanchita Karmakar, indianspicemagic, Gracias All you wonderful people :)

    Choclette Like the poetic way you write :)

    An Open Book, Thanks Nisha, yes will be doing it shortly for Christmas will post it then :)

    Biny Anoop, awee thanks u hon…trust me give it a try, u never know what is hidden in you :)

    sinfullyspicy, Yes Tanvi, all I did was for the baby Darling :)

    Cool Lassi, yes it was pain, but it did vanish pretty soon seeing baby twinkle eyes :)

    Deeba PAB, am happy that many of you daring bakers have been in this stage, makes me feel happy that i could accomplish these tough cakes one day :)

    Nithya, yes it was the dare devil guts that made me to do this, haha the whole point was to give it a gily looks thank a ton :) Thanks for wishes awee i’m flying 😀

    Tamanna ha ha I’m crazy did i tell you that, so it very easy for me drive people crazy lol thank u thank u

    The Julie/Julia thanks for the regards did that :)

    Kulsum, i wish the same hon so we could exchange all those goodies, yes i piped my heart out thank u v.much :)

    Sanjeeta kk Let me know when it is may be i will give a flying visit with cakes :)

    EliFla yes success of my love for baking Thank you :)

    C&G , how sweet is that, i can’t tell you how much you all inspire me do new things, thank u very much sorry that i don’t post so often will try to speed up soon :)

    Vinoo, ha ha i know i know…or u know that better 😛

    Devaki awee thanks a lot, u words means a lot to me :)

    Hema, sure da will soon post the fruit cake recipe thanks for stopping by :)

    Couscous & Consciousness, how sweet is that, i know i can be good god Mother, to pamper and spoil the kid completely 😉

    Shanthi, My my shanthi that is one of the best compliment i have received so far, will love feed ur little ones waiting for that day :)

    Jescel, yes i will remember the fun part for ever in my life thanks a lot for ur kind words :)

    Sujitha, thank you so much darling for ur comment means a lot to me, sure will do that :)

    Cucina di Barbara Thank you! Thanks for stopping by its wonder to connect with you too :)

    Apu, how sweet, actully i have give a pause may be i should get it going thanks for the encouraging words :)

    ♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ awee thank you very much :)

    Wendy@The Omnivorous Bear Thanks for ur hugs they always make me feel good, love that, Wendy i really wish my boss calls me clever, brrr. am pretty sure will be more careful when i try next time, i promise for success next time 😀

    M D So what did the baking bug make u to do? :)

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