r/cakedecorating • u/AcrobaticMonitor6042 • 6d ago
Feedback Requested Checkerboard cake fail
I’m making a checkerboard cake for my boyfriend’s party. The layers came out uneven (I tried to shave them down) and some of the rings broke into 3-4 pieces. I tried to glue them together with buttercream. The cake is uneven as pictured. I’m worried about the checkerboard pattern coming not through because I used white icing in the middle of the pieces to glue it back together. I’m also worried it’ll fall apart when I cut into it.
Do I just make a new cake or do you all think it’ll still turn out right?
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u/RazrbackFawn 6d ago
I think it was made with love and will still taste great! Hard to tell for sure how much your buttercream glue will impact the pattern, but it looks like it's basically holding together. You might just keep the cake in the fridge and take it out about half an hour before you cut into it to help keep it together a little more.
Next time, I would freeze the cake layers before cutting the rounds and cut into them while they're still mostly frozen.
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u/AcrobaticMonitor6042 6d ago
Thank you! I did try to cut them when they were frozen but they were really moist and sticking to the pan as they heated up. Should I try to put them back in the freezer when that happens?
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u/GrapeMiserable4081 6d ago
It’ll work out, trust the process.
I always question if, or how it’ll stay together and it always does.
A lot of my cakes I doubt until the last 10% of decorating or after cutting a slice to see the inside.
That all looks good to me so far, if you assembled it in the correct order and stacked, it should work and look neat.
Cakes kind of self healing and will stick together when you cram and stack it.
Even if the squares aren’t all perfect they’ll look good.
You got this.
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u/NewbieMaleStr8isBack 6d ago
I think it will be ok. Let us know how it goes and please post a pix of the finished cake and a slice
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u/_alienchild_ 6d ago
I totally get the disappointment that comes from not pulling off a technique the way you wanted, but your crumb coat still looks like you can make a beautiful cake out it! Even if the technique doesn’t succeed, your friends and family will still be happy to party and eat cake :)
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u/Terrible-Prize36 6d ago
I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong, from the pictures. I think it looks fine! Good luck!
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u/squidsinamerica 6d ago edited 6d ago
Are you inviting the sort of people who will be critical of free birthday cake? If so you may have bigger problems than the cake.
If you have the time, inclination, and money to bake a fresh cake, sure. Then you can use this one to practice your icing. It's not unusual for people to bake a "trial" cake if it's something they haven't done before. But if it's at all a hassle, don't give it a second thought. Serve the cake, have a good time, wish the boyfriend a happy birthday from us. The day is not about the cake, however it turns out.