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NUMBER AND LETTER CAKES

Thinking of new decorating ideas for birthday cakes year after year can be quite difficult. Creating number and letter shapes out of round or square cakes is very simple to do. The recipient will always appreciate the finished cake because it is very personal to them.

Numbers

The easiest way to bake a cake in the shape of a number is to buy a cake pan in the shape of the required number (Fig. a). To work out how much cake mixture you will need, use the tip given here for calculating the amount required to fill an unusually shaped pan.

Grease the sides of the pan and line it with a strip of waxed paper. If the pan has a base, trace around the pan itself and cut out a piece to lay on the base of the pan. Stand the pan on a baking sheet while cooking so the heat is evenly distributed along the base of the cake.

If you cannot obtain a number shaped pan, you can cut numbers out of square and round cakes instead (Fig. b). On here you will find a guide to show you how you can cut any number out of round and square cakes.

A simple option is to decorate the cake with candy arranged in a number on the top.

One way to deal with “holes” in letters or numbers is to ignore them and to place a toy figure or candles in the spot where a “hole” would normally be.

Guide to cutting numbers out of square and round cakes.

Decorating number-shaped cakes with buttercream frosting

The easiest way to decorate an irregularly shaped cake is to cover it with buttercream frosting.

1. Slice the cake into layers as you would a round or square cake.

2. Reassemble it, filling the layers with frosting. Place on a cake board.

3. Spread frosting around the sides and top (Fig. a) and decorate with candies or other decorations of your choice.

Numbers with holes

To decorate a cake in the shape of a number with a hole in it, such as a six, you will need to use a slightly different method.

1. Cut the cake into the desired shape and then slice into layers.

2. Cut a hole out of the top layer only.

3. Spread a little black buttercream frosting in the center of the next layer. Don’t go right to the edge or the black frosting will “leak” out of the sides when you reassemble the cake.

4. Spread your chosen color of frosting around the outside of the black frosting on the lower layer and around the outside of the hole in the top layer (Fig. b).

5. Reassemble the cake and spread frosting around the sides and top of the cake. Pipe frosting or arrange candies around the edges of the cake.

Decorating with fondant

Simple rounded or straight numbers like 0 or 1 can normally be covered all at one time. Numbers with a lot of curved edges and corners like a 3 will take more time.

1. Slice and fill the cake with buttercream frosting and place it in position on the cake board. Spread a thin coating of frosting around the outside of the cake. This will ensure that the fondant sticks to the cake.

2. Roll out the fondant. Using the baking pan as a template, cut out an outline of the number and place it on top of the cake. Paint a light line of water around the cut edge of the fondant topping.

3. Roll out some more fondant and cut out a long, thin strip. The width of the strip should be the same measurement as the height of the cake, including the fondant topping.

4. Roll up the strip like a loose bandage and unroll it around the sides of the cake (Fig. c). To hide the joins, either pipe or crimp along the top edge of the cake (see here).

“T” is a very simple shape to cut out of a square cake.

Letters

The same decorating techniques that were used for covering numbers can also be used to decorate letter-shaped cakes. If you are unable to find a cake pan with your desired letter, you can create your own out of round or square cakes. You can use any leftover pieces of cake to make delicious truffles (see here).

Guide for cutting letters out of square and round cakes