I get a lot of clients/prospective clients that call for a "topsy turvy cake". I start to quote them, only for them to follow up with a phrase such as "You know, like from Alice in Wonderland?"...okay...hold on people. It's time for the ultimate clarification! I think Food Network Challenges (though I love em) have started to confuse the American people on whats what when it comes to cake terminology. So let me break it down for ya:
Topsy Turvy!
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| "Ashley" March 2010 |
A Little About Em
This cake in fact is nothing like a mad hatter cake. Each tier is separated by foam blocks, boards, flowers, etc and lifted at an angle. Yes, cake is literally LIFTED to angles. This is one of the most difficult cake designs out there. Not many decorators can pull it off, nor have the stones to try. Why? Because even if you are an 1/8 of an inch off in measurements your cake can come tumbling down like an old brick building in those action movies (ya know...where the tiny puny car runs through the walls like it's not big deal?). These cakes require countless measurements, stable cake structure, a good buttercream recipe, heck of a lot of fondant skills, and a lot of knowledge of physics. They are, however, some of the coolest cakes to ever be made. I have made several of these in the past. My most famous is the "Ashley" cake. It's been at the Davis County Bridal Showcase and the Utah Bridal Expo at South Towne. It's five tiers and filled with flowers. Today, as a matter of fact, I'm doing a three-tier rendition of the same cake. Next week, doing it again.
How Much Do They Cost?
Depending on the size of the tiers, height, etc the pricing is hard to say. Mine start at $250.00 and the famous "Ashley" cake is $750.00. Most people think thats an outrageous amount. However if you knew the skill, time, etc that went into these (and the sheer matter of fact that you yourself couldn't make it...no offense, just pointing out that no Average Joe can pull it off), you would be more than willing to pay for this work of art. That's what they are. They defy gravity, showcase unbelievable skill, and are edible. Hell, who would want to pay less than $1,000 for it?! Imagine having that at your wedding!? Trust me, it will be noted and you will have the cake everyone talks about.
Are They Stable?
Iffy question here. Yes and no. Have I had them fall over?...YES. Why? Because the photographer felt he should move the table with a cake such as that on it. They are not built to be moved after assembly. Yes, on Food Network Challenge they move them a whopping three feet to a table. Bravo...that's TV, not reality. They are assembled on-site and most definitely NOT MOVED afterwards. I do not make my cakes impossible for the guest to take apart and cut. The ones on Food Network are practically a pain in the @$$ to pull apart, let alone cut up. Reality folks.
The Mad Hatter Cake!
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| Mad Hatter Cake |
Here is where we think of "Alice in Wonderland". The mad hatter is a tiered cake, stacked right on top of one another, and carved in funky shapes. They can be round, square, a mixture of both. Each tier is angled on the sides and top in a "mad" design. They are typically covered in fondant with designs that range anywhere from flowers, to pinstripes, to dots, etc. It's endless with these cakes. They are supposed to look "mad".
How much do these cost?
Not as much as topsy turvy, but they still are not cheap. These still require a lot of skill. They are hard to carve and the Average Susie Homemaker Baker tends to experience what we in the business refer to as "sinkage" when they attempt these. They require supports, stable cake recipe, and good fondant skills. These types of cakes, i'm sorry to say, CANNOT and SHOULD NOT be made with any cake mix. No cake should really, but these especially. You need a sturdy cake (such as pound cake) that will still taste great, but not fall over. My average cost for a two-tier mad hatter starts at about $85.00. These aren't easy. Unfortunately, everyone loves these types of cakes, but are not willing to pay for them. Of course after they attempt to do it themselves, they realize just WHY people charge this much to make them. They take TONS of time and effort and honestly, creativity.
...and there ya have it. The difference. I will post photos of the Topsy Turvy cake I'm doing later today. It is named "Danny", after the bride (as all of my wedding cakes are). This one is bright and very summery. Perfect for the season.
Now, go forth with the cake knowledge you have been given today. Order away that Mad Hatter or Topsy Turvy cake, shock the baker/cake maker with your terminology.
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