Big Fruit cake help (2 Viewers)

[Bakermummy1108]

I have stupidly agreed to make my aunties wedding cake. And now have to make a 12inch fruit cake.
How do I amend the recipe/temp/baking time to make it?!

 

[Angie]

Hi, Bakermummy1108.

With some recipes, you can just double up, and some recipes have tiered guides that will tell you the exact ingredients to use for the size cake you are looking for. However, if you don't have an exact recipe, then you'll be down to trial and error.

For a fruitcake, I would advise you find a tried and tested 12-inch recipe just for the number of ingredients that you are going to need and the price it will cost you to make it. (Unless you are happy to experiment with one of your favourite recipes of course).

Fruit Cake Recipe and Guide

This fruit cake recipe will make 3 small thin 6 inch cakes, a large deep 8-9 inch cake, or two 2-litre domed cakes with leftovers for half a litre domed cake. The 6-inch cakes take between 1-2 hours to bake, the 8-inch takes around 3 hours to bake, and the 2-litre domed ones take over 2 hours...

www.helpmebake.com

No matter what you do though always do a trial run before the big day that way, you can iron out any kinks before the actual event.

So now to the help:-

• The shape of the cake

It makes a difference depending on what the shape of the cake is as to how much ingredients you will need. Square cakes need approx 20-25% more ingredients than round ones do.

• Size of cake

For such a large cake you will need to bake it on a lower temperature anywhere from 130 - 150°C depending on if you have a fan assisted or conventional oven or, bake it on a very low gas mark.

• Length of bake

I would definitely advise using a water tray to add moisture to your cake and line it.

How to use a water tray when baking.

If you are baking a cake for a long time such as fruit cake and wish to add extra moisture then simply add a tray of water to the bottom of your oven and your cake will absorb extra steam whilst baking. Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Hints, Tips and Tools Recipes and Guides Tutorials

www.helpmebake.com

• The depth of your cake

Depending on the depth of your cake, whether it be 2 inch/3 inch/4 inches deep will also affect the bake time. The deeper the cake, the longer the bake time.

• Portion Size/ Cake Size

If you need to make a 12-inch cake for the number of guests, would it not be worth doing a tiered cake using smaller tiers which will effectively take you less time to do?

• Time

An 8-inch x 3-inch fruit cake takes me three and a half hours to bake, so you are looking at anywhere between 5-8 hours for the complete baking time on a large deep 12-inch cake tier. (Beware though because even though sometimes they look done they can be undercooked in the middle).

I don't want to overload you with tons of info but hope this gives you an idea of all the things you'll need to think about.

If you need anything else, then please let me know.

Angie