Shindigz has been around since 1926 would you believe! It has an amazing supply of graduation themed paper plates, cups, napkins, tablecloths, graduation table center pieces, graduation favors etc. etc. etc. You name it, it has it! Not only that, the prices are amazing. So save yourself some surfing time and check this wonderful party site out now.
Graduation Cake Decorations
Plus, there are lots of other graduation cake decorating ideas like using edible pens, plastic graduation toppers, edible photos, colored fondant cut outs using a graduation cap cookie cutter, candy confettii, food color spray etc.
Best Graduation Cake Supply Stores!
have a great array of cake supplies that you can just buy without the hassle of bidding. Their cake pans are fantastic value - why bother buying new when you'll probably only use it once.
Graduation cake pans will help make your cake look really unique and really fit the occaision. You could also use it to make a jelly. Help it to slip out easily by just dipping the pan in boiling water for a few seconds.
Can I Freeze My Graduation Cake?
You can freeze your cake. It should last up to three months in the freezer. To freeze the cake simply wrap it in a few layers of cling film or seal in a freezer bag. Cakes sometimes become a little soggy if allowed to defrost too quickly so for best results, leave it in its wrapping and allow it to defrost overnight in the fridge. The next day, remove from the fridge and take out of the wrapping to let it come up to room temperature for an hour or so before decorating it.
There are a few cake storage tips you need to consider in order to keep your cake fresh for as long as possible:
- Store the graduation cake in a covered box or container out of direct sunlight as the sunlight will alter icing colours.
- Heat and humidity can soften the buttercream and icing used so keep your decorated cake as cool as possible, and in a box or container if possible.
- Try not to use tinfoil or cling film to cover a decorated cake as this can sometimes stick to icing and damage any decorations you may have used.
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How Do I Know When My Cake is Cooked?
To check your cake is completely cooked, insert a very thin knife into the centre of the cake for a couple of seconds and then remove. If the knife comes out wet and sticky then the cake needs a few more minutes. If the blade comes out clean, then your graduation cake is ready.
Graduation Quotes
Perhaps you could write a short graduation quote on your cake using an edible pen. How about the following:
The tassel's worth the hasstle!
You are hard wired for genius.
There are no barriers in life, only challenges.
Success is a journey, not a destination.
The sky's the limit when your heart is in it.
Climb as high as you can dream.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
"All that stands between the graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder."
Graduation Poems
Graduation Poems are great for slipping into graduation speeches and also for putting inside your homemade graduation invitations. Here is just one of them:
'Hail to the graduate! Looking great and feeling fit! Oh, so proud and full of it! This day belongs to you.'
Cake pans don’t just come in round, square or rectangular shapes. So, if you want to make a cake with a difference then read on to discover the different shaped pans that would be ideal for a graduation cake.
Best Graduation Cake Pans
The ones that spring to mind that are most appropriate for a graduation are:
• Horseshoe • Graduation cap • Book pan • Star • Smiley Graduation cake pan • Owl Cake pan.
• There is a brilliant selection of graduation cake pans on ebay • Unlike some goods, cake pans are a no brainer, you know exactly what you are getting and that it will work • You'll probably only use it once so why pay full price • The prices on ebay for used cake pans are ridiculously low.
Yet another great idea - once you are finished using your graduation cake pans put them up for sale again on ebay and get your money back.
Pictures of Fabulous Cakes Using Shaped Graduation Cake Pans
Graduate Pan
Horseshoe Graduation Cake Pan
Book Graduation Cake Pan
Cap Graduation Cake Pan
Stand-up Cuddly Bear Cake Pan
Cap Graduation Cake Pan
Star Cake Pan
Smiley Graduation Cake Pan
Smiley Graduation Cake Pan
Ebay Cake Pans
Have a look at the selection of cake pans currently available on Ebay.
Tips on Using Your Graduation Cake Pans
It is imperative that your prepare your cake pans correctly if you want to ensure that the cake will come out easily without sticking. If you carry out the following steps then I am sure everything will be fine:
Grease the pan using a pastry brush and solid vegetable shortening or even vegetable oil spray ensuring All indentations are covered. DO NOT USE margarine, butter liquid vegetable oil.
Sprinkle about 3 tablespoons of flour around the inside of the pan and shake to ensure it covers the entire surface.
Pour the cake mixture into the pan and either give it a gentle shake to spread the mixture around or use a spatula making sure not to touch the inside of the cake pan. NB. Make sure you only fill the cake pan half-way.
Bake the cake in the middle of the oven according to the recipe instructions.
Remove from oven and let it cool for 10 minutes while still in the cake pan.
While the cake is still in the cake pan slice the raised portion in the centre of the cake so that it will sit flat when turned out.
Now place the cooling cake rack on the bottom of the cake pan and turn the rack and cake pan over at the same time. Now carefully remove the cake pan.
Let the cake cook for at least another hour before attempting to decorate. Give it a gentle brush with a pastry brush to remove crumbs.
In order to transfer cake to serving board – hold a tray against the cake and turn the cake and try over. Make sure you hold cake rack and tray close together to prevent cracking. Repeat this again with the board this time.
Other Uses For Your Graduation Cake Pans
You could also add jello to the pan and outline it with icing like this lovely example below
Here are some jello making tips and ideas if you fancy trying this:
Always use fresh juice. For example, a strawberry or apple juice, heated with softened gelatin leaves makes delicious jello.
Releasing the set jello from its mould is the tricky bit. Dip the mould into hot water - a gew seconds for metal moulds and up to 30 seconds for ceramic moulds. The film at the edge metls, loosening it so it comes out easily.
Wet your plate so the jello can slide into position. Otherwise is sticks and is ruined.
Elaborately tall jellies need disproportiontionately more gelatin to help them stand up.
Jelly become structurally stronger the longer it is in the fridge.
Try tonic water for glow-in-the-dark creations.
Or, you could replacing half the water with carnation milk to make a fluffy or milky jello.
Now for a jello recipe - Raspberry or Strawberry Jelly - serves 4
Ingredients:
400g raspberries (or strawberries)
6 leaves gelatin (or as directed by packet)
2 tbps caster sugar.
Method:
Place your raspberries or strawberries and sugar in a heat proof bowl and put some cling film over the top.
Rest over a bowl of gently simmering water for half an hour.
Once the juice has appeared let it drip through a jelly bag or a colander lined with a clean tea towel. Ideally let it drip overnight - if you don't you can encourage it with a few strokes of the spoon.
When you have obtained your juice add cold water until you have 500ml of liquid.
Now cut up the leaf gelatin (use up to double the amount the packet suggests as you are going to un-mould it) into a few pieces and place in a heat proof bowl with a dash of the raspberry liquor.
After 10 minutes melt the gelatin over simmering water and mix thoroughly with the remaining juice.
Now using a sieve pour the jello into your mould. Now wait until it sets - could take a day.
And lastly a Mixed Fruit Jello Recipe - serves 5 to 10
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons clear honey
225g dried apricots
1 tablespoon powdered gelatine
4 tablespoons boiling water
300ml unsweetened orange juice.
Method:
Place the apricots in a saucepan and add the orange juice.
Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
Stir in the lemon juice and add the honey.
Pour the mixture into a measuring jug and make up to 1 pt with cold water.
Dissolve the gelatine in the boiling water and stir into the apricot mixture.
Pour the mixture into a mould and leave in the refrigerator to set.
Graduation Cake Pans Size Conversion
If you have unusual graduation cake pans sizes and would like to figure out its capacity, measure the amount of water it takes to fill the pan.
Compare that measurement to the volumes in our chart (or the cake pan size listed in your recipe) to determine how much batter you'll need.
So using the chart below, you can then work out if you’ll have to double or even triple the recipe i.e. Lets say your shaped cake pan holds 6 cups of water. If you are using a recipe for 1 x 8inch round cake pan you have to multiply the ingredients by 1.5.
Few Tips:
To ensure a cake rises evenly, you should only fill your pans to the half-way mark.
If you alter the amount of mixture then the baking time will be altered too so you need to keep a close eye on the cake. Stick a sharp knife into the middle of it for a couple of seconds and if it comes out clean then it is ready.
Better to make too much than too little mixture - anything left over can be used for making some cupcakes.
Makes Cake Volume
Recipe Calls For
4 cups
6 cups
11 cups
12 cups
16 cups
12 cups
6 cups
15 cups
15 cups
8 cups
6 cups
10 cups
12 cups
8 cups
8 cups
(8-inch) round cake pan
(9-inch) round cake pan
(10-inch) round cake pan
9-inch tube pan
10-inch tube pan
10-inch Bundt pan
11 x 7 x 2-inch baking dish
9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish
10 x 15 x 1-inch jellyroll pan
9 x 5-inch loaf pan
8 x 4-inch loaf pan
9-inch springform pan
10-inch springform pan
8-inch square baking dish
9-inch square baking dish
I hope you get the best out of your graduation cake pans. Graduation cake pans certainly do make a difference.
