#ShapeTinsTips

Shape Tins help you make cool kids' cakes easily, but you do still have to do the basic cake-baking steps yourself. #shapetinstips is where you'll find all the tips you need to help you to do this in the easiest, most hassle-free way.

Tip 1: Use packet mixes


We recommend you use packet mixes when you are baking Shape Tins cakes.

Why?

  • They are readily available (tick)
  • You can buy them in advance and make them quickly (tick)
  • They have a nice, plain taste that kids love (tick)
  • Most importantly, they create cakes that are nicely firm and therefore easy to stack and decorate
Trust us, your grandma's secret butter cake recipe is probably delicious, light and moist - but probably too fragile to hold it's shape for long.

Tip 2: 1 packet mix = 650 grams of cake batter


For all of our recipes, when we talk about 1 packet mix, we mean 650 grams of cake batter. This is a standard sized packet mix using 50 gram eggs (large eggs, or where a dozen eggs is 600 grams). If your recipe makes more batter than 650 grams or you think it looks like there is a bit much in the tin, remove a healthy sized wallop and let the kids 'lick the spoon' (that's one of the best bits anyway!). Make sure you always leave about 1/4 of the tins empty to allow the cake space to rise.

Tip 3: How to grease your Shape Tins so your cake will never get stuck


Greasing Shape Tins properly is important to avoid your cake getting stuck the tin. We suggest a simple, foolproof method for making sure your tin is greased properly. 

Firstly, rub butter all over the inside of your Shape Tin so it is covered in a thin layer of butter. Then, sprinkle a tablespoon of flour into the inside of your tin and shake it around the tin so a light layer of flour covers the buttered sides. Finally, put the Shape Tin you are using on top of a piece of baking paper and trace around the bottom of the tin. Cut the shape out and place it inside the bottom of the tin, so the bottom of the tin is lined with baking paper. Now you are good to go ahead and bake your cake.

Tip 4: Temperature for baking


Most packet mixes suggest baking in a 160 degree fan-forced oven or a 180 degree oven without fan, and we suggest the same. However, Shape Tins will be fine at any temperature so use the temperature recommended in the recipe of your choice.

Tip 5: How can I tell when my cake is cooked?


All of our cake designs say how much cake batter to put in each tin and how long to cook the cakes for. However, not all ovens are the same. To test whether your cake is cooked, take it out of the oven and insert a metal skewer into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. If it comes out with some cake batter on it, the cake needs to go back into the oven for a further 5 minutes before testing again.

As a general rule, it is better to overcook a kids' birthday cake than undercook it. Why? Undercooked cakes will sink in the middle, which makes decorating more difficult, whereas overcooked cakes will maintain their shape well but just be a little drier to eat. Let's face it, no kid is ever going to complain about their amazingly cool space rocket cake tasting a little dry, so the latter is definitely preferable.

Tip 6: How do I get my cake out of the Shape Tin?


Cakes are a bit fragile when first taken out of the oven, so treat them kindly. Leave your cakes in their tins for 10 to 15 minutes after removing them from the oven before turning them out onto a cooling rack. This will allow your cake to form a crust on the outside, which will protect it from breaking.

If you haven't lined your tin with baking paper (which we do recommend that you do), or if your cake is a dome that can't be lined with baking paper, run a butter knife around the edge of the tin between the cake and the tin before turning the cake out, to make sure the cake isn't stuck to the tin at any point. This will help the cake come out of the tin much more easily.

Tip 7: When should I bake my cake?


We recommend baking your cake the day before the party, and icing and decorating your cake the morning of the party. Any paper cut-outs your cake may require should be placed on the cake shortly before the party.

Tip 8: How do I use Shape Tins' edible paper?


Edible paper should be placed on the cake straight after it is iced and while the icing is still wet.

When you are ready to use the edible paper images, remove the edible paper sheet from its storage bag. Cut out the images using scissors. We find it easiest to roughly cut around each image to separate them, and then cut each one neatly. Then, pull the backing sheet away from the edible paper image.

If the image is moist or difficult to remove from the backing sheet (this may happen if the edible paper sheet is too warm), place the image in the freezer for 15 seconds before trying to remove it from the backing sheet again. When it is cold, the image should easily come away from the backing sheet.

After icing your cake, apply the image directly to your icing. After application, gently tap the image with your fingertips, smoothing to the edges.

If attaching to dry icing (for example, a cake that has been iced the day prior, or fondant icing), spray a light mist of water onto the iced cake or brush a small amount of water onto the surface of the iced cake, then apply the image directly to the slightly wet icing. Be careful not to get the edible paper images wet, as this will cause the colours to run.
Tip 9: Should I put my cake in the fridge between baking and the party?


No. Refrigerating cakes can make the colours in our edible paper and in any other lollies that you put onto your cake fade. You should store your cake on the bench top between baking and serving. It will be fine, we promise!