Wedding Cake Baking Time and Batter Amounts - 2 in. Deep Pans

So, this post might seem a little silly, but I will be making a wedding cake pretty soon and I'm trying to post some tips for myself on Pinterest. This keeps it all in one spot and I can find what I'm looking for pretty easily. The problem is that in order to 'pin' something to Pinterest, there has to be a photo on the page to go with it. The website I found this information on, which you can find by clicking here, did not have a picture so I couldn't pin it. So, I decided to put it on MY website, accompanied by a lovely cake photo that can be pinned with it. Of course, now I have the info on my blog, so do I really need to pin it? Yes! Because what if it might be useful to one of my Pinterest followers?

So, here it is! 

(The underlined numbers on the chart separate the different pan shapes, i.e. the round pan sizes end at 16". The 7 x 11" underneath that is the first size of the sheet cake.)

The chart below is based on baking recommendations from the Wilton Test Kitchen; your results may vary depending on oven performance or altitude in your area. For large cakes, always check for doneness after they have baked for 1 hour. For pans 10 inches and larger, we recommend using a heating core to insure even baking.
Use this chart as a guide when baking wedding cake tiers. Batter amounts for the 2 in. cakes on the chart are for pans 2/3 full of batter. An average 2-layer cake mix yields 4 to 5 1/2 cups of batter.
Icing amounts are very general and will vary with consistency, thickness applied and tips used. These amounts allow for top and bottom borders.
Serving amounts are based on wedding-sized portions of approximately 1 x 2 in. Cakes from 3 to 6 in. high, baked in the same size pan, would yield the same number of servings because they follow the same pattern of cutting. Cakes shorter than 3 in. would yield half the number of servings indicated for that pan. Number of servings are intended as a guide only.
The number of servings listed are intended as a guide only and offer a small portion of wedding cake. If cake is the only dessert and/or portions larger than 1”x2” are served, then you will have less servings than the chart indicates.

Pan Shape	Size	Number of Servings (2 Layers)	Cups Batter 1 Layer, 2 in.	Baking Temperature	Baking Time Minutes	Approx. Cups Icing to Ice & Decorate 2 Layer Cake
Round	6" 7" 8" 9" 10" 12" 14" 16"	12 24 32 38 56 78 100	2 2-1/2 3-1/2 5-1/2 6 7-1/2 10 15	350° 350° 350° 350° 350° 350° 325° 325°	25 - 30 30 - 35 30 - 35 30 - 35 35 - 40 35 - 40 50 - 55 55 - 60	3 3 1/2 4 4 1/2 5 6 7 1/2 9
Sheet	7 x 11" 9 x 13" 11 x 15" 12 x 18" 14 x 22"	32 50 74 98	5-1/2 7 11 14 16	350° 350° 325° 325° 325°	30 - 35 35 - 40 35 - 40 40 - 45 45 - 50	5 6 8 10 12
Square	6" 8" 10" 12" 14" 16"	18 32 50 72 98 128	2 4 6 10 13-1/2 15-1/2	350° 350° 350° 350° 325° 325°	25 - 30 35 - 40 35 - 40 40 - 45 45 - 50 50 - 55	3 1/2 4 1/2 6 7 1/2 9 1/2 11
Heart	6" 8" 9" 10" 12" 14" 15" 16"	14 22 28 38 56 72 74 94	1-1/2 3-1/2 4 5 8 10 11 12 1/2	350° 350° 350° 350° 325° 325° 325° 325°	25 - 30 30 - 35 30 - 35 30 - 35 45 - 50 45 - 50 40 - 45 40 - 45	3 1/2 4 1/2 6 8 1/2 9 10 11 12
Petal	6" 9" 12" 15"	8 18 40 64	1-1/2 3-1/2 7 12	350° 350° 350° 325°	25 - 30 35 - 40 35 - 40 50 - 55	4 6 9 11
Hexagon	6" 9" 12" 15"	12 26 40 70	1-3/4 3-1/2 6 11	350° 350° 350° 325°	30 - 35 35 - 40 40 - 45 40 - 45	3 5 6 9
Oval	7-3/4 x 5-5/8" 10-3/4 x 7-7/8" 13 x 9-7/8" 16 x 12-3/8"	13 26 45 70	2-1/2 5 8 11	350° 350° 350° 325°	25 - 30 25 - 30 35 - 40 40 - 45	3 4 5 1/2 7 1/2
Paisley	9 x 6" 12-3/4 x 9" 17 x 12"	13 38 56	3 7 10-1/2	350° 350° 325°	35 - 40 45 - 50 55 - 60	5 6 8
Diamond	10-1/4 x 7-1/3" 15 x 11" 19-1/4 x 14-1/4"	18 32 66	3-1/4 7-1/4 13-1/4	350° 350° 350°	20 - 25 40 - 45 65 - 70	2-1/2 5 8
Pillow	6-3/4 x 6-3/4" 10 x 10" 13-1/4 x 13-1/4"	19 40 88	5 11 19	350° 350° 350°	33 - 38 34 - 39 42 -47	3 6-1/2 9-1/2
Note: For pans 10 inches and larger, use a heating core when baking. Use 2 cores for 18 inch pans.

Our Homemade Christmas

This year we did something a little different for Christmas. We had a homemade Christmas.

Santa brought the kids 2 gifts which obviously were not homemade, but the rest of the gifts were.

I spent the entire month of December, pretty much every day, working on projects. I helped the kids make their gifts for each other and for Daddy. It was really fun to watch the girls have the experience of Christmas from this perspective. They had each spent their own time and come up with ideas that they really thought their siblings would like. They were excited to give their gifts. And they were excited about the gifts they had received, because they knew that the same effort had been put into those gifts. It is quite a different experience to give a gift that you put personal time and thought and effort into than to just go spend some money. My girls got to learn what it's like to experience the joy that comes from giving to others. It was a special experience.

As part of our Christmas tradition, the kids all got pajamas on Christmas Eve. All of the pajamas were made from old clothes that were headed for DI or the trash. It's amazing how much fabric you have to work with when you just use clothes you don't wear anymore!

Now on to the other gifts:

Emma --  *A heat-able bean bag (I made one for each of the kids with their initial on it)

                *2 bean bracelets from Allyson

               * A guitar from Molly

                *A ring from Bridget (which you can't see in the picture)

                *A paper doll kit from Mom and Dad (the coloring and cutting took hours, but it was worth it.   She  loved it!) 

* A baby doll and a scooter from Santa (not shown)

Bridget -- * A heat-able bean bag

* The Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly book with accompanying old woman from Allyson. (The book has the words and each animal which can be placed in a pouch on the old woman's stomach as you sing the song.)

* A purse from Molly made out of Daddy's old jeans.

* A cute flower pin made by Emma

* A teddy bear (which she named Belle) from Mom and Dad (made out of pink hooded baby towels that we no longer needed. The dress and bow were made out of an old shirt)

* A barbie and a scooter from Santa (not shown)

Molly -- * A heat-able bean bag

* A rope-braided necklace from Emma

* A heart pin from Bridget (not shown) made from salt dough and painted

* Matching game cards from Allyson

* 3 homemade puzzles from Mom and Dad

* A barbie and a scooter from Santa (not shown)

Allyson -- * A heat-able bean bag

* A rope-braided necklace from Bridget

* A baby cradle from Molly (the baby was from Santa). The cradle was made out of a rolled oats container and construction paper.

* A Tweety Bird pillow made by Emma from old clothing (She even did most of the sewing and has been asking for more sewing projects.)

* Fairy wings from Mom and Dad made from a hanger and leftover fabric from Emma's baptism dress.

*The phone she's holding was her other gift from Santa

Charles -- Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of Charlie with his presents. We let him sleep past 6:00 so his schedule wouldn't be too messed up. So he didn't open his presents until after church that afternoon and I was out of camera mode at that point. But I'll still tell you what he got.

* A heat-able bean bag

* A stuffed ball

* A drum made out of a used formula can with a drumstick made from and empty spool of thread and a wooden skewer

* Rattles made from small yogurt cups with beans inside

(These homemade gifts were a group gift from the whole family)

* Some cars and a 'punching bag' type penguin from Santa

*Charlie also made a group gift for the whole family (with lots of help from Mom). He gave us our family game, which was a Bean Bag Toss. The girls really like it.

Daddy -- * His Christmas Eve pajama T-shirt, colored on by the kids. The front of it says "This is the Dad of Awesomeness!" It cracks me up!

* A book the kids made for him, "25 Things We Love About Dad" complete with pictures for each thing drawn by the kids. So cute!

* Felt slippers from Mom

We had a lovely Christmas and we hope you did too!

So Happy Together

Tonight we started dinner off by teaching the girls how to hang a spoon on the tip of their nose without holding it. The first few minutes were spent with all of us laughing at each other as spoons hung on our noses (or were held, by the smaller ones). They were so fascinated and proud of themselves. I wish I had a picture to share with you. It was a priceless moment.

Ahhhh.....Those small moments.....Giggling, joking, having fun, simply enjoying our time together..... They sure do make all of the other moments worth it, don't they?


What a great plan.....The Plan of Happiness.....It really is.

(God gave me my family + My family makes me happy + I will be with my family forever = Happiness Forever)

It's so simple. Sharing sweet moments with amazing people while we're here, and sharing many more of those moments with the same amazing people for eternity. What could make any of us happier than that?

Rollin' On The Floor!!!

"She doesn't give me peas all day yet because I don't like them yet, that's why she doesn't give me them all day yet!"

If you have not yet seen the 'Kid History' videos

you definitely should!!!!

Seriously, Jarom and I laughed harder than we have in a long time! Thanks to my friend, Miss Eva Aurora for getting us hooked!

Here is a sample of one of my favorites.....I hope you enjoy!!!

A Lullaby Fit For Eternity

The other day I was listening to the song 'Lullaby' by the Dixie Chicks. Here's a video if you want to listen.

I have talked about this song before and how much I love it. I don't think there is a better lullaby in all the world. It speaks as if from my own heart. When I was listening to it the other day it struck me in a way it never had before. Specifically the chorus lyrics:

"How long do you wanna be loved? Is forever enough? Is forever enough?
How long do you wanna be loved? Is forever enough? 'Cause I'm never, never giving you up."

Not surprisingly, I always think of my children when I listen to this song. As I thought about them this time I thought about the eternal perspective that I have as I listen to those words. Forever means something different to me than it does to many others because of my beliefs about eternal families. I believe that because I was sealed to my family by proper authority in the Temple of God, my family will be mine long after death. Forever, to me, does not mean until this life is over. It is eternity; Time without limits.

What an amazing blessing it is to look into those precious little faces and know that they are mine forever. They will always be mine. I never have to give them up, not even to death! It gives this song a different perspective, and makes me grateful for the amazing blessings that I have been given.

If you are not familiar with my views on eternal families and/or would like to learn more, you can read a short article here or you can click on the 'I'm A Mormon' button at the top of my blog.

Good...Great...And Beyond.....

Last week was my birthday.

It was stupendous!

I got to have dinner at one of my favorite restaurants (The Olive Garden, MMMMM.....) with my entire family! (Which hasn't happened in a very long time.)

And

My sweet sister gave me.....

THIS.......

I have no words.....

Emergency Essentials Food Storage Giveaway

 Here is the add from the website:

Traditional 2000^TM Year Supply Giveaway

This supply includes baking and cooking essentials, providing the versatility for cooking your own meals. It also includes fruits and vegetables, milk, garden seeds and more.

• Approximately 2000 calories per day for 375 days
• 126 - #10 cans total
• 120 dehydrated and 6 freeze-dried
• 64 different varieties

How to Enter:

1. "Like" us on facebook. Send an email to social@beprepared.com with "Traditional 2000 Giveaway" in the subject line and let us know that you are one of our fans on facebook. If you already "Like" us, send us an email and let us know. Click here to go to our facebook page.

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4. Share this giveaway with your friends (on facebook, on your blog or website, send them an email, etc.) and receive an additional 5 bonus entries. After sharing, send an email to social@beprepared.com with "Share Bonus Entries" in the subject line and let us know how you shared.

Winner:
In conjunction with National Preparedness Month, the winner will be posted on our blog, Preparedness Pantry, during the month of September 2011. The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries.
All entries will be verified. We welcome emails and entries from everyone; however, free shipping of the Traditional 2000 Year Supply is included for the winner to the 48 contiguous United States only. For any locations outside this area, the winner is responsible for arranging and paying their own shipping costs. If you purchase a Traditional 2000 Year Supply during the giveaway and win, we will send you an additional supply or issue you a refund for the supply you purchased - whichever you prefer.
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