Welcome to the Cake Decorators Q&A

HI, I would like to make the Reindeer cake but I am not sure if I can use my traidtional christmas cake (the one with the dried fruit and cut it in accordance to the instructions. Paul is using a chocolate cake and ganache. So in my case what are the options or is ti not a good idea to make this cake with the christmas cake recipe??? I hope it makes sense!!!

Hi sabrinapatten,
I would have thought that a traditional Christmas cake mix would be an ideal medium for creating the reindeer cake. It’s generally dense and sturdy and therefore great for carving. However, fruit cake can often be quite crumbly when freshly made, and would therefore need to be left to mature and settle (or frozen) for at least 2-3 weeks before using I think. I have to say I don’t personally understand the cake ‘science’ behind it all, but that’s what I’d do! Hope that helps and good luck.x

Hi sabrinapatten

Fruit cake can be quite tricky to carve unless it has been well matured and slices without making crumbs. I’d also be concerned about how you intend decorating the fur. If you use butter cream for the fur the cake would have to eaten fairly quickly and also stored in a cool place. To carve a fruit cake you’ll need a very sharp serrated knife with a thin blade. It also helps to carve from chilled because it gets quite sticky, wipe the blade regularly. Personally I wouldn’t do it, there are too many small elements to the cake. There are lots of other options in the Christmas section http://www.cakeflix.com/online-cake-decorating-courses/christmas-cakes which may be better for your recipe.

Just realised you’re doing the reindeer cake and not the teddy so you won’t be using butter cream, silly old me getting senile in my old age. x