The Big Top Cupcake kit just might put some fun back into baking again. If you or your kids love cupcakes, you may have been eyeing the Big Top Cupcake infomercial. Not sure why they need so many names but on QVC they have changed the name to the “Colossal Cupcake”. Is it as easy to assemble as they mention on the infomercials? You know how those infomercials are notorious for making things appear bigger, easier and better than they really are.
Infomercial Claims
- The set is a silicone non-stick mold which includes a top mold, bottom mold, and removable insert.
- The removable insert creates a well for your favorite filling such as pudding, ice cream, whipped cream, fresh fruit or mousse.
- Simply bake, assemble, decorate and enjoy.
- Fully assembled the giant cupcake measures approximately 6-1/2″Diam x 7″H which is 25 times bigger than a regular cupcake.
Good Points
- You’ll enjoy creating different cupcake flavors and themes for different occasions and kids love em!
- Baked cupcake comes out from the pan nice and clean.
- Freezer and dishwasher safe, heat-resistant to 500F
Bad Points
- It’s not as easy to bake and put it together as they show in the infomercial. This is the fault of the instructions. They aren’t professional and don’t explain how much cake batter to use and how much to fill up the pans. (please see hints below)
- Some ladies have reported the cupcake collapsing after they cut into it.
- Decorating is also tedious especially if you’re trying to decorate it as nice as shown in the pictures shown here.
- The cupcake isn’t as big as it looks in the infomercial due to the fancy camera tricks.
Baking Hints for Giant Cupcakes
- Spray the mold with oil before pouring the batter in.
- Use a cookie sheet to place the pans on when baking.
- These pans are deep, so that makes for long cooking times. The directions say 30 - 35 minutes for the top and 45 - 50 minutes for the base. In actuality it takes more than an hour to fully cook the cake. Cook it at 325 to 350 depending on your oven.
(These are the instructions from the QVC site)
Using the pan without the filling Insert
- The batter mix will measure approximately 4 cups. Pour 2-3/4 of the batter into the bottom mold and the remaining 1-1/4 into the top mold.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes. The top mold may bake more quickly than the bottom mold. Cooking time depends on your oven and the altitude of where you live. Just keep checking if it’s done by inserting a toothpick. If it comes out clean it’s time to remove from the oven.
Using the pan with the filling Insert
The batter mix will measure approximately 4 cups. Pour 2 cups of the batter into the bottom mold and the remaining 2 cups into the top mold.- Place the insert inside the bottom mold and make sure the insert overlaps the sides of the mold. Bake 45-50 minutes. Again, the top mold may bake more quickly than the bottom so do the toothpick method to make sure it’s done.
- If the cake in the bottom part of the mold rises over the edge, simply trim the edges off and fill the bottom with slightly less batter next use. (note that different climates/altitudes affect baking results)
- Once out the oven, place in the freezer for 8-10 minutes or on the counter for 15 minutes.
- For a more stable cupcake they recommend that you trim the top and bottom halves with a serrated knife. Also use frosting between the two layers.
- Before you add ice cream or fruit, freeze the bottom cupcake for 30-40 minutes.
- You might find that homemade icing is firmer and easier to work with than the store bought kind. The hardest part is decorating it. Frost it fast than put it in the fridge to harden up since it will drip. Then take it out and add final touches.
More big top cupcake ideas
A Few Recipe Ideas
Chocolate Lovers Cake – Chocolate cake mix with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate icing
Strawberry Short Cake - White cake mix with strawberry glaze filling and whip cream icing
Carrot Cake - Carrot cake mix with cream cheese icing
Boston Cream Cake - Chocolate cake with pudding filling and chocolate icing
You can find these $20 pans at Walmart for sure because I saw them there over Christmas. You may be able to find them at Walgreens now, bigtopcupcake.com and eBay USA.
Big Top Cupcake is getting mixed reviews. The majority of negative reviews is because the instructions aren’t clear. Although if you can tweak them a bit to make them work for you, you’ll enjoy this pan. If you’re looking for more clever kitchen gadgets, here’s a review of the Lid Punch which helps you open your jars easier.
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10 responses so far ↓
1 J.R. // Jan 5, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I just received the big top cupcake deluxe (pans, and 3-d cookies). I haven’t used it however I was dissapointed to find NO INSTRUCTIONS in the box and it is SO much smaller than expected. I was planning on using this for my son’s party at school now I might have to make two ?!
Disaapointed in California
2 Cathleen // Jan 9, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Yes, the Big Top is smaller than the one on TV! However, as a cake decorator, I was glad. Molds with limited air exposure during baking tend to overcook on the outside and undercook on the inside, unless the inner mold has a funnel or half-funnel. The advice above is spot on, for your baking. I do have a few tips to add:
Use a good serrated long knife to even out the
“top” of the bottom cooked cake and the “bottom” of the top cooked cake. Thes surfaces like to expand up in the middle while cooking. If the insert is used, you will still need to slice the cooked surfaces which will meet with that knife. You don’t want the cakes to slide and they will not cook perfectly flat, unfortunately.
Before icing/frosting, get the cakes as cold as possible, even freeze them, before any fillings or icing is used. This prevents the sliding between your layers from icing getting warm and liquifying. Using a pastry bag (or the plastic bag with the corner snipped) for frosting the botton sides is by far easier than using the knife-balancing-a-dab-of-frosting method. After covering the bottom with top-to-bottom stripes of frosting (or bottom-to-top, if you find this easier), leave the striping if you have covered the cake well, or then use a knife to now spread the frosting as you like. (I loved alternating the stripe colors, via plastic bag. Gives it the carnival theme if you use white and another color.)
Frosting the top is easiest. Use the bags or a knife to apply frosting.
In answer to your “how many cakes to I need?” question: 1 of these cakes will serve 8-10. It is like a regular 2 layer cake.
3 Theresa // Jan 9, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Thanks Cathleen! That’s sooo helpful. I’m wondering, how in the world could this company forget to put the instructions in the box…
4 Mia // Jan 12, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I didn’t get instructions with mine, either. It’s been very frustrating to get just basic cooking instructions. This site has been the most informative so far.
5 Big Top Cupcake Pan : Cooking Gadgets -Cooking Gadgets by Cyndi. // Jan 17, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] favorite infomercial review site has set their sights on the Big Top Cupcake Pan. The review is a mixed bag: yes, it’s a lot of fun and the non-stick pan works well. [...]
6 Jonneal and Stacy // Jan 21, 2010 at 6:18 pm
Me and my neice are getting ready to make one right now, our last one didnt come out so good, so thanks for the clarification!
we’re putting strawberry pudding in ours.
7 Theresa // Jan 24, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Mmmm sounds very yummy. Have fun!
8 stephanie // Feb 25, 2010 at 12:40 pm
i bought mine through LTD and it did not come with any instruction and the top and the bottom are attached, not to mention its silicone. the first time a used it i struggled, it was wobbly and the top would not stay straight. then when i finaly got the cake in the oven the sides were done before the center. these tips were very helpful and maybe this next attempt will be more successful!
9 Bethany // Mar 3, 2010 at 4:57 pm
The actual size of the big top cupcake you receive is definitely a lot smaller than they make it look on TV. Mine came with instruction, but they did not do a good job at all in explaining clearly and my first cake did not come out well. Im waiting now for my next one to bake. I wish I found these instructions before I put in the cake mix, but unfortunately I was just looking for cooking time, hopefully it will be better now!
10 Kristie // Mar 10, 2010 at 11:10 am
My daughter and I are going to make a one of these next weekend for her dads birthday the hints have been helpful thanks. Does anyone have a heath bar cake recipe with filling they would like to share.
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