Piece of Cake!

I was asked by my friend to come up with a cookie favor to honor her coworker, Kim, who is getting married next month. When I asked my friend if she had a theme in mind, she told me she wanted me to make a cookie to look like the bride-to-be's upcoming wedding cake. She said it was to be a three-tiered white cake with a burnt-orange ribbon and chocolate filigree all over.

From what I understood, I did a pretty good job in the replication department. It was a fun cookie to do, and it certainly made me start thinking about fall with those rich dark colors. it ALSO got me thinking that this is a scenario where I can ALMOST say that someones wedding cake was made to look like my cookies.... but I know that might be pushing it. still.... when you think about it... the cookie came first.....

I had one extra cookie left over so instead of the filigree, I made up my own designed 'cake' with polka dots and flowers. you know.. just for fun. I guess I'm just a fan of polka dots?


So here's to Kim and Joe! good luck with the upcoming nuptials and may you have a lifetime of happiness together! I hope your bakery does a good job replicating my cookies, too. (KIDDING!) Thanks also to Michelle for asking me to help with the shower.... it was fun to get to do something for you!

an a-DORA-ble idea!

Have I mentioned how much I love a themed party? well if I haven't... let me just say this--- I love a themed party!

My friend's daughter is turning two, and two of the daughter's most favorite things (in her short 2 years of existing, that is) are Dora the Explorer and cake pops. Imagine my delight when the mom asked me to come up with something for her Dora-themed birthday party this weekend.

My kids were never HUGE Dora fans, but I can definitely admit to having seen my fair share of episodes, as well as knowing the proper thing to say to a particularly klepto-prone fox named Swiper. So--- what Dora-based creation could I do in the form of a cake pop so as to seal my fate as the birthday girl's favorite baker? Visions of Dora heads and miniature purple monkeys began to dance in my mind. HOWEVER... this was supposed to be 'family fun week' in my house. A week full of family activities and togetherness to celebrate my husband actually having some time off of work! I decided to scrap the more labor-intensive ideas and go with something a little easier to recreate.... I decided on a centerpiece full of explorer stars.


RIGHT??? I know!! super cute! and fun!!! and while a *little* tricky with their shape... not so bad when using a star-shaped cookie cutter. And lets face it... having two buckets full of Explorer Stars is a TEENY bit more plausible (and personally decided a little less creepy) than having two centerpieces full of dora-heads on sticks. Seriously-- think about it. definitely better with the stars..... see?

So that, ladies and gents.... is that. 50 star-shaped cake pops artfully placed in two centerpieces later, and we have a nice theme-related addition to a Dora party. Oh, and a happy birthday girl. That's really the most important part!

So here's to Sienna! Happy 2nd birthday to an aDORAble girl! (get it? aDORAble? hahahahah)

Feeding an Army

This past weekend, I got the chance to challenge myself in a whole new way. I was tasked with sculpting a TANK CAKE to serve about 40 people.

(insert nervous laugh here)

Now most of you know I went to an aeronautical university. Now, I may know my way around a plane (or at least I USED to... not sure what all I actually remember from those engineering days gone by!) but a TANK? I was nervous I may have bitten off more than I could chew.

Luckily, after a little research, I found that the shape of a tank wasn't TOO extreme, and I psyched myself up into believing I could do it. Of course... knowing I had a star wars project to work on, which is TOTALLY in my comfort zone.. eased my worried mind.

The target client was a 5 year old boy, and the cake of choice was chocolate, with a cookies and cream filling.

The cake itself had a rectangular base of 11x15 inches. with two layers approximately 2 inches high each, the filling, and the rice crispy/fondant covered shaped turret on top.... well... you can imagine the tank was a beast.


By far, this cake was the largest I've made to date, as well as the heaviest. I used approximately 6 pounds of fondant, and probably pulled a muscle trying to color it. It was certainly a good workout!


This was also the first time I used color-mist, to give the camo-effect. I like the final effects, but will concede that it's not for every cake. also? next time I need to wear a mask or lay down a tarp... that green mist got EVERYWHERE.

All in all, I think the cake turned out great. I credit The Cake Store with being my inspiration... there were a lot of tanks out there, but I loved their design; especially how there was chocolate 'mud' under the cake. Happy 5th birthday, Marco!

A Sith Fifth

When a good friend and neighbor asks you to make a cake for their turning-five year old, it's just a no-brainer. when that 5 year old is one of your child's best friends, there is no doubt that the cake has to be GOOD.

However, when that very same cake happens to have a star wars theme, a topic that is literally eaten and breathed in your house... such that you are forced to act in character most days before your feet even hit the floor in the morning... well.. you'd best believe the cake better go big or go home. like to a different galaxy, if it doesn't measure up to the critical judgement of your own house of padawans.

I was ready, though. I had successfully created a Star Wars themed cake for another boy, and like I said.. every day in this house is like my very own Jedi-training camp. Of course, I did retain some hesitation, because I had also signed up to create a tank cake for the very same day... but I was up for the challenge.

My target client was a 5 year old boy, and he wanted something to focus on Darth Vader, and the 'Blue Storm Trooper.' No-- not the blue CLONE Trooper we all love and adore as Captain Rex... he wanted a blue STORM Trooper. (Totally different helmet, dude!) I was gonna work the Sith for this Fifth.

The mom gave me free reign to do what I do, but requested that there be 2 dozen cupcakes to serve to party-goers, as well as a small centerpiece cake for candle blowing etc. Vanilla cupcakes, vanilla buttercream, and the cake was to be chocolate with cookies and cream filling. Easy peasy.

After creating my own Darth Vader and Storm Trooper cookie cutters, it was simple to create my 2 dozen fondant cupcake toppers.

I created a larger, 2.5-D replica of Darth's helmet to use on top of the cake. (yes, I did write 2.5-D... it wasn't totally three dimensional, but it was more than the flat fondant toppers. you can thank me later for introducing you to 2.5-D) From that point, it all just kind of came together. (with a little use of the force, that is!)

The end result was a 3-tiered, 8-inch round cake, covered in black fondant. a little light-saber red fondant trim here and there, some painstakingly tedious hand-cut lettering and 5 more blue storm trooper guys (get it.. FIVE stormtroopers? cause he was turning FIVE?) oh, and a fondant cape and a light-stick for a light saber... and you get the following.

My live-in advisory board gave me high-fives and deemed the cake to be "AWESOME"... so with confidence I brought everything to the party for set up.

Once all the cupcakes were in place on their towers flanking the cake, I MIGHT have started humming the Imperial March... but I won't admit to anything else like breathing like Darth himself. Cause you know... THAT would be weird.

In the end, Jacob seemed to like the cake, and his crew of pals also got a kick taking a bite out of the Dark Side.

Happy birthday, Jacob!!! May the force be with you always!!