Make Me A Cake

Many people wonder what the process of creating a custom cake entails. Well here is the answer:

1) A client calls and we make sure the date they are requesting a cake for is still open for new orders. We briefly discuss what they are looking for and then set a date to meet and do a cake tasting.

2) At the meeting the client tastes cake combinations (that they previously selected over the phone) and we discuss the cake design in greater detail. Many times they will bring color swatches, the invitation, or any other element that we can use to incorporate into the cake design.

3) We prepare a sketch detailing the design we have discussed with the client.

Here is a sketch we did for a 1st Birthday cake. The notes on the side reference the colors, cake and designs that will be used to create the cake.

4) Once the sketch is approved we set to work making the cake!

5) Viola! The cake is completed and delivered to the event.

The baby blocks have the Birthday girl’s initials on them

The cake is finished with an edible gumpaste ribbon and bow

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Donut Cake

One of our most commonly asked questions is “How do you make a sculpted cake?”

Here is a slide how of the process for making a Donut Cake. It is an easy shape to sculpt and a great starting cake for newbie cake sculptors.

Enjoy!

Spring Awakening

With  winter in full swing it’s nice to see some lighter more spring oriented designs. We created a  wedding cupcake tower for a die-hard cupcake fan. The cupcake tower was covered in fondant to mirror the look of a wedding cake.

The colors matched that of the bridal party. A pale, golden yellow and a sea-foam green. We made Vanilla and Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes that were decorated with gumpaste flowers.

The top tier was a square Banana Chocolate Chip cake with Vanilla frosting. We hand piped the design around the sides of the cake. The cake was topped with a stunning rhinestone cake topper with the couples initials and then covered in the gumpaste flowers so flowers were tumbling off the cake.

Cupcakes, Pizza and Puppies!

Birthday Girl: Ariela

Party: Cupcake decorating class

Food: Homemade Pizza

Birthday Surprise: Play-time with adorable puppies

Sounds like the makings of an incredible Birthday Party.

The Party:

The guests enter the house through a red, glittering dog house door

Everyone received a special Birthday party apron. The kids gathered round and we made individual pizzas. While they were bubbling away in the oven, I did a demonstration on different cupcake decorating techniques and then helped the kids design and decorate their own.

While everyone loved making the cupcakes, the most fun was definitely eating their amazing creations!

After every last bit of cake was eaten and frosting was licked, out came 10 of the sweetest puppies for everyone to play with.

With bellies full and faces covered in doggie kisses, everyone gathered their things and  got to take home a very special birthday cupcake recipe named after the birthday girl herself!

Chocolate Indulgence

A few weeks back I had the honor of making a Birthday cake and cupcakes for a dear family friend. The Birthday boy (or gentleman I should say) is a die-hard chocolate fan so I decided to make a “Study In Chocolate” Cake, meaning I used all the different techniques that can be used in working with chocolate in this cake. The cake was created using a light Cocoa Cake layered with 3 types of chocolate filling; dense Bittersweet Chocolate Buttercream, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Buttercream, and Cocoa Buttercream. When the cake is sliced the different colors of the fillings can be seen and the colors move in order from dark to light. The cake was then enrobed in Chocolate Ganache and topped with chocolate roses.

Although decorative flowers and multiple colors add festivity to cakes, I avoided this to create a more elegant and masculine design. The main source of decoration are the hand-molded chocolate roses. This technique is accomplished by making a more malleable form of chocolate that allows it to be sculpted into different forms.

For an easy and professional looking way to add a finishing touch you can press slivered almonds into the ganache before it sets to create a modern band around the base of the cake.

For the kids, we made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes both plain and with sprinkles. You should have seen how big the kids’ eyes got when they laid eyes on the cupcakes! I have found that cupcakes are so wonderful to serve to kids because they can eat them without a knife and fork. This allows them to 1) run around and play while they eat and 2) eat without the help of their parents so they have a sense of independence and accomplishment. This also cuts down on plates and cutlery which not only saves money but the environment as well!