Strawberries Please

Summer has arrived and it is a perfect time for a picnic! I worked with my talented sister Lindi of Love the Day to create this Strawberry Picnic. I have to say that my niece London is the cutest part of this party.

Strawberry Menu: churros with strawberry dipping sauce, strawberry cream cupcakes, strawberry cookie toppers, strawberry-lemon curd chiffon cake, and mini strawberry pies.

Stephanotis Cake

Ruffles and Roses

Blueberries and Ribbon

Cherry Party

A couple of weeks ago I worked with my sister Lindi of Love the Day to create this cherry themed party. For the menu I decided to make cherry shortbread hearts, chocolate covered cherries and vanilla cupcakes with marzipan cherry toppers. I had a wonderful time baking for this party and spending time with my sisters and nieces.

Cherry Shortbread Hearts

Vanilla Cupcakes with Cherry Marzipan Toppers

Blueberry Financier

A financier is a light, moist cake that is often mistaken for a pastry. Many say that the cake became popular in the financial district of Paris surrounding La Bourse du Commerce (the former name of the Paris stock exchange).

First of Many Cakes to Come

Gum Paste has been the theme of the last couple of weeks. I have been learning how to shape, sculpt, and pedal dust gum paste to create flowers for wedding cakes. Learning about constructing and decorating cakes has made me realize how much I enjoy creating cakes!

Valentine's Aftermath

I wanted to post my chocolate showpiece on Valentines Day but it just didn't seem appropriate. This entire showpiece is made out of chocolate and sugar. It is truly incredible how much you can do with chocolate.

Cake and Love

Valentines Day is fast approaching and there is no better way to say 'I love you' than with a cake! For this cake I decided to cover it in marzipan (I prefer the taste of marzipan over fondant) and then decorated it with royal icing and a chocolate rose. I made the rose using chocolate plastic, which is simply melted chocolate and corn syrup. Chocolate plastic pretty much tastes like tootsie rolls. Cake on the Brain posted this great tutorial on how to make chocolate roses of your own.

Pipping Practice Makes Perfect

Star flowers, small shells, large shells, rosettes, reverse shells, fleur-de-lis, garlands, and roses have been the theme of the week. I have been practicing my piping so much that my hand is sore...but as my chef is always saying "piping practice makes perfect". I still have a ways to go but I made some good headway in my technique this week.

Here is a link to step-by-step instructions from Bake Decorate Celebrate on how to practice piping for your own cupcakes.

Marzipan Cupcake Toppers

Around the world, particularly in Italy and England, Marzipan is a popular sweet used for many occasions. I decided to use marzipan to make cupcake toppers. For every topper that made it onto a cupcake, another one popped into my mouth. I couldn't get enough of these almond delights!

honey pear cupcake

cream filled pumpkin cupcake with ganache frosting

lemon coconut cupcake

apple ginger spice cupcake

raspberry cream cupcake

chocolate carrot cupcake