Sunday, March 14, 2010

katelyn's 1st birthday cake

princess Katelyn turned 1! and every good princess needs a castle, especially one that's pink with glitter.



the bottom layer is neapolitan, vanilla sponge cake, strawberry buttercream filling, chocolate butter frosting.


the top tier is chocolate sponge cake, raspberry preserve filling, chocolate ganache frosting.


the towers are ice cream cones stuck together end to end with a sugar cone upside down. covered in fondant and hand painted stripes. the flowers are sugar paste rolled out and cute, covered in pink glitter. the doors are oreo cookie chocolate bars.







Katie's birthday bunnies

so this year i made something a little different for Katie's birthday. i've never made carrot cake before and i'm glad everyone liked it because i wouldn't try it, i hate carrot cake. however, it was really fun to make something different and it was a good excuse to try a bunny theme.


the carrot cake: oven 350

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
4 beaten eggs
3 cups shredded carrot
3/4 cup oil
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
8oz. crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup coconut
1 cup crushed pecans
1 tsp vanilla

in a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg. set aside. combine carrots, pineapple, coconut, oil, vanilla. add eggs. stir together with the dry ingredients. add nuts. stir together just until mixed then arrange in cupcake trays or cake pans. cupcakes take about 15 minutes, cake takes about 30.




cream cheese frosting:

i was told over and over and OVER that the most important part is the frosting. it has to be thick and taste like cheese cake or it ruins the cake. no pressure...

2 3oz. packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla
4.5 cups powdered sugar, sifted

start with the cream cheese in the mixer, after about 30 seconds add the butter in chunks. beat on high until the two have mixed really well then add vanilla. little but little add the sugar until completely mixed together. taste after 4 cups of sugar have been put in, add the rest slowly to your desired level of taste.



all of the cupcakes were frosted then airbrushed lightly with pink(it was a pink themed birthday).
the bunny feet are circus peanuts, cut in half using only the bottoms. the pads are pink jelly beans also cut in half, secured with a little frosting. the tail is just a little more uncolored frosting.



the fleur de lys are vanilla fondant with a little pink dye.

christmas wreath

vanilla cupcakes with vanilla fudge frosting with white chocolate leaves and rolo ornaments.



the white chocolate leaves were made by melting down the chocolate, taking a mint leaf and painting the chocolate onto it. once its set and dry simply peel the chocolate off the leaf and repeat. using a mint leaf gives the chocolate a faint but really yummy taste.