Monogrammed Cake Pops!

Monogrammed Cake Pops!, originally uploaded by bakers-cakes.

This is the perfect gift to bring to the hospital for new parents! They would also be great at a bridal shower or baby shower! These cake pops make a unique arrangement and yummy alternative to flowers. They can be personalized not only with monogram, but with colors and flavors too!

Strawberry Layer Cake

I looked into my refrigerator this morning and saw a pint of strawberry puree and a quart of strawberries and thought, yes, today I will make strawberry cake!

 I headed straight to the cabinet to look on the back of a box of cake flour for a recipe I had noticed there. Alas, Swan's Down did not have the recipe I was looking for, apparently that recipe is on Soft-As-Silk. Not to worry, I made a bee line to the computer, there's nothing Google can't find. I Googled and Googled and could not find the recipe I had in mind.  However, I stumbled upon a recipe that I would never normally make, but I was intrigued by the ingredients: a box of cake mix (not with pudding)? strawberry jello (in powder form)? At first I thought, I'll just whip up my own white cake and add my strawberry puree. Next, I realized I was out of sugar. Well, if a trip to the store was inevitable, why not go ahead and try the recipe as written! What a concept!? This whole strawberry cake was becoming more work than I had anticipated, but I'll go to most any length for a cake!  Here's the recipe for Strawberry Layer Cake:

I'll spare you the pain of my trials and tribulations with this cake and just say I made some switches and substitutions, so much for following the recipe "as written." I found the frosting (when I made it as the recipe instructed) a bit soft, so I added 1/2 cup vegetable shortening and 1 - 2 cups powdered sugar. I'll be honest, I tried the cake and found it perhaps a bit overly moist (And here's why, box cake sneaks pudding into their mix. I was just washing some dishes and glanced down at my recycling, yes, I am recycling non-corrogated cardboard hooray me, go earth, and noticed in small print on the box "with one cup of pudding." Argh. Box cake. Why are you darning me?). The frosting was a bit acidic for my taste. If I make this cake again I might cut down on the frozen strawberries in the frosting by about half and add a teaspoon or so of strawberry flavor for candy.

Strawberry Cake is so wonderfully pink!

Sneaker Cake

Sneaker Cake, originally uploaded by bakers-cakes.

In an attempt to cover my bases for "baby of yet to be determined" gender, whose parents are serious runners, I've created these sneaker cakes! The "P" is for their last name and there might be another hidden gem or two in there as well...

This cake brings to a close a massive two week cake marathon (if you will). Now I will have a chance to begin to de-powder sugar my kitchen. Don't even try to walk in there with bare feet, surely you'll stick!

Happy Valentine's Day II

This may be my new favorite food photograph! Simple sugar cookies with royal icing:

I thought that I always needed to shoot food photos in daylight, but realistically, I have more opportunity at night. And chances are slightly better that someone will not stick their fingers into the food or the shot in the evenings. I used the kitchen hanging pendents to light this (not the track bulbs, they give off the harshest orange light) and with a little luck this is what I got! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:

Valentine's Cupcake Pops made with chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting:

Click on the links for Southern Living's Red Velvet Cake recipe and Bakerella's How-to-Cupcake Pops! ps. Happy Valentine's Day!

Coach Handbag Cake

I may not be an expert on trendy new handbags, but I really enjoy making them out of cake! This cake was based on the Coach Heritage Stripe Small Domed Satchel: 

Next time I'll nail the "signature print fabric." This cake is actually an exact scale replica of the real live bag! 9 3/4" (L) x 6 1/4" (H) x 4 1/4" (W) and is entirely edible, save for the wire inside the handles. This bag was made for a Coach loving chocolate fanatic!

Caketastic Month!

Let us all put bathing suit season out of our minds until March, because February is the month of cake! This adorable cake was based on the book, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie." What a great idea to have a children's birthday party based around a new classic book! This little mouse puts any cartoon character to shame:

I may be one step closer to mastering chocolate fondant. Not quite there yet, but close! This cake is for a "We're Finding Out the Gender of Baby at the Delivery" baby shower and Mom-to-be loves chocolate! Which is a good thing, this cake is Baker's Cakes signature chocolate cake, with a layer of white chocolate cream cheese frosting, a layer of strawberry buttercream frosting, and a layer of vanilla buttercream frosting, all wrapped up in chocolate fondant: 

Twilight is a recent book series and movie. I hear it's a must read for the preteen set and must see for pretty much anyone. This cake was made with red velvet cake and white chocolate cream cheese frosting:

Ipod Cake! Made with a buttermilk layer cake, vanilla buttercream, and vanilla fondant:

This week is Valentine's week and there's much more coming!!!! I've got to get back to work!