Blobs of Sugar

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2011-12-23T20:16:00.001-08:00

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Hello Kitty 1

2011-01-14T13:34:00.000-08:00

I used the template links from THIS PAGE to get the shape right.

Hello Kitty 2

2011-01-14T13:29:00.000-08:00

and it was way too late by the time I'd realized the missing whiskers!
oops!
good thing it was for one of my kids ;-)

Simple Roses for my lydia ROSE!

2011-01-14T13:25:00.001-08:00

Go Bananas!

2011-01-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

this cake was born in the mind of Sophie ;-)

Kitty Face Cake

2011-01-14T13:16:00.001-08:00

Leggo Cake

2011-01-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

Castle on a Hill

2011-01-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

I used Castle 03 from this website as a guide

SMALL CAKES - TWO PURSE CAKES, ONE INITIAL CAKE

2009-11-18T10:54:00.000-08:00

PUMPKIN / FALL / HAY BALES

2009-10-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

Butterfly Cake 2

2009-06-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

the smash cake:

this frosting is from cakecentral.com - it is AMAZING, not as hard as she warned but way more delicious than she says!!!

really, I think I just gained 10 lbs making this cake.

Creamy whipped buttercream icingServes/Yields: Fills 6qt bowl
Prep. Time: 20-30 min
Cook Time: none

This noncrusting buttercream icing has an incredibly light flavor and texture, and is definately not too sweet. The drawback is that it takes practice to make and to work with. Once you know how to work with it, it can be used to ice a cake with an incredibly smooth and satiny finish. It is also not ideal for warm weather.

4 lbs powdered sugar
2- 12 oz cans evaporated milk

3 lbs unsalted soft butter
1 lb shortening or Sweetex

2 tsp vanilla (or more, to taste)
1/2 tsp almond flavoring (or more, to taste)

In 6 qt mixing bowl, slowly beat powdered sugar and 1 1/2 cans of evaporated milk until smooth.

Add soft butter. Blend well.

Add shortening. Blend well.

Add flavorings and continue beating. Slowly add the last half can of milk to the icing and allow icing to blend well. (This is a good time to do any cake prep you have to get done.) If the icing covers the top of the paddle then the icing will eventually blend smooth and creamy with no air bubbles. Beating time can take 20 minutes or more.

Icing will be soft but with practice can make a beautiful finish. Ices smooth with a spackle tool and does not crust so is easy to re-ice if necessary. Refrigerates firm but does not have to be refrigerated. (I prefer to refrigerate icing once I am done with it but the cake can be left out a couple days with no harm.)

I have been asked for this recipe several times; however, the icing takes patience to make and patience to work with. You will be rewarded with an incredibly light, buttery icing that is perfect for those who don't want a sweet icing. Pipes very nice borders and basketweave sides, and can even make roses on a cool day with practice.

Enjoy!Nutrition InformationAs healthy as any other buttercream icing!

Lavender Butterlies

2009-05-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

(I don't know WHY!!??? but this picture, no matter where I take it, looks blue - it's lavender, I PROMISE!!)

fondant butterflies with those wedding flower stem things (from the bridal section)
butterfly cookie cutters (3 sizes) - made 1 day ahead so they would dry all 'up' like that (I put them in the corner of bowls to dry in that shape - professionals have this foam stuff they use)

Jake stamped the lettering and then I used buttercream to trace the letters. (stamps in the cake section)
can I just say how nice it is to have an artist husband ;-)
he has more input in these cakes than you could probably imagine!!!
it's a joint effort most of the time!

anywho - Happy 1st Birthday Zoe - I hope it's super girly and puts all your brothers to shame!

VOLCANO/DINOSAUR CAKE

2009-05-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

I'll post a picture when I get one but this had a little hole for dry ice to make it look like it was smoking...cute cute.

Sweet and Sassy Topsy Turvy Cake

2009-04-05T23:57:00.000-07:00

same cake, a few changes, the topper kept breaking ;-)

figured out how to change it for next time but until then, had to go with 5 black and white candles instead...oh well...it was still super cute

Garden/Girly/Sherbert/Starburst Cake

2009-03-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

flowers and hearts are starbursts rolled out and cut with cookie cutters

(and, I really stink at sheet cakes, writing...her name is Claire, not Glaire, and buttercream frosting decor....it's official and this cake was so gracious to remind me of all that)

LITTLE BIG PLANET CAKE

2009-02-28T10:03:00.000-08:00

(APPARENTLY THIS IS A PS2 GAME?)

1st Birthday Girl Cake

2009-02-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

marshmallow fondant
wilton candy things ;-)
buttercream writting

some notes

2009-01-12T16:51:00.000-08:00

doctoring cake mixes:

devil's food cake mix
cherry koolaide packet
sub. buttermilk for water
put eggs in bowl of warm water before cracking to bring to room temp (or just bring to room temp)
sub softened butter for oil - HAS to be softened to room temp - not in microwave (cut into small pieces and leave out for 30 min if rushed)

it's baking right now....update soon
the batter is amazing!

CUB SCOUT

2008-10-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

New Fondant Ideas

2008-10-24T12:25:00.001-07:00

found a new recipe for MMFondant that I am loving the taste of so much MORE!

(you may have to create a log in to see this recipe so just in case I'll post it here too)

Buttercream MMF

I really liked Rhonda's MMF, but it was still a bit too sweet for my taste. And when I heard people commenting on how they would like a buttercream flavor, I began the search for the perfect butter flavoring. My taste-testers all agreed that this one was perfect!
(Though I actually prefer to double the recipe in a large bowl and use 3 drams of flavoring - I suppose you could just use 1-1/2 drams of LoRann!).

16 oz mini-marshmallows (NOT Jet-Puffed. I use Wal Mart brand)
2 T water

**Grease a micro-safe bowl, add MMs, sprinkle with water, melt 1 minute, stir.

Add:
1 T glycerine
1 t popcorn salt (or grind regular salt in a coffee grinder - you'll get crystals if you don't)
1 dram of LoRann butter flavor candy oil

**stir and add**
2 lbs powdered sugar

Start by stirring in 1 c of PS to absorb moisture before dumping in more to help avoid clumps. Each time you add PS make you you stir it well so that it's well absorbed before adding more. When you are down to the last 1/3 of the bag of PS, dump it in the bowl and knead with your greased hands. Form a ball and wrap with plastic wrap. Let rest at least 4 hours. To re-soften, place it in the micro a few seconds at a time and knead. If it is too sticky from over-warming, knead in cornstarch a little at a time or just let it cool again.

Holly's notes:

~I only totally understood this recipe because I have been making the other MMF for some time now
~I used my coffee grinder for the salt and was really impressed - I think I might even use this on popcorn (didn't know there was such a thing as 'popcorn' salt!?)
~who is LoRann? I don't know either so I just used Wilton's clear butter flavoring
~what exactly is a dram? I don't know, I just pour a little in

it really does taste less sweet and more buttery that traditional MMF and still LOADS better tasting than regular fondant (yuck)

O o SAY CAN YOU SEE!!!???

2008-10-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

BLUE GREEN

2008-10-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

BOOB & BELLY #?

2008-09-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

AIRPLANE

2008-09-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

tail number L4BD - Landon's 4th BirthDay....oh yeah!

other views:
(notes: the stars and I were not friends when all was said and done...which is why it looks like I gave up on the back of the cake, I just did. The original cake design is from www.pinkcakebox.com - if you think I'm talented, this girl is super human, I used 1/2 a sport ball pan and a square pan to make this)

GIRAFFE

2008-09-02T13:08:00.000-07:00

for my niece Sierra!

TINKERBELL

2008-09-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

for my Sam Sam...

PURSE, MAKE UP, COSMETICS

2008-08-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

guts -
one 8"x3" round cake, cut in half and glued together with icing
marshmallow fondant
*all the make up is made from fondant

Sweet Little Garden

2008-07-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

guts:
2 6" round chocolate cakes
buttercream frosting
marshmallow fondant
raffia ribbon
starburst flowers, hearts and #4 - tacked in/down with toothpicks.
(unwrap starburts, soften in microwave for 5 sec., flatted on powdered sugar surface with bottom of glass or roll out with non stick rolling pin, cut out shapes with cookie cutters - other ideas here. Hearts were two cut outs, toothpick in the middle, glued together with small amount of water)

Cinderella #2

2008-07-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

Simple

2008-07-23T04:41:00.000-07:00

guts:
chocolate cake
marshmallow fondant
satin ribbon
broach
fresh flowers

SUPER WHY, PRINCESS PRESTO

2008-06-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

guts:
chocolate cake,
buttercream
photo of Princess Presto
foam letters
wire

CARS, TWO, ROAD

2008-06-27T13:52:00.000-07:00

guts:
chocolate cake,
buttercream frosting
rock candy
black sprinkles

Chocolate Banana

2008-06-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

guts:
Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Banana Bread baked in cake pans
frosted with ganache
dug flower out of wrapping paper box!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!!!!!!!!!

Mr Teeth

2008-06-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

guts:

chocolate cake

mint buttercream icing (to resemble toothpaste, of course!)

marshmallow fondant

RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE

2008-06-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMBERLY!!! guts:
raspberry chocolate cake
chocolate almond ganache
raspberries
almonds

RASPBERRY

2008-05-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

guts:
homemade white cake (yum!)
raspberry butter cream (used raspberry syrup in place of some of the flavoring and water - used 1 tsp of butter flavor as well)

CARS CUPCAKE CAKE

2008-05-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

guts: 48 cup cakes
the road is 2 large jars of black sugar sprinkles
grass and yellow stripes are buttercream

ZEBRA

2008-04-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

guts:

2 - 8" round cakes, torted, frosted and covered in white fondant

black fondant strips 'glued' on with water (cut by hand with paring knife)

zebra guy molded by hand (when you mold pladough horses for your kids every other day this zebra is a piece of cake - or fondant ;-)

grass is buttercream piped with a grass tip

TAE KWANDO, KARATE, GEE, DOJO

2008-04-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

guts:

4 - 9x13 cakes , white buttercream, marshmallow fondant and too many hours of detail work ;-)

DOLPHIN CAKE

2008-04-17T07:51:00.001-07:00

guts:

chocolate cake

white buttercream icing

marshmallow fondant - colored with 3 different blues, 2 greens and a little black - letters are black fondant

sugar craft dolphins (ordered online)

black floral wire tied around dolphin's tails

12" round on bottom

8" round in middle

6" round on top

staggered stack

COTTON CANDY PINK

2008-04-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

guts:
chocolate cake
strawberry buttercream
marshmallow fondant
8" round on bottom
6" round on top

ROSES ARE PINK

2008-04-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

guts:

strawberry cake

strawberry buttercream icing

marshmallow fondant (roses)

lemon buttercream (all the green accents)

*first attempt at a fondant covered tired cake - learned a lot and am confident that my next one will be something I will claim - this one though....hmmm....I'm still debating whether or not to claim it ;-) practice, practice, practice - the name of the game in cake decorating (or so I'm learning!)

LADYBUG #2

2008-04-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

guts:
strawberry cake
strawberry buttercream icing
marshmallow fondant
grass with grass tip from Wilton

(p.s. there are two of these, both for Lily, because when your brother gives you hand/foot/mouth disease the day of your birthday party causing your birthday party to be pushed back a week "Howlly" has to whip up a fresh one for you! It's ok Lily, I got your back! Happy Be-lated #2 birthday!)

HUMMINGBIRD CAKE

2008-04-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

guts:

recipe and idea from marthastewart.com (banana/pineapple/coconut/pecan type of cake with cream cheese frosting)

those are flowers made out of pineapple (martha's are much prettier but mine are cooler!)

LADYBUG #1

2008-04-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

guts:

lemon cake

lemon buttercream icing

marshmallow fondant

grass is made with a 'grass' tip from Wilton

SPRING NEST/EASTER CAKE

2008-04-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

guts:
recipe and idea from marthastewart.com (via Jody)
except I cheated and used Whoppers Robins Eggs instead of making 'truffle' eggs (but just for the record, I do know how and could have ;-)

TOPSY TURVEY, WHIMSICAL OR MAD HATTER

2008-02-28T18:30:00.000-08:00

guts:
except for the fact that I can't follow directions I used the instructions on the cakecentral.com website to make this

BOOB & BELLY #2

2008-02-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

guts:

same as boob and belly #1 - only this time I FORGOT THE BELLY BUTTON!!!!

what was I thinking????

CINDERELLA

2008-02-16T15:48:00.000-08:00

guts:
2 Devil's food cake mixes (one baked in Pampered Chef batter bowl and one 8" round for height - all trimmed to match)
White buttercream icing to attach and frost
Marshmallow fondant (head piece, earings, necklace, dress and flowers!)

thanks Mom, for helping with this one!

SWEET LEMON

2008-02-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

Details:
Lemon cake
Lemon curd w/ whipped cream filling
Lemon/Butter buttercream flavored frosting
Marzipan lemons and leaves

FOOTBALL

2008-02-02T20:01:00.007-08:00

guts:
pampered chef batter bowl - cut in half, place large ends together and carve tips
covered/filled dark chocolate ganache
strips are marshmallow fondant
grass is buttercream
cake is duncan hines dark chocolate fudge - add 1 tbs flour, sub oil with applesauce, add 2 tsp cinnamon (OH MY GOODNESS IT'S YUMMY)

BOOBS AND BELLY

2008-02-02T20:01:00.006-08:00

guts:
wilton soccer ball pan and 2 cupcakes
marshmallow fondant

BOB THE TOMATO

2008-02-02T20:01:00.005-08:00

MOVIE REEL AND POPCORN BAG

2008-02-02T20:01:00.004-08:00

Chocolate cake with Chocolate buttercream icing and Marshmallow fondant

guts:
1 square cake cut in half and stacked - bag
1 8" round cake - reel

carmel corn in stuck onto a mound of frosting
reel is fruit by the foot

NORA AND SOPHIE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

2008-02-02T20:01:00.003-08:00

Pink Barn (by request of Lydia!)

guts:
strawberry buttercream, colored coconut grass, and they each had their own cupcake.

BELLE

2008-02-02T20:01:00.002-08:00

guts:
pampered chef batter bowl cake PLUS 8" round cake for height.
dress, earings and head piece are fondant.

KRISTINE LOWE'S BABY SHOWER

2008-02-02T20:01:00.001-08:00

Strawberry Buttercream icing, chocolate cake with strawberry filling.

guts:
found image from baby's bedding online, printed off, traced image onto wax paper using piping gel, smooshed onto cake and used dot tip to trace pipping gel outline.

OCTOBER 2007

2008-02-02T20:01:00.000-08:00

My first time working with marshmallow fondant.

Guts:
2 cakes baked in bundt pans
flip one cake upside down over the other
frost/fill with buttercream icing
used ho-ho for stem