May I Have The Envelope Please?

I often make Birthday Cakes and Wedding Cakes, but a cake I made today is from one of my favorite categories...Gender Reveal Cakes!  What is a Reveal Cake, you ask?  Well it's just like a "regular" cake, but the batter or filling is colored either pink or blue based on ultrasound results that until the cake is cut have been kept a secret.   

For today's cake, time was of the essence, so I baked the vanilla cake while the mom-to-be was in the ultrasound office.  Then, after her appointment, she dropped a sealed envelope off to me at the shop.   I wait until she leaves, then I open the envelope to find out what color I need to tint the icing.  For a short period of time I am among a very select group that knows the gender of the unborn baby. I love seeing the future mom's anticipation and I especially love that she is gathering those closest to her to cut the cake, reveal the gender and celebrate what is to come!  I love that these cakes bring families together.  

Gender Reveal Cakes can be decorated in so many ways.  This cake was going to be served with all the excited grandparents present, so mom-to-be opted for a simple buttercream iced cake with baby pink and pastel blue fondant polka dots and question marks.  I added a little edible glitter and a simple bead border to finish it off.  So what color was revealed when this cake was cut?

Blue...Congratulations!!

Wait...That's Sugar?

Groom's cakes sure have come a long way!  While we still create traditional Groom's Cakes with chocolate dipped strawberries and a ganache drip, we recently had the pleasure of creating a Groom's Cake for a groom who loves photography.  He sent us a photo of his camera and we went to work!  We prefer to keep all items on our cakes edible, so we rarely use plastic figurines and other non-edible items as accents.

 The end result was a rice cereal treat base covered in black fondant.  The lens was attached to the body with skewers then strips of fondant were added, textured and hand painted silver luster dust.  Other fondant details including buttons and the flash were added and painted.

The sugar camera was carefully transported to the reception site and placed on the Groom's Cake, which was a 12" Square cake iced in ivory buttercream with a rosette border to coordinate with the Wedding Cake. 

The wedding photographer was on-site documenting the big day and didn't realize that the camera was edible.  The groom came by as well and loved his cake and sugar camera...success!

 

Everything's Coming Up Roses!

I love getting requests for our "Rosette Cake." 

 

Cupcake-like swirls covering a cake entirely. 

 Add edible glitter and sporadic pearls and....viola!

Whether it's one tier or two or more, this cake is a show stopper.  

Baking on the Wild Side

The best part of being a custom cake bakery is that every day is different.  One day we can be baking a chocolate chip cake with chocolate buttercream filling to be decorated in camouflage with a deer head and the next we've got a lemon cake with raspberry filling decorated in a vintage style with ivory and blush fondant lace and pearl accents. 

Having said that, there are styles and trends in cakes, just as in fashion or home decor, and this year animal print is in.  From zebra to leopard and tiger print - it all translates nicely in sugar.  Add a splash of your favorite colors, maybe some polka dots, feathers or a monogram and you've got a wildly fabulous creation. And you can make it your own with any combination of our cake flavors and fillings!

So go ahead...live on the wild side!  What can we bake for you?

 

Feeling Blue? Eat Cake!

Drum Kit Groom's Cake

Wedding Cake

Fondant Bridal Shower Cake

Fondant Graduation Cake

Bridal Shower Cake

DJ Birthday Cake

 

We have had several "blue" cakes in the last few weeks.  Blue is a color traditionally reserved for the guys, but many of these cakes were for our female customers who are choosing a refreshing hue.  We have had fun coloring fondant and airbrushing buttercream in a variety of shades.  We can't wait to see what our customers request next week!

Life is a Party...

...or so it felt this week!  We celebrated with moms, kiddos and even some Girl Scouts!  We started with a Girl's Night Out where some fabulous mom's gathered at our shop for a night of decorating and catching up!  They each decorated a dozen cupcakes, and like snowflakes, no two were alike!  They did a fabulous job and hopefully, had a great time!  (I know I did!)

Later in the week we welcomed a Girl Scout Troop who opted for our 6" cake decorating party.  They each had their own personal cake to decorate with buttercream in a variety of colors.  They also worked with fondant to create accents for their cakes.  I love seeing their creations, which we boxed up and sent home to enjoy.  They were a blast to hang out with and we even got some moms in on the decorating action!

The following day it was time to celebrate with a birthday party at All Things Cake.  Eleven friends got together to decorate cupcakes with tasty buttercream and colorful sprinkles.  We even added some disco dust for a little cupcake bling!   They channeled their inner pastry chef (complete with chef's hats!) and created some yummy and adorable cupcakes.  No party is complete with our sampling some cake, so the girls chose a cupcake to eat before the birthday girl opened her gifts.  The best part is that the honoree isn't the only one who goes home with presents...all of our treats are packaged and sent home so no one goes home empty handed!

I can honestly say that this is the first job where I get to PARTY on a regular basis.  Don't be jealous...just come party with us, too!  ;)

Penguins on Parade

What a busy week at All Things Cake! While most were on Spring Break, we were busy with classes, parties and of course, CAKES! We also had a private session request from a fabulous customer who was given a rather large school assignment: Create a life sized penguin!

What we came up with was a 30" tall penguin whose core is Styrofoam covered in rice krispie treats to add shape. The head and feet are also rice krispie treats that we sculpted. The body and head were then covered in black royal icing, which dries hard to hold everything together. The white belly as well as the beak and yellow features are fondant, which can be rolled out and cut in any shape. Eyes and toenails were then added. They were made of fondant and details were painted on with food coloring diluted with clear vanilla. Cardboard covered in royal icing made up the wings and tail. We then perched this penguin on a Styrofoam block of ice and secured it with sharpened dowels. The end result? A super-cute penguin, a lot of fun and hopefully an A!

A Year Goes By In A Blink...

WOW!  I know it sounds cliche, but where has the time gone?  One year ago this week I clicked on the 'OPEN' sign for my cake shop and supply store for the first time.  Since that moment, I have worked six days a week and baked thousands of layers of cake.  But the thing I remember most about the past year is the amazing people who have walked through my front door each day. They are the sole reason I am able to celebrate our first anniversary this week. 

People of all ages and all walks of life come into the shop each week.  Some are bakery owners needing last minute supplies, some are brides looking for information on a wedding cake and some are just killing time while their loved ones shop at the bridal store next door or are getting a tattoo two doors down.  I have my "regulars" who come in each week to get their boards and boxes for their weekly orders...and I have loved getting to know them over the last year. 

And then there are those who come in, some with a picture or sketch, some who have never decorated a cake before. These customers I love...We walk around the store and come up with several ideas to accomplish the same task: making said cake.  It's not about how much money they spend - it's about figuring out all the pieces of the puzzle that they will need - it's about the final product: a cake that will make their child's eyes light up, a cake that their grandchild will remember forever, a cake made and decorated with love.  I truly have the best job ever.  I am so grateful that I got to do it for an entire year and will, hopefully, do it for many more!