Happy Easter for a sweet neighbor

I made this cake with some extras I just couldn't justify throwing away.

3 layer vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream.  Very simple but that's what my lovely neighbours ordered.  I was nervous making this as in her 89 years I'm sure she's had delicious desserts to compare.

Similar to my other Easter cake but I added some pink and yellow butterflies and flowers.

Top view.
She loved it and It made my Easter to make her party special.

Mexican themed cake....beans anyone?

This cake was made for a very special Grandpa who was born in Mexico 89 years ago. 

 He's a sweet heart with a sweet tooth:)

By far the most challenging cake I've done based on size.  

10 cake recipes, 11 recipes of icing, 10lbs of mm fondant and at least 30 hours of work.

I always start with a sketch and try to stick to it.
This is a planning essential.

And now for 89 candles.
These are chocolate dipped pringle stix with a fondant flame.
It's was overwhelming to see a life time of candles and to imagine all he's done and seen in  those years.  

Mouth watering top tier that made up the bean pot.
Chocolate cake with drizzled with dark chocolate ganache covered in peanut butter buttercream then topped with mini Reeses Cups.  This was a hit.

Green tier was a 10" chocolate cake with drizzled dark chocolate ganache.  Then coated in Skor bar and topped with.... you guessed it .....whipped ganache.  Soooo rich.

The bottom 14" vanilla bean vanilla cake was coated with cream cheese icing and then loaded with these mouth watering raspberries.

Ready for fondant mexican blanket construction.

These clear guides worked amazing for stints.
Routine washing between colours a MUST to keep a clean look.

One Mexican blanket.
Did you know you can buy a real one online for $69.95

Apply to cake and drape then go madly scrub your counter top praying it doesn't stain.

The moment I was waiting for.  Hand painting my clay "Olla" and lid.
So much fun, it made up for the difficultly I had draping it.

My inspiration for the "Olla"
$21.95 online.

A little surprise birthday wish on inside of lid.
He loved it, but cringed at the number :)
I guess it doesn't get easier.

"Olla" complete with beans.

Cake was assembled on site 1 1/2 hours away through flood water detours.
No country roads today!

Final product including exactly 89 edible candles and hopefully a flavour for everyone.

Loved the colours.

Moments like these you remember for a lifetime.  
Like giving a labour of love to a great guy who never knew that sort of thing was possible.
He did whisper to me he purposely ate a small supper so he could eat more cake.
At 89 I think you can eat cake for supper and not feel guilty! 

Mr. Cornelius Froese with cake and an amazing hand painted portrait by Kerwin Froese.

The most difficult part of this entire cake.....cutting it.  This was not easy for me.  I really was wishing someone else would do this VERY difficult job.  
Funny no one offered.

I told Grandpa "at his age he shouldn't have to blow out any candles".
And that "it was much easier to just eat one!"
He agreed.


A very Happy Birthday Grandpa Froese.

I'd like to extend a big Thank you to the planning committee for including me in this wonderful celebration. 
 I feel truly honoured to have had the opportunity to create a cake he'll remember.

Surprise Easter Egg Cake

This was a simple yet fun Easter cake with a surprise!

10" Chocolate cake with whipped dark chocolate ganache, covered in marshmallow fondant,
Sure to satisfy all major chocolate cravings this season.

Back view of eggs.

Coloured white chocolate cooling in molds.
 Flo-coat is essential when colouring real chocolate to prevent ceasing.

Warm and level the egg in a saucepan on extra low.
Creating a smooth seam for other half to seal to.

Pre measure treat amount prior to heating the egg as to not waste time while your chocolate is cooling.  Seam warm edges and then smooth with your finger filling in any gaps.

Ready to decorate!

White chocolate hollow Easter eggs decorated with fondant.

My image for inspiration from a site called Simple and Handmade.

My version of a tulip that turned out more like a daffodil.
Use a small leaf cutter, flatten,curl.  Then wrap around the bulb.  Do this another five times and there you go ....a flower!  Then do this 9 more times and you have enough for a cake!

Dry upside down for desired petal shape.

Now for the fun part....assembly.
Two tones of grass, flowers, butterflies and eggs ready to go.

Ta da ....add the eggs and some more grass and its' done.

So simple yet very pretty.
A Very Happy Easter to Wendy and her gang!

Chocolate Skor Nests

I dreamed up these simple nests for my little guys to share with their friends at school.

Very simple and this week that what I needed.  

No cake ball here, roll the mix in a tube shape and cut.  Super fast and much cleaner.
A little edible grass and some Micro eggs and you're done.  I did say simple.
I used Chocolate cake and icing and added Skor bits...very yummy.

Making 50, not as simple but still by far the easiest cake pop.


Happy Easter!

Showers of Happiness bridal shower cake

As I made this spring bridal shower cake "Showers of Happiness" I watched as the snow fell and covered the yard again.  It was beautiful but maybe more appreciated in November not so "happy" for Easter.  Hopefully the blanket of snow disappears as fast as the cake will!

This two tier 6"and 8" cake is a guaranteed cure for those dangerous chocolate cravings.
Hiding under these dainty butterflies is yummy chocolate cake and melt in your mouth whipped dark chocolate ganache.

I really had to think "Spring" and not look out at the snow.

I made over 30 butterflies but tried to keep it simple.
It was hard as I love to accent.

I knew very little about the wedding, so I really just made a cake I would love.
I hope the bride loves it too.

I made a message tag out of fondant by hand.
 My inspiration for shape came from my friend Yoko who plans great Garden Parties.

I researched colour blending and the wheel in order to make these muted colours.
Much more challenging and time consuming than I expected, but I learned lots.

Here is the final colour pallet, very soft and muted.
 I have no idea what the wedding colours are but hope she likes these. 

I'm sure you can buy an overpriced version of this from Wilton or you can fold your own "M" .
Very important to line this with parchment paper as Wax paper and fondant seem to stick.
It also makes it so easier to move later and reuse your "M".

Chocolate ganache covered cakes.

Oh just the smell is aromatherapy :)

I wish you a wonderful bridal shower Yasmin.
And an even more beautiful wedding day.
May you have many memories to cherish forever.

Ariel the Little Mermaid Cake

This cake was so much fun to make.  

I listened to "Kiss the girl"  over and over while I worked.  

Click here and you can listen too!

Very Vanilla 6" and 8" tiered cake with pink Vanilla icing.
Covered in airbrushed Marshmallow Fondant.

Oh the life of a Mermaid....
She was a good sculpting challenge needing days to dry in many stages.

She even looks good from the back :)

Sebastian made out of mmfondant amongst the other sea life.
I loved how the colours pop on this cake.

Ariel from an Areal view.

My inspiration for the ocean life.

My Ariel and Flounder models.

Cakes dirty iced.
 These food safe jumbo bubble tea straws work great for supports and for a fraction of the traditional wooden dowels price.  Notice these supports are where all the weight of the fondant rock and Ariel will be. 

I have discovered that a food dehydrator works amazing with the help of Tylose powder to accelerate the drying process.  There's multiply trays and it keeps your items protected from curious fingers (adults included)


Hope you had a very special 5th Birthday Madeleine.
 I can't wait to see your Brushfire creation.