cake fun

Americana

cakefun — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:14:27 +0000

A stars and stripes cake for a Kiwi-American birthday celebration in good old NZ. The family provided me with the lovingly baked the fruit cake, which smelled just divine! My job was to ice it with an American theme. It had an almond then fondant icing layer with fondant stars and stripes. Turned out very 4th of July looking.

American stars and stripes 50th birthday cake

Life’s a beach…

cakefun — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:29:18 +0000

I made this cake for one of the other Nana’s 50th birthday celebration. This beach scene includes all the things you need for a relaxing day at the beach.

Beach cake

The cake is chocolate with a chocolate ganache filling, then covered with fondant. The beach items are all fondant/gumpaste with raw sugar as the sand.

I just love the way the sun umbrella turned out, perfectly ruffled.

Here’s a closer look at some of the detail…

Beach umbella, chairs, sun hat, book and towel over the fence

Beach ball, bucket and spade and a crab sit along the fence line

Christmas cakes 2011

cakefun — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:37:48 +0000

Here are the cakes I made for family this christmas.

Christmas tree and presents

Choir boys Christmas cake

Poinsettia design Christmas cake

For the two square ones I tried a different method for the lettering. I used royal icing but piped the letters out on parchment then when dry transferred them to the cake. I did a couple of sets which was good as i did break a few so was pleased to have some back ups.

I think I like doing the rectangle shaped cake for fruit cakes. This time I tried a piping the lettering directly on the cake using two layers white on the bottom and a wriggly red top layer. The poinsettia flowers were all piped royal icing.

The drop line experiment

cakefun — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:05:37 +0000

After reading up on the stunning and intricate piping work that Eddie Spence does. I thought I’d give it a try. Thankfully I had a set of his step by step instructions to follow. It turned out quite well for a first attempt. Though I think I need to work on getting my lines the same length and maybe being a bit more tidy.

Amazingly this was easier than I thought it would be, and I just love the way the loops seem to defy gravity. A steady hand is necessary and I did have to redo a couple that got knocked off. I would not want to have to transport a cake like this anywhere, one bump in the road and it could all shatter.

Anyway here it is…

The drop line piping experiment

Going to the zoo

cakefun — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:27:28 +0000

This cake was for a two year old who was having his party at the zoo. The giraffe and zebra were made from gumpaste. The cake is my favorite chocolate cake with chocolate ganache filling covered with fondant icing.

Zoo cake

Happy Birthday Ajay, hope you have a great birthday party!

Halloween cookies

cakefun — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:46:47 +0000

It’s that time of year again… instead of sweets I thought I’d make some cookies.

Gingerbread cookies decorated with royal icing – yummy.

Halloween Cookies

Created using some new d-line Halloween cookie cutters I picked up.

Barbie Cake

cakefun — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:46:10 +0000

It has been ages since I’ve posted anything. That’s due to my kitchen being ripped out and new bigger and better one going in. It’s great to have so much space to work in, not to mention fabulous appliances!

Here’s the first decorated cake from the new kitchen. A barbie cake for my neice Leeza’s birthday.

Barbie cake

I didn’t have a special cake barbie so it just a regular one minus the legs (sorry Barbie, lucky they clip back on).

Cut the Rope cookies

cakefun — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:04:47 +0000

After a busy and stressful corporate work week I needed to relax a bit by baking something fun. What’s more fun than the Cut the Rope game, that little monster is so cute, although you’ve got to watch out for those spiders! I do get a bit anxious when they’re getting too close – yes I’m a bit arachnophobic.

So came up with a set cookies themed on the game, the monster, stars, spiders, and of course the candy.

Cut the Rope cookies

Look! Up in the sky, it’s superman!

cakefun — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 09:03:28 +0000

The ultimate superhero cake, three tiers of chocolate cake with fondant icing. I love the way the symbol came out on the top.

Happy Birthday Kaihn, hope you have a fantastic party.

Superman

Farewell little princes

cakefun — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:52:56 +0000

My grand-daughter was due to finish up at creche this week so I was making a cake for her and a couple of other wee boys leaving on the same day. Turns out she’s now staying on a creche as her mum is going to continue her education with a view to becoming a vet or zoo keeper. Very proud of her, and know she’ll do well!

So cake still on but just the two princes on the top now.

I used the luster spray on the sides and lettering, which always makes my kitchen sparkle! Love the effect of the glitter sprinkling in the air catching the light as it drifts about.

I digress, here’s the cake in it’s sparkly glory…

Farewell cake for Ajay and Tane