Lego City

So last month I got an inquiry from a woman wanting a Lego City cake for her son's 6th birthday. She sent me a link to a horrifyingly detailed cake, pictured below:

The only thing was she needed to feed less than 20 six year olds, so that would have been far too much cake. The one requirement her son had was the cake had to have a helicopter on top, so we decided to use the bottom tier as inspiration. 

I was able to replicate the cake pretty well, with a few tweaks, including a helipad on top.  

Even still, I'm looking at this cake trying to imagine how it will look with the helicopter and other Lego decor. I am so used to making sweet little cakes, I just didn't know what to think of the cake. I was hesitant and starting to doubt myself, convinced she was going to hate it. 

Then, my husband comes home and walks in the kitchen. He looks at the cake and yells "COOL!!" Considering men never grow up, I figured that was going to be indicative of Cannon's reaction. 

I was so happy to hear everyone loved the cake. And seriously, these Legos just absolutely made the cake!!

Goal!

So, I don't think I've shared very much about my day job, which is completely different from my baking life. During the day, I work as an attorney for the state. The chief legal counsel of my agency is just an absolute peach. She's got five children ranging in age from 23 years to 18 months, and she doesn't look a day over 30. She's a beautiful little freak of nature. Anyway, her daughter had just turned 10 and it was a pretty big deal to her. She kept telling Rachael, "mom, it's double digits," and informed her she was expecting some type of birthday surprise commensurate with what a big deal this birthday was. 

Well, Rachael's first surprise was the party was a week late! Second, she surprised her with a part at Skyzone, a trampoline park. The surprise also included a cake carefully crafted by me, of course. Maddie absolutely loves soccer.  And, like her momma, is a die-hard chocoholic. 

Naturally, the cake was a soccer ball theme. It was my standard chocolate cake baked in a bowl the same way my pig cake was previously. It was then torted and filled with chocolate buttercream. Once the cake was covered with the fondant patches, it was time to make it shiny like a soccer ball. Anyone know the secret? Vodka. When people see vodka in my decorating kit, I like to joke that cake decorating drives me to drink.  But really, to make fondant shiny all you have to do is paint it with a vodka/water mixture. The alcohol evaporates and leaves a really nice gloss. 

Maddie only had a handful of girls at her party, maybe around 7 or so ten year-olds.  The cake should have fed 20+ people! but these girls worked up an appetite bouncing and finished it. Impressive. 

I've been so busy BAKING

I haven't had any time for BLOGGING!! Bear with me, I'll catch up soon!!!!!

Cookie Dough Overload

Today is one of my husband's best friends' birthday. His girlfriend also happens to be one of my dear friends. When I asked her what kind if cake he wanted for his birthday, his answer was that he likes cookies more than cake. I had just the answer... Cookie dough cake!!

I've traditionally done my "Dough!" Recipe as cupcakes. But I have been wanting to try it as an over the top cookie dough overload cake. 

I have to say it was a success!!

The top and bottom layers were a traditional yellow cake while the middle layer was eggless cookie dough. The cake was then frosted with a cookie dough flavored frosting and garnished with cookie strips and mini chocolate chips to form the "29."

The cake was almost 5 inches tall and every bit as decadent as it sounds. The top and bottom layers were the same height to begin with. you can tell how heavy the cake was by looking at how much smaller the bottom layer is now!

There is no better way to consume massive amounts of cookie dough than with cake and frosting to go with.

Stay Sweet!

Under the Sea!

My niece, Lucy, recently turned 5.  My sister had been planning the party for months with a mermaid "under the sea" theme. She wanted something that gave the essence of the mermaid without being too Disney and in your face. 

We both spent a long time on Pinterest trying to find the perfect cake, and ended up merging a couple of ideas together. I had found a few nautical waves cakes I thought would pair perfect with the scales my sister wanted for the bottom tier. 

The pictures didn't capture the subtleties of the cake. The waves, which were a 50/50 modeling chocolate-fondant mix, were rubbed with shortening to give a wet look. 

The scales were also dusted with gold luster dust to give the fishy sheen. 

The sand castle was just cake made in a sand castle mold. It was then covered in piping gel and the edible sand applied. The sand was made with golden Oreos, graham crackers, and a little brown sugar. It smelled incredible!!

The sea shells and sea horses in the sand were simply made with candy molds and Wilton candy melts. Everything was edible!!!!

And Lucy seemed to enjoy... 

Stay Sweet!!

He's cute, he's sweet, and so much fun, the little sweetheart is turning one!

Birthdays are in the air! My old friend Erin contacted me about doing her son's first birthday cake and smash cake. I was so excited when she told me it was a sweetheart theme because Jackson was a little Valentine baby. 

She sent me this invite and wanted to stick to a teal chevron and red heart theme. 

She also wanted a red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting. That complicated the idea of fondant because while cream cheese frosting must be refrigerated, fondant cannot be. 

So I stuck with a clean frosted cake and used a 50/50 mix of marshmallow fondant and modeling chocolate just as the decorations. 

The cake turned out stunning, don't you think?! 

I also made a matching smash cake with chevron sides using the petal method. 

I think someone enjoyed it...

Reviving childhood treats.

Sunday was my dear sister-in-law's birthday. My mother-in-law had told me about this cherry cake they got Rachel every year from a local bakery. That is until things started to go south, and Laurie said the cake began to taste like a boxed mix. So that was the end of Rachel's cherry cake. 

I wanted to revive her childhood cherry tradition-- I also wanted to practice the cherry cake because I had a sneaking suspicion she was going to ask for that for her wedding cake. I get to pull double duty as baker-bridesmaid in May. So I figured it wouldn't hurt to start now. 

Laurie also said Rachel's birthday cakes had traditionally been Valentine themed, considering the close proximity to V-day. With love on the brain, it was only natural to do the cake in her wedding colors-- pink and gray. 

The cake was frosted in a simple vanilla buttercream. It was light and delicate, and seemed to absorb some of the cherry flavor in the cake, which was really delicious.  The gray ruffles were made of modeling chocolate-- it's so much tastier than fondant.

The cake inside was just as pretty pink and so delicious. I am not a fruity cake lover, so honestly I was skeptical of this cake. But it was incredible! And I'm pretty sure it made the list for the nuptials. 

Stay Sweet!

Take as needed.

One of my good friends recently underwent surgery. I wanted to send her something to keep her spirits up during recovery. As I was looking at different flower bouquets, I remember she once told me that when she starts dating a guy, she explains that if he ever needs to apologize, he should do so with food, not flowers.

So I began looking at the cookie bouquets from the flower companies.  Really just because I didn't want to bug Lindsay, I just wanted to let her know I was thinking of her and thought delivery was the way to go. But seriously, they were charging $5 a cookie before delivery. That's twice the price I charge for cookies! It became clear I would be making some homemade treats instead, which I'm sure will be more appreciated!

I had seen some cute ideas on Pinterest of pill-shaped cookies for a get well gift. I went with two styles in 4 colors. Caplets and capsules. I put sphere sprinkles on the capsules to look like they were filled. 

They turned out pretty adorable! I also got a nice large jar that most resembled a precipiton bottle to fill.

A nice kitschy label, and the get well gift was complete! I dropped them at her doorstep so I wouldn't disturb her and let her boyfriend know they were there. He has been patiently waiting for her to wake so he can have a dose. 

Stay sweet!

 

CUPCAKE GIVEAWAY!!

Today, the Pretty Sweet blog reached 1,000 views!!! In order to celebrate, we are having a FLAVOR SHOWDOWN cupcake giveaway. 

The rules are simple: 

1. "Like" Pretty Sweet Events Facebook page

2. Comment on the FLAVOR SHOWDOWN photo with your favorite flavor. 

3. Share the FLAVOR SHOWDOWN photo. 

At 5:00 pm on Friday February 7th, a random winner will be chosen to get a free dozen cupcakes in their chosen flavor. 

May the best flavor win!!! 

Stay Sweet!

This giveaway is only applicable to individuals in the central Ohio area. Cupcake order must be picked up at Pretty Sweet in Lewis Center. 

Pretty Peacock

One of my former co-workers sent me a picture on Thursday of a very intricate jumbo peacock cupcake for her mother's birthday.  Admittedly, this thing was so intricate, I thought she was joking for a second.  Regardless, I (of course) told her "no problem! see you Sunday!"

The longer I stared at the photo, the less intimidating it became, and I finally figured out the logistics of this.  Despite wanting to charge punitive damages for the emotional distress {bad lawyer quip}, it actually was far less daunting.  It turned out so beautiful, and Sandy's mom said it was the prettiest cake she had ever seen.  {blushing a little!}

It was just a simple white cake in the jumbo mold. Instead of fondant, the peacock is covered in modeling chocolate for a better taste.  The tail feathers are also made of modeling chocolate.  Although the pictures don't display it, the feathers are painted with a gold luster dust.

Stay Sweet!

Oh What Fun! Dylan is One!

 

 

Yesterday I had the pleasure of making a host of sweets for a sweet little one-year-old's very first birthday.  My friend Samantha had an all out party planned for her little girl Dylan and needed plenty of pink treats to go with.  She sent a photo of a two-tiered pink cake with ribbons and spirals galore.  The cake resembled a present adorned with ribbons and bows, and matched the theme "Oh What Fun" so well.

 

 

The bottom tier was a 9-inch vanilla cake; the top, a giant chocolate cupcake.  Instead of fondant, since this was a child's birthday and most don't like the taste, the cakes were covered in modeling chocolate.

But for sweet Dylan's party, even a fun cake like this wasn't enough... obviously, matching cut-out cookies was a must!.

Finally, a first birthday wouldn't be complete without a smash cake!  We kept it simple and just used a rose-style frosting--in bright pink of course.

 and from the photos, it looked like little Dylan enjoyed her first smash!

 

Stay Sweet!

Bigger. Is. Better.

My husband's secretary's birthday was today, so he requested I make a special treat for the office. Christine loves my cookie dough stuffed cupcakes with cookie dough frosting. Instead of reinventing the wheel and turning it into a traditional layer cake, I figured I'd just make a giant cupcake. Plus, I was excited to try out my new pan. 

This is what the traditional sized Dough! cupcakes look like:

Let me tell you, this cupcake was HUGE. Of course I don't use boxed cakes, but the instructions on the box call for 1-2 box mixes, depending on how big you want the cake. 

The cupcake is cooked in two pieces, top and bottom. I didn't want to use fondant for the "wrapper," because I've been enjoying my recent experiments with modeling chocolate. That's what I used and it turned out great. The flavor is much much better as well. 

The center was then hollowed out and filled with a cup and a half of jumbo chocolate chip cookie dough. 

Here's the giant cupcake next to a traditional wrapper for comparison:

That's a BIG cupcake! After the frosting was added, it topped out at about 7" tall.  My husband and his coworkers enjoyed some for lunch and sent this...

Everyone was pleased. And ready to close the office for nap time. 

Stay sweet!!

Remember to like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/PrettySweetEvents

Oink!!

Yesterday I finished a cake for one of my husband's coworkers. Her daughter was turning 8 and absolutely loves pigs. I knew there were several options for a pig cake, but I wanted a pig shaped cake, not just a pig decorated cake.

I had found this recipe for a pig shaped cake. I liked the basic idea if this cake, but didn't want to do a cherry cake, as that's not what the client asked for. Instead I just used my traditional yellow cake recipe. 

This was the first time is ever baked a cake in a glass bowl. I reduced the temperature by 50 degrees: 25 because the batter was much thicker and 25 because glass conducts heat quicker than metal pans. 

This is want the cake looked like out of the oven:

My husband loves shaped cakes...there's so much more extras when it's leveled. So he got a bowl of cake top and a dollop of frosting. Happy camper!

The above recipe also didn't call for any layers. I thought it was going to be too much cake, not enough frosting. So I used my leveler and cut three layers to fill with vanilla buttercream. Lastly, the client didn't want fondant and I don't recommend it for kids anyway. Instead, I used modeling chocolate to get the same clean look with a better flavor.  The eyes, ears, nose, tail, and hooves were done in a matching marshmallow fondant.  And of course some dark chocolate frosting to get the little guy all muddy!

I was very impressed with the result!

Stay sweet!

Gucci. Michael Kors. Tiffany's. A girl's gotta eat her birthday cake in style!

One of my nearest and dearest friends turned the big 3-0 on Saturday (even though she looks 16 still-- bitch).  Paula is a very lucky girl.  She has four of the best friends in the world, and I'm not just saying that because I'm one of them.  Although we occasionally get together with all of us, we're not a group of five best girl friends; we are instead each a devoted best friend to Paula.

Paula is a lot of things besides being a great friend.  She is also wonderfully high maintenance and a total designer snob.  And I love it.  Naturally, I decided it was necessary to do a 3-tiered fondant covered cake.  The bottom tier: Gucci; the middle tier: Michael Kors; the top tier: Tiffany's.

Although I spent time making a Gucci stencil to make this part go quicker, the stencil was stubborn.  Instead, I hand painted the entire first tier.

Of course, the only acceptable flavor:  PINK.  VELVET.

Getting the right Tiffany blue was much easier with the Tiffany bag in front of me-- the other girls and I had already gotten Paula a necklace for a gift.

 And... voila!!  She loved the cake, and so did everyone else.