Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Last year I decided to forego the fancy brunches and forced outings and just spent some time working on a cake that pleased my palate. And my palette! I wanted something light and tart paired with something unexpected. Something that could be made and assembled quickly but still look and taste impressive. Continue reading “Lemon Blackberry Cake with Matcha Marshmallow Frosting”
This edible moss is perfect for cookies, cakes and cupcakes. I perfected this technique for a special woodland themed cake I made for my birthday. I love making meringue mushrooms and discovered an easy way to make chocolate “logs” but really needed some edible moss to bring it all together. All the details of putting together this cake are below but if you’re just here for the edible moss recipe, scroll to the bottom!
Most years my birthday is well after Easter. So usually by the time I’m thinking birthday cake, I’m so over bunnies and eggs and pastels and spring. But not this year! So I thought I’d kill two birds with one stone and make a birthday cake that was also Easter-y! I had dozens of my favorite bunny cookies and thought I’d make a pastel cake adorned with pink and white bunny cookies, pastel watercolor buttercream and a white chocolate sail. And then I accidentally made this. My creative process is what some might call chaotic, but I prefer the term “experimentally unhinged”. Continue reading “Edible Moss-Spring Woodland Cake”
There’s nothing I like better than inserting myself into someone else’s special event. But I have a pretty good excuse. As an extrovert who is also unfortunately awkward socially, I love going to parties but struggle to enjoy myself because half the time I can’t hear the other person over the voice in my head going, “You’re talking about yourself again. Is her name Heather or Michelle? You should have worn the other earrings.” I just recently figured out that I do much better at social events if I have a job, task or role. Then as long as I’m taking the coats or washing the dishes or whatever, I can make conversation without feeling like a total dummy. Continue reading “Interstellar Cake”
It’s handy to have a basic frosting for every occasion and this Crusting Cream Cheese Frosting is a decorator favorite. It holds it’s shape perfectly to show of ornate designs. It smooths easily for a finish as crisp as fondant and is sturdy enough to weather warmer temperatures. And the flavor! Yum! Continue reading “The Perfect Crusting Cream Cheese Frosting”
This week I’ll be posting three of my best frosting recipes, a basic frosting for every occasion. Today’s topic: Rich Chocolate Buttercream made with cocoa powder. Some recipes call for melted chocolate. But melting chocolate just adds more bowls to wash and more steps. This recipe is insanely delicious and is finished in minutes. Super chocolatey, super rich. The almond extract and hint of salt put it over the top. It is my most-requested frosting, hands down. Continue reading “Rich Chocolate Almond Buttercream”
This week I’ll be posting three of my best frosting recipes, a basic frosting for every occasion. Today’s topic: the Best Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream. Continue reading “Best Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream”
With so many sweets around at Easter, it might be overkill to make an Easter Cake but a small pastel cake on a cheerful cake stand can be a perfect focal point for the dessert table. Plus, never pass up a chance to bake a cake. I wanted to make a layer cake that would be sweet and light with a bit of a crunchy coating. After looking through umpteen yellow cake recipes, which always seem to taste like cornbread when you make them from scratch, I decided to try the banana chiffon cake from Martha Stewart’s CAKES book. Continue reading “Banana Chiffon Easter Cake”
I have been seeing lovely wedding cakes all festooned with crafty-looking flowers made of edible wafer paper. Wafer paper is a thin sheet of potato starch. Do you remember these spaceship candies from when we were kids? That’s wafer paper! But now cake makers are using wafer paper to make exquisite and elegant designs. Google it. Continue reading “Dark Chocolate Magnolia Cake with Ganache, Gold Dragees and Wafer Paper”
