Baking this week-Banana Bread

We have a banana tree in the garden and have extra banans to use up so a perfect solution was to make delicious banana bread.

Billow cake

This is a different effect using gumpaste and forming soft billowing cushions on the side of the cake. It is a great technique to use when making a ballet two tier cake or a multi tiered Wedding cake, where one of the tiers has this affect. The buttons are made using gumpaste and a mould to form the shape and then painted with edible Gold. Gives the cake a regal look I think!

Wedding Cake

This Wedding cake came with a challenge, the Bride did not want to have the cake tiers covered in rolled fondant but instead wanted a buttercream coating. I firstly made a template for each tier and sketched out the design, then using plastic strips to sit over the design I hand rolled each piece of Black fondant to match the design. When I completed one section I placed it on the cake, I had to make sure that the design was pushed securely into the buttercream to avoid it slipping. Weather is very hot here in South Florida so it always offers a challenge to keep the design in place. The Roses and Rose petals were made out of Red gumpaste  and added a good contrast of color to the cake.

Baking this week

Here are 3 popular choices for cakes, vanilla sponge cake, which offers a light soft texture which is perfect for strawberry and pastry cream filling. Carrot cake, a light textured carrot cake which has cranberries and fresh pineapple inside, (delicious tasting) and is filled with a cream chesses frosting. Then the most popular cake I have is a devils fudge cake, a dense, fudge like chocolate cake that goes perfectly with a chocolate ganache filling. A great choice to satisfy your chocolate craving.

14th Birthday Cake

The cake inside was Red velvet and cream cheese filling, which seems to be popular right now. The 14 on top is made of Black gumpaste and the Birthday girl requested some edible glitter to give it some bling. The top tier had a quilted effect with the chanel logo on the front. A simple yet effective cake.

Lace effect techniques

I made these cakes using a technique from Zoe Clark. I like the pale pastel background topped with the delicate fondant cut out flowers, that have a little petal dust on them to make them shimmer.

Lace and ribbon effect

 

 

Here is a cake which is an example of broderie anglaise on the gumpaste (this is achieved by using a special cutter all around the side,then piping royal icing around the pattern)It is one of my favourite techniques.I then take real ribbon and place it at even intervals around the side ,which looks like it has been threaded through the gumpaste to create a delicate look. The Red gumpaste poppies top the cake off perfectly.

Under the Sea theme cupcakes

These sea creatures are all made out of gumpaste ready to top some sea themed cupcakes.

Princess Birthday Cake

The customer for this cake requested a Princess cake using just Gold, White and Black. The Crown I made out of gumpaste allowed it to dry for two days then painted it with Gold luster dust.The Black cushion was rice krispie treats covered with Black gumpaste and then White gumpaste for the braiding around the edge, which was then painted with the Gold luster dust. The wand is made of Black gumpaste.

Valentine cake pops

These valentine cake pops have a Red Velvet cake filling and were a special order for a Valentine Party.