Just a Little Patience

If I hadn't already changed my name from Little Miss Cupcake, I would seriously start considering a change to Little Miss Cake! Since the beginning of January, it has literally been like a cake factory here in my kitchen. And I gotta tell you, I am not as comfortable with cakes as I am with cupcakes. There is a definite skill to cutting and layering cakes so that they stand up straight. And since I am not a huge fan of fondant-covered cakes, it takes a lot of patience to get a smooth surface with your buttercream. I also firmly believe that there is a real art to decorating a cake. I see that big surface staring me in the face and I don't see a canvas...I see something that I am really not quite sure what to do with!

I have been looking at a lot of different sites lately to get some inspiration as I seem to be getting more and more calls for cake. I've recently discovered Pink Cake Box, Petal Sweet Cakes and Zoe Clark among others. If you're a cake baker, feel free to leave me a note and tell me where you draw your inspiration from. I'll be sticking to cupcakes where I can but do find a certain relaxation in cake baking and making. One of my goals for the year in addition to improving my cake decorating skills is to find a cake style and stick with it. I think that will make the process easier and more enjoyable.

Fist up was a Hot Wheels cake for my son's 8th birthday. The kids at his party were fascinated by the grass and were having fits of giggles when they asked me for more grass please!

Next was a wedding cake for a couple who brought me a shawl worn by the fiance's great grandmother on the day she was married 60 or so years ago. The current fiancee would be wearing it on her wedding day as well. The design on the cake was inspired by the cascades of yellow, beige and white blossoms on that shawl.


They there was a cake for a two year-old's birthday. Her parents wanted an elephant on the cake.

And lastly a second wedding cake for a couple who were both getting married for the second time. They wanted something somewhat traditional but at the same time kind of against the grain. I ordered these absolutely exquisite blood-red roses from my florist and they really stole the show -- this was actually a pretty fairly easy cake to make but the results were extraordinary thanks to the fresh blooms.