Archive for May, 2011
Tumbler Cake Project – cake and cupcakes featuring Tumbler, a character from the Bob the Builder cartoon series. Price available upon request.
“… can we build it?”
So goes a line from the Bob the Builder theme song. This was also the challenge for this cake project.
When a former classmate asked me to create the cake and cupcakes for her son’s fourth birthday, I was thrilled. Not only because I will see A._ again after ten years or so, but also because well, I love making cakes and cupcakes.
Question: What does your boy love so I can incorporate it into the design? Answer: Tumbler from the Bob the Builder cartoon series.
Actually, little N._ loves cement mixer toys and the Tumbler character is a cement mixer. I had planned on making a chocolate image of Tumbler so I needed a cartoon drawing but surprisingly, I could not find any after scouring the internet and bookstores (for coloring books). Sure there were plenty of images but they were photos of the real toy so I thought why not just get the real thing instead and make it as the cake topper that can also double as my present to the birthday boy 
. A trip to several toy stores yielded nothing. Oh elusive Tumbler, where art thou? So I just improvised as what bakers at the end of their ropes do.
Toppers were images of Bob’s friends printed on sticker paper and made into cupcake picks. Flavors included Orange Creamsicle, Chocolate Naranja, Atis Delight, Dalmatian and Fortune Cookie.
As with the Alice in Wonderland chocolate cake placard, I placed the Tumbler topper the same way.
A._ later told me that her guests loved the cupcakes — not too sweet, soft and moist. Her husband G._ said the cake was one of the best he tasted. Aww, thanks! As for the birthday boy, he sure has an affinity to orange and chocolate – a budding gourmand, for sure!
Thanks A._ for making me a part of your family’s special celebration! It was nice seeing you and I look forward to our get-together soon!
May 11th, 2011
Heart of Gold Wedding Project – wedding cake and cupcakes in yellow and gold colors featuring chocolate hearts brushed with edible gold luster dust on the cupcakes and large chocolate hearts and marzipan daisies on the cake. Price available upon request.
love is the only gold – Alfred Lord Tennyson
This is the latest wedding cake and cupcakes I made for a friend. She was excited because she was finally settling down with the man of her dreams. She sounded so in love—aww!
We ran through all her requirements for the cake and cupcakes. For the cake: large yellow hearts with their names on them, check; yellow daisies made of marzipan, check; a sprinkling of gold dragees, check; gold ribbons, check. For the cupcakes: swirled whipped cream frosting, check; chocolate heart brushed with edible gold dust as topper, check; sprinkling of gold dragees, check. Gold box with acetate cover and sticker label, check. Devil’s food chocolate as flavor for the cake and cupcakes frosted with whipped cream tinted yellow, check. Delivery date, April 2, check. Wait, make that April 8. Oops, documents, clearances, permits needed for the wedding are not yet complete so make the date April 18. Whoa!
I already calendared the original date and when it was moved, my schedule was still fine. But when the date was set on April 18, I was faced with projects bunched up together. As in due dates on two consecutive dates. I asked my friend if she can move her date a week after but it was a no-go as it was the only time where their immediate family members were available. Oh dear, where are Santa’s elves when you need them?
Fortunately, there’s the freezer. As I mentioned before, unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen successfully so that’s just what I did. Once thawed, they’re like freshy-baked, retaining their flavor and moistness. Just wrap each cupcake with cling film and put in air tight containers before storing them in the freezer. I haven’t tried freezing frosted cupcakes yet but most bakers attest that they can be done. I am not going into that territory just yet.
On wedding day, the couple graciously asked me to stay and celebrate with them but unfortunately I had to go and finish my other project. Dang it! I was looking forward to that juicy and tasty Max’s fried chicken at the reception but oh well.
As all weddings are, it was a happy occasion. I got the chance to exchange stories with G._’s sister L._ who was also my classmate in elementary and high school. The cake and cupcakes were actually L._’s gift to her sister, with brother D._ pitching in as well. How generous of you, L._, and D._ !
G._ later reported to me that their guests enjoyed their wedding favors—the cupcakes. As for the cake, the couple loved it but sadly, it got smooshed because one waiter carelessly put it in a—gasp!— plastic bag as the festivities came to an end! It was in its box allright but it was unceremoniously dumped in the plastic bag along with other wedding gifts … ¡que horror!
Despite that unfortunate event, the newlyweds and their families found humor in it—they spooned the smooshed cake from the box and said it tasted as delicious as ever. This sure is one hell of a story for the grandkids. 
Thanks G._ and M._ for making me a part of this wonderful and truly unforgettable moment in your lives.
May 9th, 2011
Alice in Wonderland Cake Project – cake and cupcakes featuring Alice in Wonderland characters. Price available upon request.
into the rabbit hole
Persistence is a quality that my good friend M._ knows too well. And it was that trait of hers that pushed me to try new things while working on this project.
Her adorable daughter A._ was turning seven and the theme she chose for her party was Alice in Wonderland. M._ emailed me some photos of sample cakes. They were pretty. They were tiered. They were made with fondant. I can do pretty, I can do tiered but I cannot do fondant. It’s not that I don’t know how to work with it; I just am not a fan of that medium.
When it seemed that M._ was leaning towards those types of cake, I told her that she might have to look for another baker as I’m really not fond of fondant. For a moment there, I thought I had been a fool for saying that. M._ certainly thought so. Miss Persistent wants my cakes and she will have them. Sir, yes sir! Into the rabbit hole I go!
I suggested to M._ my go-to celebration cake: devil’s food chocolate cake filled with bittersweet chocolate ganache and covered in chocolate glaze. I had planned on making chocolate images from the Disney movie. She also sent me photos of cupcakes with characters from the movie as toppers such as the Mad Hatter’s hat, the White Rabbit’s pocket watch, teapots, flowers and crown. And then it hit me—I can use marzipan to mold these toppers!
Marzipan is a mixture of almond meal and sugar. It is delicious to eat on its own and is also classified as a confection item. It is pliable, can be colored, rolled, cut and molded into different shapes and can be used to cover cakes just like fondant. You can make your own or buy it ready to use. I get mine at Santi’s Deli. When I took a short cake decorating course under Leni Reynoso, we were taught how to make marzipan using ground pili nuts. It was delicious—I love pili nuts!—but the nuts were not finely ground. So if you are planning to make your own, make sure that the nuts are ground to a very fine consistency. Learn how to make homemde marzipan here.
I decided to make the hat, pocket watch, mushroom, teapot and teacup and roses. Taking a cue from the cardmen’s song (“we’re painting the roses red”), I made half of one rose red and the other half, white. With toppers such as these, I don’t think I’ll hear any “off with her head!” screams.
Also included in the mix were my Glittering Flowers and Bees in the Garden cupcakes.
After several studies (whew!), I picked the red queen, white rabbit, mad hatter, chesire cat and of course Alice as the chocolate cake decorations.
Usually, I just lay on chocolate images on top of a cake but I thought of making them stand this time. I had been slaving away with this project anyway so why not try something new. I attached a stick each on the backs of Alice and the name plaque with white chocolate. Fortunately, they stayed upright throughout the celebration.
I left the party early because I had another project due the following day. But according to my friends who were there, the cupcakes were a hit. Thanks M._ for your faith in me and for letting me be a part of your special celebration.
May 8th, 2011
Hats Off! Cupcakes – graduation cupcakes with grad cap and diploma toppers made of chocolate. Price available upon request.
well done!
April was looking to be a mighty busy month for me. I had three projects in the pipeline and although the due dates were somewhat bunched together, I was confident they were manageable. Until my friend G._ threw a monkey wrench into the schedule. Yikes! I was going to make G._’s wedding cake and cupcakes and her special date has already been blocked in my calendar. But G._ and her husband-to-be M._ were having trouble with their schedules themselves. In the end, I had due dates on two consecutive days—whew! More on this on my next post.
As I was pondering about my schedule at the start of my busy week, a mid-day call came asking if I can still make 50 cupcakes for a birthday party. Due date? Tomorrow! At 7:00 in the morning! It gets crazier and crazier, right? Brings back the days when I was still in video production: “This project is Russian.” Tagalog translation: rush ‘yan. Har har!
Doable. Baking and decorating 50 cupcakes overnight, that is. So I accepted the project. But wait, there was an extra request: can I add some graduation design since the birthday girl also recently graduated from nursing school? Fortunately, I already had a design for graduation cupcakes—grad cap and diploma, all made of chocolate. I just had to work double time—what else was new? wink* wink*
When the birthday girl’s dad picked up the cupcakes in the morning, he shared his concern about the weather. Dark skies were threatening his daughter’s poolside party. I just wished him luck, congratulated him on his daughter’s academic accomplishment, and assured him that the skies will clear in no time. And it did. I’m sure the family enjoyed their party and I hope they enjoyed the cupcakes as well!
May 1st, 2011
