Chocolate Smartie Cake

Yesterday a good friend and work colleague celebrated her birthday.   As is tradition in our office, today’s morning tea break required cake to mark the occasion.

I decided to make a chocolate sponge sandwiched with chocolate butter cream and covered in rich chocolate ganache.   Smarties were added to give it a lovely pretty look.

Despite its richness and the many Mondy morning eat well intentions amongst my colleagues the cake was  completely demolished.   The reaction every baker wants.

Chocolate Smartie Cake, 11th June 2012

A Day at the Races Cake

Angela, a lovely lady for whom I had previously made her daughters’ birthday cakes, recently contacted me regarding her husband Ray’s impending 50^th Birthday.   They were having a party and wanted a novelty cake for the celebrations.

The brief consisted of a cake which reflects some, or all, of Ray’s passions and one large enough to accommodate the 80 guests.   Angela told me of Ray’s love of horse racing, a red Kawasaki motorbike and, obviously, his two beautiful girls.

Having thought about the brief for a few days I contacted Angela and suggested that we go with a ‘Day at the Races’ theme, which would also incorporate the girls.   She was happy for me to take the design whatever way I felt would work best.

I asked some knowledgeable friends and family to give me some racing paraphernalia from which I might get ideas.  This was most helpful and gave me the final idea to finish the cake design.   

Having completed the cake I was very happy with how it turned out and was very confident that it hit the mark for the occasion.   I must admit, however, that a little doubt did set in for a fleeting moment the night before delivery.   When talking to Angela she mentioned that the girls were very excited and had been asking about the cake but she couldn’t tell them anything about it as she had no idea of how it would look either.   She said that she was equally as excited and couldn’t wait to see it, but knew that I wouldn’t disappoint.   There’s nothing like the pressure of expectation!!  

Well there was no need for doubt - Angela and family loved the cake.   What more can I ask for, an exciting cake project, a dream client to work for and, most importantly, a client delighted with the cake.

A Day at the Races Cake, 2nd June 2012

A Day at the Races Cake, 2nd June 2012

A Day at the Races Cake, 2nd June 2012

Basketball Cake II

Having seen the Basketball Cake made earlier this year, a friend of a friend asked if I could make a similar cake for her husband’s 40^th Birthday.  

In addition to basketball, Edric is an active member of the local scouts.  So to reflect this I modelled the scout neckerchief and draped it on the board.   To personalise the cake further, I attempted to recreate the Birthday Boy’s own company logo in sugarpaste and placed it around the edges of the court as advertising hoarding. 

The cake was a big success so I was very happy.

Basketball Cake II, 26th May 2012

Baker in the Kitchen Cake

Last week Ciara, a very sporty girl with a keen interest in baking and cake decorating, made her Confirmation.   Her parents wanted to get her a special cake to mark this significant day and I was delighted when her mum asked me to make the cake.

The request was for a novelty cake, as opposed to a traditional Confirmation themed cake.  Having discussed Ciara’s various interests we agreed on creating a cake based around a Baking theme.

From the outset I had a very clear idea of how the cake would look and wanted to reflect Ciara baking in the kitchen.    I felt the cake would look best if the colour scheme was keep to limited but strong colours. 

Ciara and her mum collected the cake the evening before her Confirmation and were delighted with it.

Baker in the Kitchen Cake, 24th May 2012

Baker in the Kitchen Cake, 24th May 2012

Baker in the Kitchen Cake, 24th May 2012

Baker in the Kitchen Cake, 24th May 2012

Cowboys and Indians Cake

Last Sunday my nephew’s best friend celebrated his 5^th Birthday.   His mum asked if I would make the cake and suggested a Cowboys and Indians theme.

This was an exciting brief and I immediately thought of adding cow hide pattern somewhere in the design.   As the idea came together, I decided that the cow hide should be on the cake board.   From there I went about adding a cowboy and incorporating a wigwam, with a cheeky little boy peeking out.    The cactus and the Wanted sign added the finishing touches.

The Birthday Boy’s mum loved the Cowboys and Indians Cake when she called to collect it.  

Cowboys and Inidans Cake, 20th May 2012

Cowboys and Indians Cake, 20th May 2012

Babies in the Bath Cake

Last weekend a great friend’s youngest girl celebrated her 3^rd birthday.   My birthday present was again the cake.  

This year the Birthday Girl, who loves all things baby, decided that she wanted babies on her cake.   “One will be laughing, one will be crying, one will be angry…..”   Unusual brief!   

The Birthday Girl knew what she wanted (a baby cake has been on her wish list for the past 6 months), so it was my task to try and deliver.   I must admit that I struggled for some time figuring out how to get the right visual impact, without the cake looking too much like a baby shower or christening cake.   3 days before the party I settled on the idea of babies in a bath and from there the cake design evolved.

I drew baby face discs, showing various emotions, and added them to the outside of the cake so that “one will be laughing, one will be crying, one will be angry…..”

All in all, I was happy with the final outcome.   I wonder what next year's cake will be!

Babies in the Bath Cake, 12th May 2012

Babies in the Bath Cake, 12th May 2012

Babies in the Bath Cake, 12th May 2012

Dennis the Dog Cake

A colleague in work recently announced that she plans on moving back to her home city of Cork at the end of the month.   As her son was celebrating his 2^nd birthday this weekend I offered to make the birthday cake, as my leaving present.

I asked if he had any specific interests which I could use as a theme for the cake.   One of the things she mentioned was that he has a ‘Dennis’ which he absolutely loves.   I initially thought she was referring to Dennis the Menace but discovered that ‘Dennis’ is in fact a child’s blankie or comforter.   The idea of draping a blankie on a cake was immediately appealing.

I asked for photos of ‘Dennis’ (see below) and set about recreating his image in sugarpaste.   I must admit getting the stripes right was fairly time consuming but the end result was fantastic and worth the effort.  

I delivered the cake on Friday in work, much to the delight of my colleague.   The rest of the guys in work also fell in love with the cuteness of Dennis.

Dennis the Dog Cake, 11th May 2012

Dennis (cake) & Dennis (blankie), 11th May 2012

Dennis the Dog Cake, 11th May 2012

Dennis the Dog Cake, 11th May 2012

Dennis the Dog Cake, 11th April 2012

Actual Dennis photo from Mum

Actual Dennis photo from Mum