To honor and celebrate a very special recent UCLA graduate I made UCLA cupcakes for his graduation party. I started out with a new oh-so-yummy vanilla cupcake recipe, made a variation using vanilla bean paste and voila! Next, I had to lock in my colors. I fell in love with the Decco Drops I found at Williams-Sonoma (in-store) so I had to commit to using a slightly more aqua color than the true Bruin baby blue. This also meant using… [Read More]
Here’s a cute and very easy cupcake to make for a baby shower. Bubble Bath Baby Cupcakes ~ Here’s what you’ll need: Tips #4 and #8 or similar sizes Pastry bag/coupler Baby decoration Royal icing ducks (you can make your own with the same number tips as above) or purchase if you only need a few. This saves a lot of time. Disco Dust in Rainbow Seriously. How cute is this tush? Spread a base of icing on the cupcake… [Read More]
I have an easy dessert decoration to share with you for New Year’s Eve.You can make any round dessert look like a clock by using candy coating chips. I made individual Kahlua cheesecakes with an Oreo cookie crust in fluted tart pans with removable bottoms but any dessert will do.Turning over the coating chip to the bottom side gives a nice flat surface to pipe Roman numerals on. The hands of the clock were made by piping coating chocolate onto… [Read More]
“Does this blue and gold make my back field in motion look big?This is a collegiate cupcake post with a fashion dilemma. In a few weeks we’re going to the LA Coliseum for the USC vs. Cal game. And I don’t know what to wear. My fashion dilemma goes much deeper than knowing I don’t look good in gold which is one of the colors for both Cal and USC. In fact, the color is so unflattering to my face… [Read More]
Marianne’s photographer was also her friend and completely captured the twinkle in her eye and her playful personality. Her pictures are so beautiful and need no introduction or commentary, mine, on the other hand, need all the help they can get as you’ll be able to see at the bottom of this post. :)Beautiful photos by Brittany Dow Photography Now my photos. Brittany has no worries. These are mostly for family but I thought I’d share… “The bride and groom’s… [Read More]
Another decorative task I was thrilled to be asked to be involved with was to bring in the nautical theme to the cake table. My niece being the resourceful person she is ordered cupcakes from Costco and to be very honest (and my niece knows this so no big revelation after the fact) the thought of cupcakes from Costco for her wedding didn’t exactly float my boat since I am a baking snob but I do own up to it…. [Read More]
’tis the season to wrap up spring team sports and to remember the good times with a party that always includes a sheet cake! I’m going to let you in on a little secret to making a BIG “wow factor” that you can do and you don’t even need to bake the cake! 2 words ~ Color. Flow. What is ‘color flow’? Basically, it’s thinned out royal icing and you can find the recipe and technique here. For the logo… [Read More]
I found this photo of a decorating technique that is applied to a cupcake that is very easy to make even if you don’t own a pastry bag and they are definitely kid doable. Looks like they are made with miniature marshmallows cut corner to corner with the exposed sticky side dipped in fine colored sanding sugar and layered in circles around the cupcake top. I have used this technique to make daisies with large marshmallows where I cut the… [Read More]
I used to make cakes for fun. Did I ever mention that? I’m in the process of finding photos I’ve taken over the years and I’m attempting to scan them so I have a more permanent place to keep them all. I don’t know why I’m really doing this. I’ve made more cakes and decorated cookies than I ever thought to take pictures of. There are some very traditional designs ~Rebecca’s cakeOh my. I wasn’t even married yet when I… [Read More]
Are kids ever too big to receive some Valentine’s Day fun from home? Afterall, “nuthin’ says lovin’ like something from mom’s oven!” So they wouldn’t miss anything among the packing, I made a big Valentine on one side then on the flip I printed out an inventory list.Caution: You are about to enter the corny zone! 🙂 Each Care Package contains: 1. One personal Valentine from Mom & Dad, (and cat). 2. Rice Krispy “Bear Hugs” Treats 3. Custom… [Read More]
Bridal Shower Gifts and Wrapping Ideas
Make-Ahead Frozen Buttercream Cake Decorations
Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year Decorated Almond Cookies
Pretty Pink Petal Cake – A Wilton Cake Decorating Technique
Carlo’s Bakery Cannolis and Lobster Tail Pastries
Colonial Williamsburg Sweet Potato Muffins
The Espresso Martini
“The Best Ever – Blue Ribbon Winning – Chocolate Layer Cake – In All The Land”!
