Pink Minnie Mouse!

The request was for just Minnie Mouse's face. And bow. And in pink. 

I went through all of my options for getting the face on the cake. It had to be done right. Because there are a LOT of great Minnie Mouse cakes out there, and there are a lot of not-so-great ones as well. 

In the end, I decided to go old school with the Wilton star piping technique. You know, the first one cake decorators learn? Or at least it was for me.  In fact, the first cake I ever decorated was a Mickey Mouse cake...using the star tip. I was 9 years old.  

Anyway...four layers of delicious chocolate cake filled and frosted with vanilla buttercream...

Ms. Minnie, adorned with a gumpaste bow, is ready for her close up...

Layers and layers and layers of buttercream ruffles...

And a gumpaste mouse silhouette to tie it all together.

This was probably the most fun, least stressful cake I've worked on in a long time. 

It was simple. And just a joy to put it all together!

Hockey Cake!

Very little makes this baker feel all warm and fuzzy inside more than a previous recipient specifically requesting one of my cakes!  He had big Duck guys cake last year. 

Of course, it had to be equally amazing.  

He also happens to be the Washington Capitals' biggest fan.

Four layers of fluffy vanilla cake...colored red, white, and blue. 

Filled and covered in vanilla buttercream.  And this handsome kiddo created out of modeling chocolate. Though, seriously, I have got to stop trying to work with modeling chocolate and buttercream during the summer!

A royal icing eagle logo.  Lots of modeling chocolate accents...

He was delighted! 

Looking forward to what he'll come up with next year!

Celebrations!

My amazing, brilliant, talented niece graduated from high school earlier this year. 

She needed a cake just as spectacular as she is.

Layers of chocolate cake, filled with caramel buttercream...

Covered with an espresso chocolate buttercream...

And covered again with chocolate ganache...

Thin wafers of semi-sweet chocolate to create a "mosaic" look, and a dozen chocolate roses. 

I love her to pieces! And I'm so very proud her.

Ruffles!

The request was for a simple, pink cake.  And strawberry.

Of course, anyone who has known me for more than a minute knows I can't stop at "simple"

Two layers of strawberry cake, filled with strawberry cream and fresh strawberries.  

Pink buttercream ruffles and roses...

The birthday girl was delighted!

Happy Birthday to me!

Over the summer we discovered I was gluten intolerant. It was a long journey to get to that point, and we made the discovery too late to save my gallbladder. Over the past several months my gluten free baking has come a long way! The saying, "Baking is science for hungry people" was never more true!  Along came my birthday, and although my sister offered to bake me a cake, I knew exactly what I wanted and how to make it happen.

Decadent, rich, dark chocolate with chocolate Swiss buttercream and salted caramel....

Oh my goodness...

So much chocolate deliciousness! And gluten free! 

Happy birthday to me, indeed!

Barnyard birthday!

A perfect cake for a little boy who adores all things barnyard!

Four layers of chocolate cake, filled with chocolate mousse, 

covered in vanilla buttercream and modeling chocolate.

Vanilla cupcakes topped with modeling chocolate animals.

So much cuteness!