Cupcakes

Cake Mode II

I am still going strong on practicing baking cakes and cupcakes for Hannah’s bridal shower. I think I have finally nailed down what I’m going to do.

Rosette cake!

The rosette cake before the roses. It’s a chocolate cake with a pink buttercream crumb coat.

Game plan

  • 1 three layer vanilla cake with strawberry filling and buttercream rosettes
  • 1 two layer vanilla cake with buttercream filling and ombre stripe buttercream
  • Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream rosettes
  • Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream rosettes
  • Sugar cookies with royal icing (for favors)

Here’s an example of the ombre stripe cake. Just imagine it without the rosettes on top! I tried that it didn’t like how it looked, haha.

You can’t go wrong with sugar cookies as a favor, right?!

I think my next step will be to do a practice round of everything at least one more time to smooth out all the details and fine tune my decorating skills. I feel like I could always use more practice to make things sharper, ha.

I am getting so excited! I can’t wait to celebrate Hannah banana ❤

Cake Mode

It has been quite some time since I’ve been in what I like to call cake mode. When I think about buttercream consistency, pan sizes, baking times, and food colorings almost constantly. That’s cake mode.

Each year since 2011, I have always made Jimmy a special cake for his birthday. There was the hamburger cake, welder cake, Oreo cake, Ford cake, and a strawberry cake.

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Most years, I was really into making unique cakes. I’d spend weeks planning, researching, taste testing, and practicing. The look on Jimmy’s face when I’d surprise him with a special cake was the best, though I’m sure he caught on to the surprise after a couple of years, ha.

Aside from Jimmy’s birthday cakes, I’d occasionally make one for Hannah’s birthday or parties with friends, or just whip up a hummingbird cake for no special reason. And cupcakes from time to time. Can’t forget those!

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Over the past few years, I haven’t baked quite as much as I used to. Sure I’ll make a loaf of bread or batch of cookies, but the last time I made a special cake was for Jimmy’s birthday in May.

My mom, Hannah’s bridesmaids, and I began planning Hannah’s bridal shower and I got assigned to make the cake and cupcakes (or maybe I begged? 🙂 ) I’ve been trying to nail down exactly what I want to do. Jimmy thinks I should make a large tier cake, but I’m kind of leaning towards a small layered cake and making lots of cupcakes to go with it.

I’ve been experimenting with batter flavors, food coloring, buttercream, and piping styles and I forgot how much I love baking cakes and decorating them! Pinterest and YouTube have grown so much since I first started cake decorating in 2011, so I am feeling extra inspired lately. So many ideas!

cupcakes

I practiced rosette cupcakes filled with whipped cream and topped with purple frosting and they came out well. I think they just need something more. Maybe some type of sparkly topping?

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I also made a purple ombre cake with rosettes. The cake is made of three 6” rounds, so it’s pretty small. I’m thinking of doing the ombre cake with a bunch of cupcakes to go around it. Whatever I end up doing, I know I’m having a blast playing around in the kitchen. I’m so happy to be able to contribute to Hannah’s bridal shower in this way 🙂

What do you guys think? Send any ideas my way!