Ahoy, It's a boy!

So, this was a quick set of cakes I did for a co-worker's baby shower.  They're far from perfect, but I loved the theme!  They were, if I don't say so myself, absolutely delish though!  One was chocolate with peanut butter mousse filling (with crushed peanut butter cups and a chocolate ganache drizzle, naturally) and the other was a white cake with raspberry vanilla filling!  Two of my favorites!!!

Posting this from my iPad in bed, so I apologize if it's a bit all over the place!

Pearl Jam Birthday Cake

One of my former co-workers had me make this Pearl Jam themed cake for her 40th Birthday! 

It's a chocolate mocha cake (compliments of Hershey's Cookbook) with vanilla buttercream frosting.  I made the little stick man out of candy melts and the little stars are made out of black fondant! The guitar is not edible - I'm not that good! :-) Overall, I think it turned out really good - and my co-worker was pleased, which is what really counts! 

(Please ignore the bucket, etc.  in the background - my boyfriend homebrews and this is the beginning(ish) stages of something tasty!)

Wilton Cake Decorating Classes

About a year ago or so I took all four of the Wilton Cake Decorating Classes.  I had a great time and met some great gals!  The whole experience was a ton of fun and something I had been wanting to do for quite some time! 

 

Course 1:  Introduction to the Wilton Method

In this course we learned how to make buttercream frosting, how to color frosting, how to properly frost a cake and of course some pretty cool buttercream frosting decorations!  Beginner need not beware!  I had never used a pastry bag or tips to decorate a cake, or had even ever colored frosting!  The class goes at a really good pace for both beginners and those with a little prior knowledge too!  Below are a few photos of creations from this course!



Buttercream Decorated Cupcakes

Buttercream Ribbon Roses

Course 1 Final Cake!!

Course 2:  Flowers and Cake Design

In this course we learned how to make several different icing flowers, including lilies and roses, and more about cake design.  We started out playing with fondant the first week, but for the rest of the course we used royal icing and buttercream!  Our instructor also showed us a few more exciting borders, like the basket-weave and rope borders!  See below for some creations from course two!

Fondant Flowers:  Button Flowers and a Pansy

Royal Icing Flowers:  Primroses, Apple Blossoms, and Rosebuds

More Royal Icing Flowers:  Daffodils, Violets, The Wilton Rose, and Lilies

And, here's my Course 2 Final Cake!!

 



Course 3:  Gum Paste and Fondant

In this course we learned how to make and assemble several different flowers and a bow using gum paste and fondant, and even how to cover a cake in fondant!  We learned how to handle and store fondant and gum paste, and how to color and mix the two!  See below for creations from this course!



Gum Paste and Fondant Flowers: Daisy, Rose, Carnation, Lily, and Chrysanthemum

Fondant Bow



Course 3 Final Cake

Course 4:  Advanced Gum Paste Flowers

This course was all about those elegant flowers you see cascading over super fancy cakes like wedding and shower cakes!  There was no cake baking required in this course!  Just advanced flower making and assembling!  We learned how to make stargazer lilies, briar roses, and more!  Then, we learned how to dust our flowers with edible petal dust to really make the flowers pop and look even more realistic!  See below for the flowers I created in Course Four!

(Sad story about my stargazer lily:  The little guy didn't survive a combo accident involving my birthday balloons, my boyfriend, and poor thinking on my part - I stored them in a bottle base and didn't put anything in the bottom to weigh it down...  So sad!)

Gum Paste Flowers: Sweet Pea, Stephanotis, Briar Rose, and Blossoms

Another view of the above flowers!

Gum Paste Flower: Stargazer Lily

Have you taken any of the Wilton Cake classes or other cake decorating classes?  What did you think?  I loved taking these four courses and would definitely recommend to anyone interested in learning more about decorating cakes!