Hello Kitty Mini Cakes.

These are the cakes I wish I had had more time for.

I loved making these cakes. It was such a challenge and I can now say that I have made a 5 tiered cake... okay it was a mini one but still...

It was for the birthday of a friends daughter. She loves Hello Kitty and everything that is associated with it, so it was only natural for her to get a Hello Kitty cake. She was going to have a very small birthday with only 4 friends over so I suggested making mini cakes so they could have one individual cake each. Her mother loved the idea... 

...so now it was just up to me to realize what I had promised which was more difficult than I had expected...

I also decided to make some cakepops as I had seen a very cute way of making them into HK heads on pinterest. The biggest problem I had was keeping the cake upright. because it was such a small cake, narrow the whole way down, it was very willing to fall over. I solved the problem by sticking one of the cakepops into the top of the cake...

(this is when I discovered doweling)

...and bish, bash, bosh I had a 5 tiered cake that had accepted its upright position. Because I didn't have the time for this cake that I would have wanted the quality isn't the best. The piping is wobbly, the covering isn't perfectly smooth, but it was still really fun to make these little cakes. Would definitely love to make mini tiered cakes again!! 

Enjoy.

-J.

Elinor's 2nd Birthday - Barnyard Cake.

Still very proud of this cake even though it was one of my very first.

It was for my own daughter Ellie(Elinor) who was turning 2 at the time. She like so many other toddlers her age loves animals and the noises they make so it was only natural to make a barnyard type cake. 

I planned it for weeks.

I started making the flowers and animals out of normal store bought sugarpaste (or regalice as it's known in the UK). No Gum Tragacanth to help with stability. I did learn from making this cake that some tools are a MUST. Considering the only tools I had were some flowercutters and some wilton gel food coloring... I dont think I did too bad. 

Also this was my first 2 tiered cake.
A couple of tip's and nono's when it comes to making a tiered cake: 

• Read up on HOW to make one. Don't wing it....
• Do not use frozen fruits (they melt in the cake and pool at the bottom...)
• Use doweling(The cake will start to lean if not)
• Also look up some youtube videos on how to cover a cake (preferably with a turntable)
• Have some sort of thin flat plate between the tiers cut to the top tier's size. This is for when you cut the cake. with doweling under it is easy to cut and not have to worry that the bottom layer will collapse.
• And for goodness sake... make your life a little easier and splash out on some proper cake decorating tools!! 

So.... you guessed it. I did all of the nono's and none of the tips.

Well life is for learning if for nothing else, right?

The result was great considering all of the above. Ellie couldn't have cared less about the details that I was stressing over. She worshiped the cake. Her friends loved it. And her birthday was a success. Because I had done so much planning ahead of time I was able to take some of the actual birthday off and enjoy it at the play park with the birthday girl. Great day all round!

 Enjoy.

-J.

Lego Cake.

This is the cake I wish I had taken better photo's of.

It is one of my favorite's. Even though if I had the cake making knowledge I have now back when I made it, it would have been so much better. I would have crumb coated the rice crispies so much more to give a better finish, I would have invented better fillings, I would have.. I would have... But I did learn so much from this cake, of what is possible and what I am capable of.  

A friend of mine is a nanny for a family in London who were looking for a cake for their son's birthday. My friend recommended me. And I took the challenge. Not only did I live 5 hours drive from London, but no one would be holding the cake on the journey down. My friend M. would drive up to pick it up, and keep it in the trunk on the way back down. 

Scary business.

But it made it. It survived. NOTHING broke! The Birthday boy LOVED his cake and apparently it started a cake craze at his school. They kept the Big Lego man for a while after. They gave him a name and he got to sit with them at dinner every night.

I think it was safe to say it was a success. 

Enjoy.
-J.

Angry Birds.

This is the cake I got most hits for on my last blog.

It was for my mother-in-laws birthday. We were living just north of Manchester, England at the time and they were coming up for the weekend from Oxford. Last minute I decided to make her a cake. And I immediately knew the theme and even what it would look like.... Angry Birds.

She loves this game.

And she is good at it. So I whipped up some chocolate sponges (I usually use the one out of the hummingbird bakery cookbook). If you make cakes regularly then save the crumbs and carvings in the freezer. They are perfect for making cakepops and other cake style truffles. 

Then I made some uber decadent chocolate FUDGE frosting and mixed the two(sponge and frosting) together to a big gu. It's a fine line of when it becomes to loose to hold it's shape, so make sure to add a little frosting at a time. I formed these cake-pop-type truffles, iced them, and covered them with sugarpaste. 

Then came the fun part.

Decorating each and everyone of these characters. I completely understand why Angry Birds became so big. It's obviously a fun game. but the characters help as well. 

Now.
Even the green pigs are little bite sized truffles :-O!

When the time came to show her the cake she loved it. She was so surprised(I am not a huge birthday celebrator). And it was so worth it seeing her face... and my father-in-laws!

I know my posts at the moment are a little vague, but it's because the cakes I am posting are from a while ago. Once I start getting up to date I will add recipes and more detailed How-toos. If you have any questions then please comment and I will answer as best I can.

Enjoy.

-J.

Harry Potter.

 



I did this cake quite a while ago now.

It was the birthday of George. The son of a very dear friend of mine. She was going to make the cake on her own, but then asked for my help to just guide her.

Of course I said yes.

What she wasn't counting on however was that I would take over. I couldn't help it. She had so much else on her plate(4 kids) and a birthday to plan. Also... I got to go what I love. it was a win/win. 

George loves Harry Potter.

He would run around with a Hogwarts uniform and a lightning on his forehead. And lets not forget the wand.

After juggling ideas back and forth we came up with this concept. One that has been done plenty by others.

Here is my take on it.

 

 I wish I could tell you what kind of cake it was now, but I honestly can't remember.  

If you read very closely on the cake I have included the recipe ;-).

 

 Notice the "I solemnly swear I'm up to JUST good".

Enjoy.

-J.

So about me.

Here we go again... Attempt 2 at blogging.

I would like to see my last try as a practice run and that this time... THIS time I will not only stick to it, but excel at it... I know I'm digging my own grave...

 

So about me.

I am a mother of two, wife of one, sister of 5 and daughter of 2. I live in Fritsla, Sweden. In a house that feels like its still stuck in the 30's but that we will slowly be bringing into the 21st century but with a rustic charm. My family consists of me Josefine, my husband Nick, my beautiful daughters Elinor(3) and Penelope(3 months). They are my life.

I started making cakes just over 2 years ago now and have been learning ever since. It's a hobby. I make cakes for friends and family and the occasional friend of a friend. One day maybe this will be more than a hobby, but not before I have given my everything to my family first. <3.

 

I love my family, my life and my kitchen.

Enjoy.

-J.