Since I wrapped up at BYU last fall I wanted to be sure I didn't stop acquiring new skills/knowledge so I signed up for a cake decorating class. I love the idea of being able to make cute birthday cakes but up until now my attempts were laughable if not totally depressing (Who knew store bought frosting was a sin?)
I was nervous but have taken every opportunity I can to practice in the last few months (shown below in the pictures). Many times I delighted the office staff and teachers at my school with left-overs if I wanted to make a cake/cupcakes but didn't want them around the house to tempt me.
Since February I have done two weddings, two birthday parties and a bridal shower. In addition to the cakes and cupcakes I also make cake-bites. I prefer the cupcakes (because I love the flavored frosting) but the cake-bites are a really big hit with everyone else and fairly easy and cheap so they get made too.
Below are some of the cakes/events I have done this spring. I hope to get to do some more!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFM8Fh6BaBu5zEEMLs2xlLnJh8wP8_UIzGNiuufdQsj_svmhyphenhyphenmWtsJABFZpI-MNNngMdRwkTymZZ53Q8KyjYgV1MXQKg4iyZT2NRCn0hbMxRRU7OBLnfPd0efUAhBJ8PkavoLwIoxIrxk/s320/291699_10100682455096489_1940211561_n+-+Copy.jpg) |
Thanksgiving was my first attempt at cake-bites, I wanted to practice for my mom's wedding, they were an instant hit with the family. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bjSlIC4e4RKL46g-cWp7Q754I0Ps8U9sNfJgvgpGpaeEaZHHQeohfnKZ1XwnFrtaklb4Sj2q8v9_1ZRjAKNWBe-RrQ03DN2ElTLPvS0ezhkkn5Mdz-ZhiZDFcS7Iw-mP4UtbWVaku40/s320/IMG_3144.JPG) |
Tori helped me make 200+ cake-bites for my mom's reception chocolate, lemon, and red velvet. Took HOURS but again turned out really well and cute |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdbElyo22GY3YMO8C4_gX59F-7IgeOsaPkVNjuS5adr0OTmt3SpBbu8nk22hiqz8jHZkx9DJ9hiLh29lz6s1uLTkPOycZhybkAAKngDPZMJ2vV3ew5VkniqNm8XIH-QizQNFFybILYwc/s320/IMG_3167.JPG) |
Our cake-bites on display at the dessert table at my mom's reception |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS_jXeZXFpMcktTc0xCq6iyV542fKrrrxy7sJyFg_-VQtsv8cCE8889d8p8Z-jGRVGIZla6wBLDsfZeEKZ41B-OdB1dwvNvfq3VNdnOWtDLNlKAmdyXomfSZLojS5ESGz_UkqLdw4ue8/s320/IMG_3173.JPG) |
The dessert table at the reception. |
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My first cake from class. The first lesson was just making the cake and frosting and then frosting a two layer cake with filling. We only had 15 minutes to do the actual decorating so I consider this first swing a triumph only for the white base, the rest was just rushed practice at coloring frosting. |
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Third lesson: filled cupcakes (chocolate mousse filling) then I went a little crazy practicing some frosting techniques we had been learning with different consistencies of frosting. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-miKRjsyeSHcGRYDu97DyVhKTVXxFg2BZodwS9alnL2bpSasFPzfYajhRSeTckKjy3q_gBesWFszMG9OimsxoUU-931WYmEE4AD7J_21UFIgyQpLYrNBtVRj8mKZgFg3glUiMS19_ktU/s320/IMG_3269.JPG) |
More practice. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCkvheqrLE5l40rzEtPdzBfIjH4vzkyq1UUMjUrxweRkt9NaMO0Em3FEPMqmI7jbyruB_dIxN3lU2kEASxNK6xko8yjHZsHG0QKXE2cs8pR1biCXP1I9ig6KpA1OclFi9XysJ5j2uhVM/s320/947202_10100913213370059_350484119_n.jpg) |
This was the "final project" for my class. Wilton roses, two layer cake and chocolate butter-cream frosting with raspberry cream filling. |
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For St. Patrick's Day I wanted to make Key Lime cupcakes. Lime cake with a lime glaze and then my first attempt at flavored buttercream frosting (lime of course) with lime zest on top. My new favorite!!! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRrwlQFZ4lQq3-fhUPXogWTF4oFboME1SNhyPzBZFlJr6b-JUCONr7wfnBAkvSgSLEK2WoJiBPM3Ohg0MH5lYFwVnGOdGwb37Fg5c_-95R-FbuLPxrbA2a4t12VDJdn4ElEp8f3JIv7w/s320/IMG_3510.JPG) |
For the bridal shower I hosted for Gaetana I made a 2 batches of cupcakes. The first was a lemon-lime cupcake. Lemon cake with Lime buttercream frosting and lemon/lime zest on top. (SO GOOD!!!) |
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The second batch was a vanilla bean cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. (My sister's favorite). |
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Before I took the decorating class I had it in my mind to make a football cake for Vince's first birthday. I was ecstatic that it turned out the way I had envisioned (that never happened before my class)! Vanilla cake with a raspberry cream filling and chocolate buttercream frosting. |
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Vince's little cake to make a mess with. |
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For the sports birthday party I also made 50 cake-bites as baseballs and basketballs. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt1BGRXI56t67xtWneinrG6L7YlJEGggKhXErqMG-tHvNP0f2AbyawhZfYQRSVqZl6bi4Ox31kN6D3UCYrDUhuMoHpOVcafrq1CFW8-_jQGuPLx8be9VCwAdxTe25SFsNt_DEGNSPmy8/s320/IMG_3817.jpg) |
Our ward has a cake auction every year as a fundraiser for the young women. I made two cakes: the first a duplicate of the one I made for Vince's birthday. |
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The second cake I made for the auction was a practice cake for Kyle's wedding cake (that same weekend) to try out some ideas and to work with molded fondant for the first time. I was SO glad I practiced since the cake was perfect until the next day when the extra weight of the cake pushed some of the filling out between the layers. I was able to touch it up a bit but then fix the problem before Kyle's wedding cake got made the next day. |
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I catered Kyle's wedding and made 24-DOZEN mini-cupcakes. Chocolate cake with raspberry buttercream frosting, vanilla cake with coconut frosting, ad lime cake with key-lime buttercream frosting. It was quite the project but Dillon says the frosting tasted like sherbert. They flew off the table and were SO GOOD! |
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Kyle's food table I did for his reception |
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My first two layer cake for Kyle's wedding. Vanilla cake, raspberry & chocolate chip cream filling, with coconut buttercream frosting, and fondant trim. Luckily there was a lot to take home because we could not get enough of this cake, so tasty! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhIVp_h5hsw8N_8DRoZ7z1TsMXIR8k0skgjZ4ICocPMMDtIBtn-xVaJINTasmL6oqmsxuUKkYtbpw1DVX5PNBYNL9GdolUhI3VnUMrauEZeo4xSq7wJRfDxYwVyIwxiCmD01I6KMmrOU/s320/IMG_3832.JPG) |
My sister-in-law Gaetana loves "bling" so I put some gems for leaves on the frosting roses and put on some turquoise diamonds for her. |
We need to live near each other... YUM!
ReplyDeleteI know whose helping when the girls get married...excellent my dear...Everything you try to do, you do so very well.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I am so proud of you. That is an impressive portfolio of cakes; any chef would be proud to have those under their belt! The thought you put into each one is perhaps the most impressive part!
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