Cakes By Katie

Puppy Cake

2011-08-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

Theme: Toddler Birthday

Cake: Yellow

Icing: Vanilla and Chocolate Buttercream

I used an 8 inch round pan for the face and cupcake for the ears. I had to stack two cupcakes on top of each other for each ear. I used round tips for the eyes, nose and other facial details. I used a star tip for the textured look with the white icing.

This could easily be made into a bear as well!

The Cupcake Kids

2011-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Today, the kids and I headed out to sell cupcakes as part of the National Cupcake Kids Sale. All money raised goes toward Sixty Feet and the work they are doing in Uganda.

Here are some of the cupcakes we sold:

Theme: Ministry Support/ Spring
Cake: White and Funfetti
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

The sprinkles are from Wilton, the cupcake picks were made by my kids using a Cricut Personal Cutter and the directions for the bunny cupcakes can be found here.

Elijah's Ocean

2011-03-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Theme: Child's Birthday
Cake: Funfetti
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream
Extras: Plastic Ocean Animals (from the Dollar Store), Jelly Belly jelly beans

My son, the dinosaur lover, decided at the last minute that he would rather have an ocean animal cake. I really enjoy making figures out of fondant, but I knew that he would enjoy having ocean animals that he could keep... so I headed to the dollar section and grabbed a pack of plastic animals.

The blue color is a mix of Wilton's Royal Blue and Teal food color gels.

Where To

2011-02-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

Theme: Welcome Party
Cake: White and Chocolate
Icing: Vanilla buttercream

I started with a 10 in round white cake and cut it in half. I took a 10 in round chocolate cake and cut the rounded sides off to make a rectangle. I inserted it between the halves of the first cake to make a long oval. I took some of the extra chocolate cake to make the part that hangs down.

This cake was for my husband's graduate school program. They were welcoming new students.

Icing Tricks

2011-02-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

When I was taking cake decorating classes, this tip is probably one of the most valuable that I learned. I like it for several reasons. It is a handy way to store your icing and it cuts down on the mess involved in filling icing bags. You need plastic wrap.

Lay your plastic wrap down on a flat surface.

Put about a cup (or less) of icing in the middle of your plastic wrap.

Roll your icing up in the plastic wrap like a sausage and tie off the ends. This creates an air tight storage for your icing. If you didn't use milk in your buttercream, you can store this on a shelf, out of the fridge for about a week. Or... you can throw it in the fridge until you are ready to use it. This is great when you want to get your icing prepared ahead of time.

When you are ready to use the icing, simply cut one end of the "sausage" and slide it down in your bag... so easy! No mess involved. When you've used up that icing and need to refill the bag, simply pull out the empty plastic wrap and repeat the process.

Lauren

2011-02-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

Theme: Adult Birthday
Cake: Triple Chocolate Decadence
Icing: Almond Buttercream
Pans: 9in x 9 in square and 6in x 6in square

I had a four year old assistant in decorating this cake. She mixed the colors and helped fill the icing bags. She even did the leaves and vines.

Today was a chilly day in Florida. I didn't think the humidity would be a factor in mixing the icing. I was wrong. The roses are a little droopy because my stiff icing wasn't stiff. The normal recipe for stiff buttercream icing calls for 2Tbs of water. I usually do about 1 3/4 Tbs to balance out the Florida humidity.

Caking With a Cause

2011-01-24T14:32:00.000-08:00

Hi Folks,

We have recently gotten to know a dear family who are in process of adopting from Ethiopia. To help with raising funds for their adoption costs, I have donated a few cake gift certificates... good for either one 10 inch round cake or thirty cupcakes.

We are currently in the Orlando area... so... if you are in Central Florida (or Atlanta as I will be up that way at some point)... please check out the Noll Family's Blog for more details on how you can snag one of the certificates and help them bring their babies home!

Dinosaur Train (Under the Sea Edition)

2011-01-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

My daughter has been asking for a dinosaur train, under the sea cake for about 5 months. I have tried to sway her... "Don't you want a tea party cake?" "No... I want a dinosaur train under the sea cake with buddy, the pteranodon family and carla." If you haven't heard of dinosaur train... it's a show on PBS. My kids love it! A few months ago, the show featured ocean dinos...Thus the desire for a dinosaur train, under the sea cake.

This is Dinosaur Train (Under the Sea):

And now for the cake...

For the train, I mixed 1/2 fondant with 1/2 gumpaste so it would be sturdier. I also dropped a little gumpaste in a cup of water. When it dissolved, I had some "gum glue"... handy for "gluing" on fondant accents.

Things are starting to come together.

The pteranadon family are ready to go. The figures and accents are just fondant.

Theme: 4 Year Old Birthday
Cake: FunFetti
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Chocolate Buttercream (train tracks)
Accents: Wilton Fondant

Tricks of the Trade: Throw a little cocoa powder into your leftover icing to make chocolate/ brown. When I was finished with the blue, I just added some cocoa and tada... brown!

Cupcake Fun

2010-09-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Theme: 4 year old birthday

Cake: White

Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

**I used a Wilton cupcake wraps and picks set for the decoration

Baby Blocks

2010-08-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

Theme: Baby's First Birthday
Cake: Two blocks are carrot cake, the other two are white.
Icing: Buttercream

** I used a 9in loaf pan for the cakes, then my husband helped out with the cutting and shaping of the blocks. **

Names of God

2010-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Theme: Summer Camp
Cake: French Vanilla
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Monogrammed... Again

2010-06-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

Theme: Wedding Shower
Cake: Yellow
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

**Decorations are made from fondant.

Monogrammed

2010-05-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

Theme: Wedding Shower
Cake: Marble Fudge
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

**Fondant accents in the middle and on the sides

Soccer

2010-05-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Theme: End of Youth Soccer Season

Cake: White

Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Thomas the Tank Engine

2010-05-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

Theme: 3 year old's Birthday
Cake: French Vanilla
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

**Cake Tip**
It never fails...no matter how hard I try, I always end up with crumbs in my icing. I watch shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes and see them "dirty icing" the cake. All this is is a thin layer of icing over the naked cake. It seals in the crumbs so whenever you are ready to ice the cake, you will get nice, crumbless results!

It took me a while, but I finally started implementing a dirty ice phase in my caking. I think I am getting the hang of this!

**dirty icing may also be called a "crumb coat"

Butterfly Garden

2010-05-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

Theme: Child's Birthday
Cake: Strawberry
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream with Royal Icing Accents

Royal icing dries hard and taste like candy. It's an acquired taste. It is great to use if you want to prepare lots of flowers, etc ahead of time. Just know that the grease in buttercream will break down royal icing. Don't put you flowers on the cake until shortly before you are ready to serve it.

**Royal Icing:
1 pound powdered sugar
3 Tbs merengue powder
5-6 Tbs water

Stir the sugar and powder together. Slowly mix in the water. This is the tricky part... If you put too much, the icing will be too runny and will not hold its shape. You want it to be about the consistency of toothpaste. Your mixer should not have to struggle to mix it. After reaching desired consistency, mix on low for 7 to 10 minutes. Use or store right away. Once exposed to air, the icing begins to harden. You can store it for up to two weeks.

Becky

2010-05-19T20:16:00.001-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Sports Daddy

2010-05-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: Funfetti
Icing: Cream Cheese

**My children helped design this cake for their daddy's birthday**

Cream cheese icing is not the best for decorating. It gets soft really quick. After mixing the colors and adding the icing to their individual decorating bags, I stuck them into the fridge for about an hour. The icing hardened up and got the job done.

This cake seemed to taste better when served cold.

Butterfly

2010-04-08T19:23:00.001-07:00

Theme: 4 year old Birthday
Cake: Chocolate
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

The body of the butterfly is cupcakes. The antennae are airhead lollipops.

Ballerina Girl

2010-03-31T16:39:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: Strawberry
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

**Figure is made with Wilton fondant. I used half of the Wilton sports ball pan for the dress.**

Triceratops

2010-03-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

Theme: 5 year old's birthday
Cake: white
Icing: vanilla buttercream

I used half of the Wilton sports ball pan for the face, half of a 10 inch round cake for the frill and three stacked square cakes to carve the body.

Baby Boy

2010-01-30T12:26:00.001-08:00

Theme: Baby Shower
Cake: Chocolate
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Roy

2010-01-30T12:23:00.000-08:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Notes: Icing can cover a multitude of wrongs ;)

Charlotte's Web

2010-01-11T17:40:00.001-08:00

Theme: Birthday Cake
Cake: Chocolate Butter Fudge
Icing: Chocolate Buttercream (The roof of the barn is vanilla buttercream)
Accents: Wilton Fondant

Tip: You know how red food coloring always seems to turn out pink... no matter how much you put in. Well, try adding a little cocoa powder. It dulls the metallic taste of red food coloring and makes it darker. Just add a little at a time until you get the color you want. And remember, food color in buttercream icing brightens as it is exposed to air.

The Nativity

2009-12-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

Theme: Jesus Birthday
Cake: Chocolate Butter Fudge
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream
Accents: Figures Made from Wilton White Fondant

Jesus is the reason for the season!

Poinsettias

2009-12-20T19:22:00.001-08:00

It has been a while since I have posted anything on the blog... I am hoping to change that soon. Due to a few BIG changes in life circumstances (a move, a baby, a husband in graduate school), I have had to put caking on hold. However, now that things are a little more settled, perhaps I can pull the tips, bags, rolling pins and cake pans back out.

Theme: Christmas Party

Cake: White and Devil's Food

Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Women's Day

2009-06-17T18:01:00.001-07:00

Theme: Church Women's Retreat
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream
Accents: Gerber Daisies made from Wilton fondant

Golf Fun!

2009-05-09T17:46:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: Devil's Food Cake
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Extras: The giant golf ball was made with half of the "Sports Ball Pan" from Wilton. The golf figures are also Wilton. The sand trap is crushed vanilla wafers.

Stripes and Dots

2009-05-01T11:43:00.001-07:00

Theme: Baby Shower
Cake: White
Icing: Almond Flavored Buttercream, Marshmallow Fondant

Recipe: Marshmallow Fondant
16 ounces Marshmallow Fluff
2 Tsp. flavor (I have used vanilla or lemon extract)
6- 8 cups powdered sugar

Blend Fluff and flavor- add sugar 2 cups at a time. You will have to use your hands to knead in the sugar. Blend until it is no longer sticky. You may need to put some crisco on your hands to keep fondant from sticking to your hands.

Makes enough to cover an 8 inch (3 inch tall) cake and decorations

Zoo-reffic!

2009-04-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Fondant (Animals)
Extras: Mint Chocolate Pirouette Cookies

Abigail

2009-04-22T18:08:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Marshmallow Fondant

Snow Friends

2009-04-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Theme: Winter Fun
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Wilton Rolled Fondant

Fall Leaves Fall

2009-04-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

Theme: Fall
Cake: Chocolate and Vanilla
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

First Wedding Cake

2009-04-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

Theme: Wedding
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Fondant (roses and ribbon)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Delight

2009-04-22T17:57:00.000-07:00

Theme: Groom's Cake
Cake: Marble Fudge
Icing: Caramel Flavored Buttercream
Extras: Peanut Buttercups and Crushed Butterfinger

**Tip: To make the caramel flavored icing, I used Vanilla Caramel Coffee Mate in place of the water (or milk) I would normally put into my buttercream icing. It flavors the icing and makes it very creamy.

Rebecca

2009-04-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Wilton Rolled Fondant

Circus

2009-04-22T17:52:00.000-07:00

Theme: Practice Cake... Child's Birthday
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream

Baby Basket

2009-04-22T17:50:00.000-07:00

Theme: Baby's Homecoming
Cake: Chocolate
Icing: Almond Buttercream, Royal Icing

Roses and Squiggles

2009-04-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

Theme: Birthday Cake
Cake: Strawberry
Icing: Almond Buttercream

Cake Class... Course 3

2009-04-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

Theme: Present Cake
Cake: Chocolate
Icing: Almond Buttercream (crumb coat), Wilton Brand Rolled Fondant

Theme: Tiered Cake
Cake: White
Icing: Vanilla Buttercream, Wilton Brand Rolled Fondant
**Roses are make from fondant

Backyard Bible Club Sheet Cake

2009-04-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Theme: Summer Camp
Cake: White
Icing: Almond Flavored Buttercream

Cake Class... Course 2

2009-04-22T17:38:00.001-07:00

Theme: Flowers and Basket Weave Cake
Cake: Marble Fudge
Icing: Chocolate Buttercream, Royal Icing, Color Flow

Cake Class... Course 1

2009-04-22T17:36:00.001-07:00

Theme: Roses and Shell Border
Cake: White
Icing: Almond Flavored Buttercream