Valentines chocolate box heart cake

What's better than a box of chocolates for Valentines day? A chocolate box cake of course. This cake was very quick and simple to make. I baked a heart shaped chocolate mud cake.

I coated it in pink buttercream, then covered with a layer of hot pink Satin Ice fondant. To form the sides of the box I used a ribbon cutter. I cut a strip of red Satin Ice fondant to which I added some tylose (to harden). Then a box of chocolates was arranged on the top of the cake. You can use store bought or make your own chocolates or truffles.

To fill in the little gaps between the chocolates I used strings of gum paste pearls, which can be easily formed with the help of a bead maker. A scrumptious decadent treat for Valentines day in under 30 minutes.

ICES Live cake challenge Reno 2012

I have my youtube video channel up and running, this short wee video of the live cake challenge at ICES in Reno will be the first of many. The live cake challenge was held over 8 hours, with teams of three competing. As ICES members we could come and go through the course of the day and watch the progress.

Today I am 35 years old

Goodbye 34!. Today I am 35 years old. I was very lucky and have been treated to two cakes. One by my children and one by my good friend Lisa.

My children are 7 & 4. Miss 7 drew up the plan beforehand and Mr 4 helped with the sprinkles. They were staying the night with Nana, she helped with the baking.

This cake made for me by my good friend Lisa was very tall, I love the piping gel on the glass, to look like condensation, the modelling of the umbrella & lemon slice were amazing.

The umbrella was based on a party invitation I had for a little get together with my girlfriends on Saturday evening.

I've always had a passion for cocktail paraphernalia. Here's a shot of just some of my glass swizzle sticks.

And I just adore the paper comb thingamebobs!

As the party on Saturday night was a cocktail party, I made (very quick 1/2 hour) Margarita cupcakes. I will post the recipe for these in the next day or so.

I was in a big hurry when I made these and literally flung the icing on, but I was happy with the coarse sugar rimming, to make it look like salted glass rim.



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Need ideas for your HAlloween cupcakes, cookies, cake & sweet treats

Wilton has some amazing ideas for Halloween, along with full instructional downloads, that you can print out, for the how to This skull cake using the 3d skull pan is just awesome.

There are masses of Halloween cookie ideas using Halloween cookie cutters As well as Halloween cupcakes from simple designs, displayed on this Pick your poison cupcake stand priced at just 19.95, it's sure to instantly transform your Halloween table.

Through to displays to feed large hoards.

If you're wanting to go shopping for Halloween cookie cutters, cupcake papers, stands & more. Click here to go through to the Kiwicakes Halloween catalogue

How to bake a 3d cake

Source http://www.wilton.com/ Many of my customers have asked how it is done. SO here it is, step by step. We stock the 3d bear pan shown in the photo at http://www.kiwicakes.co.nz/

Baking a 3-D Bear Cake3-D cakes are fun for all!
All 3-D pans work best with a firm-textured cake batter (pudding added mixes and pound cakes). Do not use a traditional white cake as the crumb is too tender.

Steps:

Step 1: Prepare Pan

Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously coat the inside of both pan halves and both the inside and outside of the baking core using Wilton Cake Release or solid shortening. Be sure to cover all indentations. If using shortening, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons flour inside each pan half and shake so flour covers all greased surfaces. Turn pan halves upside down and tap lightly to remove excess flour. If any shiny spots remain, touch up with more shortening and flour to prevent cake from sticking.

Step 2: Fasten Pan with ClipsFasten pan halves together with clips, making sure the halves fit snugly together.

Step 3: Mix and Pour BatterMake cake mix according to package directions, or use your favorite scratch recipe. (Most 3-D pans require 5 1/2 - 6 1/4 cups of batter). Pound cake or a combination of pound cake and yellow or chocolate batters offer the best results. Batters that contain nuts or raisins do not work well. Place pan on cookie sheet. Pour cake batter into pan.

Step 4: Bake CakeInsert baking core into center. The batter in the pan will come right to the rim, almost to the point of overflowing. Cake fills out best when batter overflows slightly while baking. Secure core by slipping tabs of longer prongs under the sides of the pan. Pour 2/3 cup batter into core. Bake 50-60 minutes, until toothpick inserted in vent hole on top of pan comes out clean. Top half of pan may be removed during last ten minutes of baking to check cake.

Step 5: Cool Cake
When cake is done, remove from oven and place upside down on cooling rack 5-10 minutes. Remove top half of pan and cool 5 minutes more. Replace top pan, turn cake over and remove bottom pan. It may be necessary to tap pan with the handle of a spatula to free cake from pan. Cool 15-30 minutes.

Step 6: Remove Pans and CoolRemove pans; gently remove the baking core and the baked cake centre. Set cake upright and cool completely.

Step 7: Fill in Cake Center and Decorate
Place the cake center inside the bear, filling any empty areas with buttercream icing. Position cake upright on plate, and secure to plate with icing or melted candy. Your teddy bear cake is now ready to decorate!

Tips for Baking 3D or Stand Up Cakes
All 3-D pans work best with a firm-textured cake batter (pudding added mixes and pound cakes). Do not use a traditional white cake as the crumb is too tender.
Be sure pans are either greased (with vegetable shortening, not oil or butter) floured or sprayed with a vegetable spray, or brushed with Cake Release.
It is important to follow pan directions for batter amounts.
Always allow cakes to cool overnight, resting in back half of pan.
We recommend hand washing pan in hot, soapy water.