This cake was inspired by my “little sister” Johanna who is a talented artist.   I thought the cake would be perfect for her 11th birthday.  I started with an 8″ round cake, then carved away a small section to create the curve of the palette.  The “thumb hole” was carved out as well.  To finish, the entire cake was iced with a traditional Italian Buttercream.  The “finishing touch,” the paint brush, was a simple butter cookie, frosted with colored icing.  The cake itself was a yellow cake layered with orange curd and fresh blackberries.

This golf cake is my latest creation.  I made this for my brother’s 22nd birthday.  He is an avid golfer, so the theme seemed to fit.  The golf bag, balls, and flag are all made from fondant.  The “sand” is sugar in the raw and the “grass” is pipped buttercream.

My love of baking started  with cakes (well in truth it started with an Easy Bake Oven, but that is a whole other post).  I first experimented with cakes in high school – mix from a box, frosting from a can. One night I remember toiling for hours creating a “Bon Vonage” cake for French class. Decorated with fresh carnations, I was very impressed with how “professional” my masterpiece looked. On display on the kitchen table, the cake unfortunately became a mid-night snack for our cunning dog, Napoleon, instead of my intended classmates. After a few tears and some encouragement from my mother, (and of course a trip to the grocery store for another box and another can) I headed back into the kitchen for round two. (more…)