Cake Endeavours

Pat's daughter asked me to make this cake for a milestone birthday.  Pat does not look anywhere near 70!  Of course, a family favourite is lemon cake, with cream cheese icing.  Three layer 6" cake; one day I will centre a cake properly on the base!   I have a box of silk flowers that I keep for cake decorating and I love how this spring like bouquet of flowers and greenery came together on the top.

 Originally I was going to do Jamie Oliver's  Scrumptious Yule Log  recipe for our Christmas dinner dessert but as Mr. T and were driving back home from my parents' on Christmas Eve I was reading the instructions for the cake and realised that there was no way I was going to make this before going back to my parents' in the morning.  Instead I went with this very scrumptious  Chocolate Espresso Yule Log  recipe instead.  It did not disappoint. My mother-in-law gave me some vintage Christmas decorations when they were moving and I knew that they would be perfect on top of this cake.  In the rush to get out to my parents' on time I forgot to bring the board for the cake.  Thankfully my brother had this very appropriate buffalo plaid tray that I could use. This is the cake several hours later ready to be served up.  What I didn't realise and should have, is that you dust the cake with icing sugar just before you're ready to serve it otherwi...

Several years ago I swore I would not do any mini cakes, rather multiple mini cakes in one request, especially at Christmas time.  Clearly, I forgot that resolve!  I'm hoping I won't forget again.   The 8" vanilla cheesecake was not a problem.  I made it in the Instant Pot and it came out beautifully.  Even the red with gold mirror glaze went on with ease.  If only it stopped there!   The decorations were simple enough, fresh cranberries, some sugared and some left as is, along with fresh rosemary and silver and black dragees.     Then there were the two dozen mini cheese cakes.  Yikes! I made up a cheese cake in a 9 x 13 pan, then cut into 2" square pieces and set them in the freezer.  When it came time to covering them in the glaze, it did not go so well.  It was a mess!  It would have definitely gone smoother the cheese cakes were a no bake recipe done in individual molds but I knew my friend wanted baked and ...

A friend of mine asked me to make this cake for her sister.  A 6" two layer carrot cake with cream cheese icing.  The cake was topped off with sprinkles and gold covered malt balls.  Update:  Her sister is still enjoying the cake a month later by keeping it in the freezer and enjoying a slice every so often.  It's surprising how well cake can freeze and this recipe definitely freezes well.

 Cupcakes turned Christmassy with the addition of some sprinkles! Chocolate cupcakes with whipped cream icing. Lemon cupcakes with whipped cream icing as well.  

Making this cake meant we were able to have an outdoor visit in a parking lot with family we haven't seen in forever to drop off the cake. Eason asked for a superhero cake.  I already had most of the cake topper ready to go so this cake came together really fast. Of course this is a chocolate cake, 6" three layer.  Always happy when I am able to get red buttercream icing to come out so vibrant. Hope you have an awesome day Eason!