Essie's Cake Pop Baby Shower

I was indeed looking for an excuse to make these really cute Hoot Hoot Owl Cake Pops, inspired by Bakerella. Unfortunately Wilton's had not cleared customs for about 2 weeks  so the entire Melbourne cake decorating industry was short on candy Melts,  I managed to source 2 of the last bags of chocolate from spotlight. The original plan was to actually make cake pops that looked like little baby girls, but short on supplies, this was the alternative.

I was so excited to make these for my girlfriends baby shower, she was having a lovely high tea so a cake or cupcakes almost seemed excessive with the amount of desserts and sweets so the owls became a favour for her gift, I will try and find a few other pictures to post as this was the only one I had on my phone.

The cake pops where chocolate cake with chocolate coating, and little candy to make the owl come alive.

Until next time Hoot Hoot!

Stefanies 7th Birthday- I heart cake



Stefanie's 7th Bday cake



Stefanie had strict instructions that it had to be a heart cake, and the mum gave me the colour pallet, so what better than a exploding heart cake. I tend to forget how much preparation goes into a cake, preparing and colouring fondant and cutting out shapes needs to be done days before the assembly of the cake. It was a "heart attack" of fondant in my kitchen this week. Hubby was far from impressed with the places he has found, fondant, sugar and ganache. I guess this weekend will be spent mopping up the floors.



The cake & mini Love theme



mini cupcakes

Cake is chocolate mud cake with chocolate ganache, baby cakes are red velvet with cheese cream frosting. This recipe is amazing, its been adapted from about 3 different recipes and dubbed "Connie & Katie's Amazing Red Velvet Cupcakes" Doesn't look like I am going to be able to share that recipe just yet with you all. It took us two attempt to perfect and lots of metric convertion charts.

I am hoping that this one is a hit with little Stefanie after all this is why I bake.

Until next time happy caking! xo KB

Luca's First Birthday

I am lucky to have wonderful neighbours, we are extremely appreciative, we hear so many horror stories about neighbours poisoning pets, causing trouble with council etc so we are thankful.

My next doors neighbours son celebrated his first birthday last weekend and she was really keen to make his cake, with my assistance, I had no input in design, flavour, or colours, this was left totally to the discretion of the mum.

I spoke to a friend who is also a mum about the craze that mums go through regarding first birthdays, I don't understand but she said to me "first birthday's are all about the mum". I guess that made sense from my experience its something about showcasing you baking and motherhood schools. What ever it is, I was happy to consult and show her a few cake decorating tips I have learnt in my journey. I think it turned out great. She received great feedback from her guests which is why we do this.

Until next time happy caking xoxo KB

Baby Cake Topper

Its great to road test some tutorials and was lucky that Sharon Wee had enlisted my help to road test her instructions, as you can see this was relatively easy, her instruction were great and I have Esma's Baby Shower cake semi completed! Now just to bake the cake, ganache, cover in fondant, create the bunting, add a few blossoms....easy enough!

Until Next time happy caking xoxoKB

Sophia's Christening Cake

Who would have thought doing a cake mid week would have caused so many head aches? I should have known, that juggling work, cake decorating and being a wife would have been a challenge. However, those who know me know that I am always up for a challenge.

Granted it took me a few attempts to get the cake itself the correct consistency, it was smooth sailing after that. Note to self, don't believe the cake decorating supply centre, a 10 inch board is not a 9 inch, I lost a day of decorating because I trusted him. I think this was a good lesson in learning to stock pile some essentials in case of last minute requests.

I was relatively pleased with this cake, I love the simplicity, and remember if it looks simple its usually harder as you can see the imperfection on a simple cake.

Strawberry Cloud Cakes

For some time know I have wanting to try out a meringue icing, so I decided that these little babies were  a must Sunday try. Here is the recipe if you want to give them a shot yourself

Strawberry Butter cake

90g softened butter

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup caster sugar

2 eggs

1 cup SR Flour

2 tbs milk

2 tbs strawberry jam

1. Pre heat oven to 160º C in fan- force setting, Line 12 standards muffin pan
2. Beat buuter, extract and sugar
3. Add flour, milk and beat until mixture is pale in colour
4. Divide mixture among cases and add jam over over cupcakes and using a skewer swirl jam into cakes
5. bake for 20 mins and leave to cool

Frosting

1 cup caster sugar

1/3 cup water

2 egg whites

1. combine sugar and water in small saucepan, stir over heat without boiling or stirring for abut 5 minutes. Syrup should be thick but not coloured
2. Remove from heat allow bubbles to subside
3. beat egg whites until soft peaks form
4. while mixer is operating add hot syrup in thin stream 
5. beat on high speed for about 10 minutes or until mixtures thick and cool

Kyle's Tennis Birthday Cake

I had the great pleasure in creating a cake for a very dear friends oldest child. Granted I was given free creative design and really no pressure. I really wanted to do this cake, firstly to gain more cake decorating experience and secondly to gauge the timing of doing cakes on my own.

I learnt a costly lesson, in using new items, DON'T DO IT..I tried to skip a step and buy a pre-made cake mix, it actually resulted in a super dry and crumby cake, so in the bin that went and a new mud cake from scratch was called for.

Armed with my trusty mud cake recipe, it was take 2, with success. I decided to make a square cake, inspired by Kyle's love of tennis. I also knew from many car journeys with Ms Toula that her husband often plays tennis with Kyle with very little skill.

Kyle's reaction was overwhelming and truly made the time spent absolutely worth it. He was amazed and said it was the best cake he had ever had. I guess that's my job done.

Until next time, Happy Baking xoxoKB

Raspberry Fangipane Tart

Note: Fresh dates, blueberries, strawberries, dessert figs or prunes, sliced apples or pears in place of raspberries. An alternative to orange is lemon rind

450g sweet short crust pasty (or for home made pastry see below)
1 cup frozen raspberries (alternatively use fresh raspberries or strawberries)
Icing sugar
Whipped or double cream
Almond slivers

Short Crust Pastry

1 1/2 plain flour

125 g butter, chilled and cut into cubes

1/2 cup icing sugar

3 egg yolks

1 tbs iced water

1. Place flour, butter and sugar in a food processor and in short bursts mix until mixture resembels fine bread-crumbs.
2. Whilst motor is on add egg yolks and water, until dough comes together. Turn dough into fkoured surface and bring together to form a ball. Flatten dough to look like disk and cling wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. If you dont have a convention oven setting you will need to blind bake. Preheat oven to 180º C roll out dough between two sheets of baking paper and line tray (30cm) with pastry refrigerate for a further 30 mins.
4. Line with baking paper and place weights , bake for 15mins.

Frangipane                                           
250g unsalted butter                              
1 cup caster sugar                                
1 teaspoon grated orange                      
3 eggs                                                    
250g almond mean                                
1/2 cup flour

1. Preheat oven on Intensive Bake at 160º C with baking tray placed on shelf 1 (bottom)
2. Cream filling: butter, sugar and rind until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, fold in the almond meal and flour, mix well.
4. Spread frangipane evenly into pastry shell
5. Arrange raspberries and almond on top
6. Bake for 50 mins until set and golden
7. Cool tart in wire rack for 30 mins before removing from tin.
8. Serve tart dusted with icing sugar, serve with cream.

Serves 12.

Oven Cooking Demonstration

I was fortunate enough to get a free cooking demonstration when I purchased my oven, granted it was nearly three years ago since it was installed, but better late than never. I had heard great reviews and it was a cooking class and free, so off I went to see how good it was

Ready to learn, I was pleasantly surprised with the service, after all I had already purchased the oven. I was greeted with a lovely cup of coffee and a divine pistachio and chocolate ganache macaroon. This afternoon was already looking to be great.

Whilst I love baking, I rarely use my oven outside of sweets and desserts so I wanted to learn how to make the most of this german beast and the other 12 settings that I have never dared to use.

Admittedly I wanted to purchase a few move oven accessories, wire rack, but after spending a couple hours with the lovely Kathy, I was converted, and no more wire trays instead trade them in for metal trays, your guests or partner will thank you.

At the conclusion of the demonstration we were able to sample the food to prove there was no tricks, we had veal racks, with horseradish, fetta and vegetable frittata, stuffed grilled mushrooms, bakes potatoes, carrots and brussel sprouts. The food was amazing and was by far the best sit down meal I had in a long time. and for dessert a Chocolate Frangipane Tart was devine.

I am looking forward to many cakes that don't have uneven peaks or cracked tops, and no more blind baking for me, thanks to the convention bake option. I thought I would list a few of the key things I learnt. I don't think they apply to all ovens, but I would think if you have a newish oven that the same rules apply.

1. Avoid baking on wire racks, the metal ones tend to distribute heat more evenly.
2. Pay special attention to the shelf position when cooking (who knew that you don't just put everything in the middle?)
3. Take all trays out of the oven before you turn the oven, only leave what you require
4. Use baking paper on trays
5. If you have Intensive Bake as a option use it! It eliminates the need for blind baking, however you will need to place your pie, tart, pizza quiche on the bottom shelf, as the heat is distributed at higher intensities towards the bottom of the oven.

Stay tuned, I will scan add the guide they provides us for future reference

Charli's 6th Birthday

Charli celebrating her 6th Bday with a Unicorn Pink and White Square cake...she loved it