Cake Challenge Accepted

Before November comes to an end, I had better update my much-neglected blog. Last year this time, I had well over 40 entries, this year's been a bit slow with too many distractions. Having said that, the baking hasn't stop and I've had the lovely opportunity to work on some amazing cakes. The last two months in particular posed some cake challenges that I was more than happy to accept.

The Lego Cake
This is a special request from my boy who turned 5. He made the leap from Duplo to big boy Lego some months back under the enthusiastic tutelage of his father. Once he got the hang of it, his appetite for Lego building became insatiable. He was eagerly fixing up sets that were for well beyond his years. Papa B has competition now and the house has become Legoland.

So Mama was summoned to make a Lego cake for his birthday and he wanted this specific one he saw online. I was nervous that if I didn't construct it right, I'll have a house of Lego junkies on my case.

Happy Birthday Jake

Still Can't Let It Go
Apparently the fascination with Elsa, Anna, Olaf and all things Frozen has yet to thaw. I still get a good number of request for Frozen cakes. This one in particular really pushed me to extend my construction skill. The castle is the piece de resistance on this two-tier cake. Made from foam core, cardboard and sugar gum paste, I managed to save the day when the Frozen cake toppers were all out of stock!

Happy Birthday Tricia

The 80th Birthday Cake
I was asked to design a cake for a sweet dame turning 80. Usually for older ladies, I would play it safe and go with flowers or simple piping designs. This time, I was given a picture of the celebrant in her most favourite spot - in a recliner in front of the telly. Life is good at 80.

Happy 80th Birthday

Christmas is round the corner and 2014 will soon be a wrap. I started out the year so strong with so many plans, but with only a month to go, I'm sad to say I've yet to achieve what I set out to do. Ah well, I can plan and hope again in 2015. Stay tuned won't you.

Sofia the First

Wow! I made some Sofia the First cupcakes recently and had it posted on my Facebook page. Overnight, the post reach surpassed all my previous posting with a healthy number of likes and kind comments. Thanks so much guys. The petite princess in purple offered so many wonderful design elements  to work on that it was simple pleasure to make.

This also made me realised how many of you actually like Sofia the First! I know her because it's on Disney Jr. and it's one of few princess cartoons my boys would watch, if not the only. It is also easy to like Sofia, she's kind and spirited but not cloyingly sweet, just enough to make some awesome cupcakes. Heh.

Here are a few emblems that brings out the essence of Princess Sophia...

Her purple amulet

Clover pattern on her dress

Every princess needs a tiara

It's an extremely purply affair, a sort of powdery lavender that is most fitting for Disney's latest bug eyed princess. Here's Sofia herself in cupcake (literally).

Sofia the First 

I made little printouts of Sofia, had them cut out and mounted on toothpicks, then stuck it atop the cupcake and used the fondant ruffle technique for the skirt. Little round discs of fondant were ruffled piece by piece with a ball tool - something I have to confess that's strangely therapeutic to do - and arranged it all around each cupcake.

HRH Cupcakes

I've had wonderful feedback and was told Mummy H who ordered this was totally pleased as was the birthday girl. From the response I've been getting all around, I think Sofia has just gained a few more fans.

Peppa the Popular Piggy

You always know what's hot with the kids by the cakes that get requested and the one that is getting keeps popping up is Peppa Pig!

The cute little pink piggy is famous for adventures around her neighbourhood with her little brother George and extended family and friends. There are many other little characters in this British preschool animated series, which includes rabbits, sheep, cats, dogs and elephants. It's truly great fodder for fondant characters.

The most famous image of Peppa and her family is where Mama pig, Papa pig, Peppa and George are enjoying a stomp around in a muddy puddle, typical piggy activity!

I made my first Peppa pig cake in Dec last year and in 2014, it's easily already one of the most requested cakes. Check out all the Peppa cakes I've done so far...

Peppa and friends (extended version)

Peppa and family

Peppa herself

This was a special request to feature the main star herself - Peppa. This cake is carved out, and covered in meringue frosting. Fondant is used only for the outline, so that minimises the sweet stuff. 

Peppa is popular

Always a joy to make, I'm almost eager to see another request for this.

Laylapalooza

If there is one thing from my misguided youth that I regret, it is that I didn't go to music festivals like Glastonbury, Coachella and the likes while I could still weather the elements, large crazy crowds and budget youth hostels.

I only went as far as Big Day Out in Melbourne and though I did get to see The Strokes, The Darkness, Jet and got on stage with The Flaming Lips, in truth, it wasn't quite Glastonbury.

It does seem like that window has closed for me, but my friend Eve who runs the awesome motherhood blog thebottomsupblog.com gave me the opportunity to remember those heady days and showed how as young mothers now, it is still possible to have a rocking party!

Eve threw her daughter Layla a super awesome Rock n Roll theme party, complete with posters, props, memorabillia and a band where her friends can bring a song (instead of a toy/gift) and perform it! I don't think it gets any cooler than this for a 8-year-old! 

So where I came in was to provide cupcakes in line with the colour scheme and theme. I made little fondant electric guitars as toppers and stencils of their favourite bands which include AC/DC, The Beatles, Ramones, Metallica, Nirvana, RHCP, GnR...

I was thinking real hard how to transfer the band logo without resorting to printing it on sugar paper and realised there is no other way but to print it and penknife it out into a stencil. Then I dusted edible black dusting powder and voilà, a decent transfer that actually looks like it was spray painted on!

Rawk on!

Happy Birthday Layla

Now if you want to see the rest of the party and how Eve had put it together so wonderfully, do check it out at http://thebottomsupblog.com/laylapalooza-2014/

Be Still, My Unicorn

It was going to be a quiet week for me partly because the World Cup has ruin my sleep - I'm not usually a football fan but hey, this is a once-in-four-years event with some athletic eye candy, so why not! But then a friend contacted me for a Unicorn cake for her elder girl and I decided to forgo sleep altogether ha! They are based overseas but were headed back to Singapore for a wedding in Bintan, and she needed a birthday cake as a surprise for her girl who was turning 8.

I love horses, and the mystical unicorn adds another dimension to the equine beauty. At first I was going to make a dumb down version of the beast but when Mummy J showed me the birthday girl's favourite unicorn figurine, I got inspired to make one like it (well, close enough at least).

Keira's Unicorn and Pegasus

As you can see these figurines are almost life-like and I've always been nervous about making anything too much like still life. However, I was up for the challenge and did some research online and found this amazing tutorial on Cake Central on how to sculpt a unicorn. After a few attempts, I was happy with how my unicorn was turning out. I'm so grateful for the generous cake crafters out there who constantly put up ideas and how-tos.

Here's my unicorn in progress...this is made with a mixture of fondant and gum paste, left over night to set and dry before details and shading were added on.

Sculpting at work

Done without shading

Complete with shading

The cake had a few challenges to overcome before it could meet with the celebrant - mainly: Transportation. It would have to go by car to a ferry terminal, take a 45-minute ferry ride, then a transfer to the resort and stored till evening when celebrations will happen. It was a highly humid day. I was seriously concerned. Just a week ago, one of my cakes didn't make it in transit and it was just a car ride that unfortunately had to brake suddenly at one point. The tiered cake shifted, the fondant cracked. I think I was more devastated than the recipient. So yes I was a bit naggy with Mummy J but she was totally cool about it.

Here's the completed cake when it got picked up in the morning...

Keira's Surprise

I'm glad to say everything went well. Mummy J reported back that the cake survived the journey and the birthday girl loved it! While I could see in her picture that there was some wear from the day, I'm glad everyone enjoyed it. For me, that's what it's all about :)

Happy Birthday Keira

What more can a cupcake be?

Some time back, I made a cake made up of cupcakes. My dear friend saw the idea from somewhere and asked if I could do something like that. For all intents and purposes it's a regular cake, except it's made up of many cupcakes put together, kinda like a jigsaw puzzle.

This great little idea is called the 'pull-apart' cake. It's also perfect for those who don't want to deal with cutting up a cake to serve. Once the candles are blown out, all you have to do is pick up a cupcake and enjoy the goods. And the design possibilities are endless!

I made a beach theme pull-apart complete with the birthday boy's favourite beach toys! Here's a look at how it's done...

Setting up the base of cupcakes

Adding the frosting over the top entirely

Happy Birthday Zach!

These cupcakes quickly caught on as I started to get a few requests for this idea. Mummy P ordered what must be the biggest batch of cupcakes to date for her kids as they both shared the same birth date so it was cupcakes galore at school!

The birthday boy wanted an superhero themed cake so I suggested Iron Man! The request was for 50 cupcakes so I had to think of how to configure the 'cake'. I image googled Iron Man and thought the logo was the best way to go - a huge red M with a dot above.

Esan's Iron Man Celebration

For the birthday girl, she wanted something princess-y so I had a look around and saw a very nice idea online of a princess dress put together by cupcakes. I made a fondant tiara to top off for the royal treatment. Admittedly, the shape didn't work out as nicely as I would have liked. I think it' was a case of no. of cupcakes versus the configuration for a dress.

Happy Birthday Princess! 

The 100th Post

I've been procrastinating on this very post for more than 2 months. But it's not for a lack of cakes to talk about - I've actually taken on some interesting orders which you can check out at my Facebook page - it's more the pressure of the 100th post.

When I realised I was going to reach this 100th post, I told myself I got to do something to commemorate this baking journey of mine. I bantered about many ideas with family and friends - maybe throw some kind of thank you party, have a pop up event of sorts, or even officially launch a baking business. After all, I've been doing this for almost 3 years now in an idyllic way.

So here I am at my 100th post.

While there are no parties to speak of, or special events, still I'd like to take this post to thank all those of you whom I've come to know through my cakes. To the mothers who have included me in their childrens' milestones year after year, to the kids who have dreamt up of interesting themes for me to explore and to family who have always been such a source of encouragement!

In 2012, I made my first fondant cake. I'm sure I've mentioned in my blog before...it was a good friend and ex-colleague who asked me to make a fire engine cake. I didn't know then, but taking on the order would open up a whole new world for me.

My first fondant cake... the one I still joke about with S who said, "Don't hurt yourself making it ok?"

My First Fondant (2012)

Here's a look back at some of my favourite cakes in the last two years...

With half of 2014 behind us now, I've already done more than two dozen cakes that I absolutely enjoyed putting out. While there's more to come, I'm also hoping to make a leap of some sort this year. So I'm going to grant me an extension, meanwhile I've spruced up the blog a little to include some new sections, do have a look around. I hope to bring you new news soon. The 101st post maybe?

The Sound of 19

My nephew Josh turned 19! It's a surefire reminder of how old I am with the only consolation that my brother (his father) is even older! (oops sorry, brother) You see, it doesn't seem so long ago that I was somewhat living the carefree days of being a student and enjoying a social life revolving around music. Has it really been 19 years?

Where I used to hang out with friends who formed bands and played at gigs, I'm now making a cake in the shape of a guitar, for a 19-year-old. Thank you Josh for reminding me of my youth, it was a good time indeed.

Josh has made a conscious choice to pursue music and thanks to his supportive parents, he is bucking the usual academic trend to create a future hopefully based on passion. And he will be the better for it.

Happy Birthday Josh

This little blue ukelele (Harvest) is actually a replica of something he has in his impressive collection of guitars. I figured it's easier to make this than Taylor, Fender or Gibson.

Back to the cake, it's 2 different sized round cakes combined with a long rectangular strip cake for the fretboard. It's actually really fun to make and covering it in fondant really brought the instrument to life. My little boy actually wanted to pick it up and pluck the strings!

The trick was crafting the tuning pegs and strings. The tuning machine heads and pegs are all moulded from fondant. I made them stiff enough so I could actually string it like a real guitar to the bridge with fishing line. For someone who doesn't play the guitar, I sure know the anatomy of one.

Some people have lives, some people have music. Josh I wish you have a fulfilling life of music.


Music is perpetual, and only the hearing is intermittent.
- Henry David Thoreau 

What a Character!

I had the pleasure of baking two orders that involved some interesting and well-loved children's characters. For the birthday recipients, the cakes not only made their day, but it was central to the celebration and really goes to show how it's not a party unless you have cake!

When I think of pirates, it used to be 'Pirates of the Caribbean' with Johnny Depp in all his uncanny ways. Now that I have kids, it's Disney Junior's 'Jake and the Neverland Pirates'! Oh how things have changed. But Jake and his mateys are definitely more inspirational when it comes to making confectionery.

I was delighted to bake for Riven again. His mummy had contacted me exactly a year ago for his birthday. Another year older now, his love for Mickey Mouse has moved on to a more swashbuckling variety - Pirates!

Riven got a box of cherubic-looking pirate cupcakes for school and a small cake with all the emblems that would make a pirate proud. The pirate fondant toppers were easy enough to make, you just need round cutters and edible ink pen. Cut a nice round disc for the face, a semi circle for the head scarf, some little round cutouts for the polka dots (I used a the opening of a large piping tip) and draw in the face with edible ink!

Happy B'Arr-Day Riven

Eye patches rock

Riven's Treasure Chest

My next recipient is a little older, but age doesn't have to define you, especially not when it comes to the sort of cake you can ask for on your birthday. The birthday girl's friends were throwing her a tea party, and not just any tea party, but the sort that Alice would enjoy in Wonderland.

Since it was just cupcakes, I figured to make a few key characters and feature some famous quotes from the fantasy claptrap. So you got to have the White Rabbit, Alice herself falling down a rabbit hole no less, the mad hat and crazy clock. I particularly enjoyed pulling out quotes from the story that have become so famous that it's part of popular culture - "Eat me!"

Alice in Cupcake-land

Time for cupcakes

Happy Birthday Cindy

Wonderful Tea Party

I just realised a common thread in these character cupcakes - Johnny Depp movies!


“You would have to be half mad to dream me up.” 
- Lewis Carrol

Buds, Blooms and Beyond

I'm going to blog about cakes I made over Valentine's Day... I'm still behind on my updates as you can see. Anyway, as I was saying...

You may have read my earlier entry about the master class I took with Joyliciouscake for making sugar flowers. Well, I was very fortunate to be able to apply what I learnt as Valentine's Day came round and I was asked by some devoted husbands to create something special for their wives.

Now, we know Valentine's Day is the one day in a year that florists of any grade make all their money. So this baker was going to give them a run for their money, at least with the two lovely gentlemen, who wanted flowers that their wives can eat instead of watch wither.

Hubby No.1 is based in San Francisco, and he asked if I could create a Valentine's Day cake for his wife here in Singapore. At first his idea was for me to make a cake in the shape of a branded handbag, but I told him that it's one thing to make edible flowers, it's another to make edible bags. Some things are best in actual form...and leather bags are one of those things - agree ladies?

So here's the expression of love I made on his behalf - a Tiffany blue heart shaped cake topped with more than a dozen red roses. Each rose was lovingly handmade, petal by petal.

"Our love can traverse any distance"

I delivered the cake first thing on V-day, to catch her before she went to work. I knocked on her door bright and early at 7:30am, after being told she leaves the house about 7:45am only to find that I had woken the household! She had overslept! So she was saved by the (door)bell, and received a total surprise on V-day morning. I only wished her hubby could see the sheer delight on her face. 

Hubby No.2 requested for a cake with flowers as it was his wife's birthday. She enjoys a good carrot cake and I was only too happy to make one with sweet cream cheese filling. Not enough people request for this, it's such a wonderful wholesome cake. 

Again I made roses in varying state of bloom, from rose buds, to small blooms to full petal roses. I also   put my lessons in floral arrangement to good use. It's one thing to be able to handcraft flowers, but being able to put it together in an aesthetic way makes all the difference. I have my amazing instructor Joyce to thank, apart from a master sugar artist, she's also an expert in floral arrangement.

Happy Birthday Darling

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

When you need to say I love you,

Bake a cake. 

                        -- debbie

Furry Furby

I know, I know...I've taken too long to update my blog. I've made quite a few cakes in the last week, entertained many requests for customised cakes and sadly had to turn down quite a few interesting orders. Yes, I'm in the Indonesian capital again, so while I won't be baking, I should definitely catch up on my updates.

One of the cakes, which I made for an acquaintance who had come to enjoy my red velvet fudge cake, is the Furby! I was really happy with how it turned out. Mummy J told me of how her girl loves the owl-eyed furball toy and wanted a birthday cake of her fave Furby.

She sent me a drawing with some modifications to a teal-coloured Furby to give an idea of how the cake should look like. So what Hasbro can't customised, I did just that in cake and cream :)

Furby of her dreams

I baked 9" round red velvet layers with chocolate ganache filling and had it cut out slightly around the sides to get the egg shape look for the Furby. It was simple enough to do. The features like ears, eyes, beak and feet were all made from fondant. Now the challenging part is to recreate the fur. As you can see, this Furby is mainly teal with spots of lime green. It also has these concentric pattern that I was studying on how to pull off.

The best frosting to achieve this is buttercream or the like. As you all know, I'm not a fan of buttercream, largely because of our weather. So a fluffy meringue cream will do the job. I whipped up a batch and had it coloured in teal, light turquoise and lime green. The cake was first treated to a generous ganache covering, then heaped on with teal coloured frosting. After that, the lime green frosting was spotted on and finished with a circular swirl of lighter teal. Here's the result...

Yummy Furby

Happy Birthday Ashley

This technique is the same as what I have done with Elmo and Cookie Monster cakes. I simply love making furry characters, and eating it too. Yums!

A Date with Charming Flowers

It's that time of the year when my baking buddy Dawn comes back from Shanghai and we get up to all sort of baking goodness. This trip back, she arranged for us to learn sugar flowers! I have a deep affection for flowers and the inner florist in me had been eagerly looking forward to this course.

We spent almost 3 rewarding days with our sugar art 神 (god), Joyce from Joyliciouscakes. Lesson time with Joyce is sheer pleasure as she imparts her techniques on crafting sugar paste into the most realistic flowers you have ever seen. Joyce is a generous teacher, wonderful host and a truly supportive friend in baking. 

Here's the rundown of flowers we learnt in the 2.5 days we spent in her home studio...

Magnolia

Ranunculus

Rose

Hydrangea

Chincherinchee (my fave of the lot)

Hypericum Berries

Red Wild Berries

My Charming Bouquet

We also learnt to make fillers like Wild Ginger Blossoms, Poison Hemlock, Hydrangea buds and Magnolia buds. They may be small (and a bit of a pain to make, literally!) but they make all the difference when completing an arrangement.

All these flowers were patiently made by hand, bud by bud, petal by petal. It's definitely my most laborious work of art by far! Thank you Joyce for the wonderful tutorials.