G'day Mates!

Given that I had some extra time last week, I took to creating a three-dimensional kangaroo cake for a regular customer. The original plan was to make a 2D shaped kangaroo,but I decided to surprise her by going all-out instead!

Now, planning and constructing a cake of such enormity was no easy task - fondant is a tricky material to work with, and an oddly-shaped cake often calls for a more cautious approach and tedious execution. Yet despite the challenging nature of the project, it was still one of the most fun and unique challenges that I have ever undertaken. Witnessing the client's reaction of surprise and delight upon receiving it was definitely the most rewarding part of the experience.

The structural design of this entirely-edible marsupial was roughly modeled after the character "Roo", from Winnie the Pooh, as it was intended to have more of a whimsical, animation-inspired appearance.

The core of the body and tail consisted of tapered layers of moist pumpkin cake, sandwiching and coating with our signature cream cheese frosting before being covered with various types of fondant.
 The head and limbs were sculpted from Rice Krispie Treats before receiving the fondant treatment as well.

Here is a  mini tutorial for our "Roo" inspired Kangaroo:

I baked two half sheet pumpkin cakes. The cake will serve about 20 adults after the carving process. Make different circle cake templates from parchment paper. I used the tail from the cake scrap.

Stack the different layers of cake with cream cheese. Move on to the tail part, repeat the same procedure as the body part.

Crumb coat the tail part, let it set for 30 min in fridge. In the mean time, prepare different fondant colors (chocolate, pink, green, purple, lavender).

Once the body and tail set, cover them with the chocolate fondant. Add the pink accent for the belly part, chocolate for the legs and arms.0

Don't forget to add the pouch! Repeat the same procedure for the tail part, add little stitches design. 

 

Mold the kangaroo face using rice krispies, cover it with chocolate fondant and don't forget to add dowel in the middle for support.

Attach the face and the body using a dowel, add a little princess necklace "P.O.A" ( Princess of Australia)!

Finally, I added some fondant facial features, silver crown, and girlie accents at the request of the customer, and voila! The kangaroo was ready to (carefully) hop on over to the party! Happy Birthday Angie!

The Sweetest Note

I just have to post the sweetest note I received this past weekend. This note made me cry, of course, happy tears! I am going to plaster it all over my kitchen wall. I always put 110% or more on the cake that I work on every minute, days, and weeks. I feel guilty, if I say NO to cake order. I just have to know my limit. My health is more important than staying up all night long trying to finish/rushing meeting a cake deadline.

I am thankful that I can be where I am today, even it isn't always a good day. I worked with my husband. I wish I wasn't so harsh with him. Then again, we are completely different individual. He's very laid back, where I always on the-go, planning here and there. Sometime, I want to scream to him, "Do you understand the word coming out from my mouth?"  A Thank you letter will make the day better! Thank you Danielle.

 Here is the cake that I made for Travis this past weekend, Happy Birthday!

This two tiered topsy- turvty cake above was an  8" round chocolate cake with chocolate swiss buttercream and a 10" round cake vanilla cake with vanilla swiss buttercream covered with fondant. The monster truck was from "TAR-JAY!"  Got to love Target!

Fun Custom Cakes!

I heart my customers. They always come up with fun ideas for cakes that I haven't made before.Yup, I love challenge which can drive me nuts! This past couple weeks, we had an animal week birthday theme cake. First was our popular zebra cake:

A 6" round red velvet cake covered with American vanilla buttercream, decorated with black zebra stripes, and pink fondant bow. It's simple, clean, and sassy!

The second one was a cheetah birthday party. The cake was covered with fondant and it's a vanilla cake with swiss vanilla buttercream.

Next, it's a super cute chubby penguin cake! The fiance surprised her with this cake, after his first attempt last year to made one at home.

 It was a devils food cake, raspberry jam and cream cheese buttercream! Yummmm.

I just can't get enough of anything monkey theme, next our first topsy turvy modern monkey first birthday cake. I love the simplicity of the color, whimsical, and clean looked. It's a 8" round black bottom cake, and a 6" vanilla cake with American Vanilla buttercream.

 Thanks for looking and I can't wait to make you one!

Almost back to school!

Two weeks away before UT students and football seasons begin and I am already feeling the anxiety for this up coming school year for charity events, birthdays, weddings, baby showers and so on.... I do love challenges but too much .. is no fun! especially dealing with the heat, scheduling, and meeting cake deadlines - trying to remember every little details on what I need to put on the cake, delegating tasks for my assistants, do logistics for weekend delivery,  looking for the tape for cake box, and of course ruler and scissors are nowhere to be found when you need them. This week went by very fast and I am thankful that all cakes got done on time even though I was shorthanded.

Without further ado, here are few of my favorite cakes from this past week:

Paige's first birthday cake - it's a strawberry shortcake, vanilla cake with strawberry buttercream and fresh strawberry.

Yo Gabba Gabba Birthday cake for Carson and Foley - It's a vanilla cake with cream cheese and covered with classic American Buttercream

Cullen's first birthday cake, it's a 10" round (serves 30), 8" round (serves 20), and the tent (serves 12). I never made this cake shape, so I was a little stressed out. I am pretty happy with the final result! of course I always hope that I had more time so that I can do...this  or add that..

Layla's birthday cake was a 1/4 sheet chocolate cake (serves 20-25) with vanilla buttercream. I love the clean look and simplicity!

Luci turned three and had a cowboy theme party, so I thought a cute pink boots on top will be cute for her! I added farm animals around the side of the cake. Thanks for looking! I am anxious to make my first topsy turvy cake for 200 serving this weekend!

August is here finally !

This past week our calendar was full of fun birthday cakes. At least we got 16 birthdays on July 31st! My husband theory is parents want their babies to be born in July, so that they don't have to miss school calendar in August! Is that right? I think he was bias since his birthday is in July :)

Here is a few of my favorites, let's start from baby shower cakes:
The Truelove's is expecting another grandchildren. They are so sweet for sharing the special day with us.  The future grand dad came pick up the cake on Saturday and said, "Let me take the invitation back, so I can show how awesome the animals are on this cake!" Welcome blessing!

Monkey baby shower cake design's was inspired by the invitation. The cake was chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream and decorated with fondant accent.

An owl birthday cake for Kline was a blackbottom cake - a chocolate cake with cream cheese and chocolate chip baked in and cream cheese buttercream . Happy first birthday Kline!

A fiftieth "sorghum" birthday cake for Karl.  It's a red velvet cake and cream cheese buttercream. Do you wonder why sorghum?

Thanks for looking! I hope everyone starts with a fab Monday.

Summer Break is almost here!

I can't wait to get a week break, yes in two days! Busy, busy, busy for sure before I leave the shop this week. I managed to finish few cakes that are schedule to be picked up tomorrow afternoon. The first cake was the barnyard theme, for a 3 yr old:

I love all the farm animals, here are the details:

Which one is your favorite farm animal?

The next one is pirate themed birthday cake. I sketched it couple days ago and wanted to put lots of pirate theme. I changed my mind... and I ended up with more simpler design, just stripes, pirate, skull flag, treasure chest, coins, parrot, and palm trees.

I am pretty pleased on how it turned out, simple but still festive! Happy Birthday Cole and Will!

Last but not least, I got the honor to do a wedding cake for a very fun couple. They are getting married this weekend at the marina on Lake Travis. I just love these birds. The design was taken off from their wedding invitation. At first I wasn't paying attention, while I was working on the fondant work...I realized that these birds are wearing swim suits. I am very pleased with the result. It  looks clean, yet fun too. Congrats to Chris and Aaron.

Thanks for stopping by our blog! We'll be back next week on the 15th. Back and refresh, yes we'll be celebrating our 2nd year anniversary for Polkadots. Thank you Austin!

Tues: Favorite Cake

I don't care about soft drink. I think because my dad always mentioned that soda has lots of sugar and not good for your body and so on.. when I was younger. I drink coke when I eat greasy food ! Pizza, Hamburger, fries. ... ah.. then I burb! LOL.....

A client called and wanted to get a coca-cola themed cake for her boyfriend. Of course I was excited! To keep it clean and simple, I covered the cake with vanilla buttercream on the outside and decorated with red fondant Coca-Cola logo on top of the cake.

Here is what I come up with:

 

Happy Birthday Johnny!

Fav project: Dino Birthday Party

I got a chance to do Jake's birthday party again this year! Last year Jake has a Super hero birthday theme, this year his theme was Dinosaurs. Here is some of his party ideas:

Jake's Birthday invitation specially designed from his mom at Invitingaffairs

Party favor bag:

Cupcake topper and wrappers:

Here is what I come up for his two tiered birthday cake.Michelle's request was to include yellow and green and both are black bottom cakes, chocolate cake with cream cheese and chocolate chip baked in. 

A few closed up of the dinos:

I love the combination color of bright blue, orange, green, yellow, fuchsia. It's so festive. The dinos are just too adorable. I want to include all the characters but keeping the dino from the invitation as the main focus.

I also made dino cookies for Jake's birthday party favor:

A special thank you for Michelle from Inviting Affairs to include us on Jake's special day. I can't wait to do his birthday party next year.