Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday everyone! This week we have had several wonderful children celebrate their birthdays and we were thrilled to make birthday cakes for them. As always, we were happy to customize the cakes to match the theme of the party and this week we got to make an elephant cake, a train cake, a lady bug cake, and an artist cake! These are just some of the great designs you can make with us here at Polkadots that can make any birthday a truly special occasion. Come in and see us for your next birthday celebration a week in advance and we can make you a cake customized to fit your exact needs!

Toys, Animals, and Sea Shells!

Well July 4th is over, we had a nice one day break and back to making fun birthday cakes! The first cake was for Hudson. It's a toy story theme, and he specifically requested for woody, buzz, slinky dog and pig. We didn't use fondant for these character, but we used the edible sugar paper instead to get the exact same look for the character - of course it's more economical and less labor intensive. Here is what the cake look like:

We absolutely love making first birthday cakes!  Both clients wanted somewhat elegant/modern cakes, but still with a fun animal  theme!

The next cake was for Maddy. It's a lady bug theme, an 8" round cake and a mini 2" round cake. We've been getting so many request for this tiny cake. Just come and ask us, we'll make it one very special cake for you son/daughter!

Next, a summer theme/beach birthday cake:

Last but not least a surprise birthday cake for one of our client! sssh she's going to be 87! Happy Birthday!!

Thank you for stopping by!

"Twin"kle "Twin"kle double happiness!

This week I got an opportunity to work on twin's party. First was Dr. Suess baby shower theme. I didn't grow up in the States, so I am not familiar with Dr. Suess story book. I did an online research on google, flickr, wiki, and much more!This was the inspiration from our customers. Her is what we come up for the twin baby shower. The cake was a strawberry shortcake. A vanilla sponge cake with macerated strawberries and strawberry buttercream. I covered it with blue turquoise vanilla buttercream. Decorated them with baby onesie, rattle, and silver socks. Congratulations for Melissa and Chris! They are expecting a little girl and a little boy.

Spring Birthday Party at Polkadots

Birthday is the best holiday! Hangout with your closed friends, chit chat, play, and the best part is lots of presents. Last week, Avery turned 10. Her mom decided to bring 10 girlfriends, laid out picnic blanket, brought her rabbit, goodies bags, games, and color pencil. They hung out in front of our porch for few hrs, of course I have to snap a few pics!
 
Here is the birthday girl with her furry friend:

Matching party favor bags in pink, blue, green, and brown colors:

Comfy picnic blanket, nice weather, coloring activities with girlfriends,  and lots of presents:

I hope you had an awesome birthday celebration at Polkadots Avery! The "damage" for Avery's party last Saturday (cupcakes and drinks) for 10 girls and 5 adults less than $60!

Of course the best part, I got to keep all their drawings. I was teary.. happy tear.

Can't wait till the next birthday party! Oh, I wish I can be 10 forever yeah! Sometime growing up isn't as fun.

Simple elegant cake 101

Most of you ask when I am going to teach cake classes. I would love too... Hopefully I will launch the 1st class in the summer.

I will share a few tips on doing simple cake with big bow from chocolate fondant.  I love love... doing custom cakes. Something modern, clean, elegant and clean look.... mmm whimsical too! Of course, I am always up to what my customers' request.   Simple rule - less is always more. One of the most request cake is the bow cake. I like to share on on how to make the bow decoration from chocolate fondant.  I know fondant sounds scary!! yikes!! A lot of people is afraid of the word fondant because of the taste. Fondant is usually made from gelatin, sugar, water, corn syrup, and powdered sugar.  I am using chocolate fondant for this bow tutorial. Chocolate fondant tastes just like tootsie roll. I promise its yummy.

When I was growing up,  Fisher Price Kitchen Set was on my wish list. I never had one, but my mom got me Playdoh kitchen set instead.  I think that was the first time I made little figurines, dolls, fake fruits, and hamburgers...Fondant's texture remind me of play dough, elastic yet temperamental.

First knead your chocolate fondant (about 9 oz), getting out all the air and make them more appliable for rolling. 

If it gets too sticky you can use a little corn starch. Next, roll the chocolate fondant into a "sausage" shape.

Using rolling pin, rolled the fondant into a rectangular shape 8" x 10":

Trim each side using pairing knife:

Slice the chocolate fondant into 1/4" in width:

Begin assembling the ribbon parts, you can cut the excess part with paring knife or siccor. My favorite brand knife is Global. I am petite in person, I like something small and light. It's just a personal preference. Any paring knife will do!

Assemble all chocolate fondant as the following, and be patient let them rest and relax for at least an hr. If it's too humid, you can add Tylose to your chocolate fondant (while you knead in the firs step) to help the firmness and fight the humidity.

Don't forget to save some chocolate fondant for the "excess" ribbon:

I like to line up all the different size of the ribbon "petal":

After one hr, into the fun part! Just like assembling rose petal, seven pieces on the bottom, five, and three petals in the middle. Use room temperature as your glue. Here is the final product:

What do you think? Very simple and pretty! Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions, just leave a comment. I promised I will get back to you.

It's going to be an exciting week!!

Mission accomplished... I slept in on Sunday! That was awwwwwsome. Then off to work out and had some calamari salad at North restaurant. Yum!!

Not sure what I was thinking...., I signed up and planned to have 2 big events during the week, custom cakes, cookies, and of course "That takes the cake" event.This last one will be so much fun! Can't wait till Saturday morning.

First event on Wednesday, February 24 7:30PM-10:30PM at The Allan House "The Mad Hatter Tea Party." We will be sponsoring the first Catalyst 8 event of 2010. 

We will be have a dessert table, full of our signature cupcakes - red velvet, honey and chai, pumpkin, and blackbottom. We'll also bring our "Mad Hatter" cake, some bars, and cake lollipop. All proceeds from the event go toward the Catalyst 8 Boost Rental Subsidy program, which awards rental subsidies to Austin-area emerging and underserved arts groups.Check out their website for more information.

I can't wait to complete these project on Wednesday, and take a  picture of the dessert table. Fun fun fun!

Second, we will be sponsoring the Supply Chain Management Student Organization for Spring Kick off.  So...  if you are Engineering or Business  major student, don't forget to attend their Social Meeting on Thrusday afternoon. For more information, please contact Elizabeth - Elizabeth.Liles@bba07.mccombs.utexas.edu 

Ben and I are UT graduates! We love to give it back to our school, so HOOK EM!

Some sneak peak of this week decoration:

 

I am ready to leave the shop now, off for hot bowl of ramen with extra egg. Good night!

Valentines Week

It's six days left before Valentine’s Day what wouldn’t be better to give that special someone with our delicious cakes, cupcakes, cookie with a love message…

On Sunday 2/14/10,  our special cupcakes menu are the following:

Red Velvet
Strawberry Shortcake

Blackbottom cake

Honey and Chai

Triple Chocolate

Vanilla Chocolate Chip 

Vanilla Vanilla

Chocolate Peanut Butter

Chocolate Vanilla

Chocolate Caramel

Chocolate Strawberry
Chocolate Mint

Each cupcake is $2.75 except for red velvet $2.50 each, every 11th you get the 12th one free.

Here are some of my favorites!

Additional fondant topper is $.50 extra per cupcake, all cupcakes will have lots of hearts sprinkles!

 

Each cookie is $3.50, it will be wrapped individually in cellophane bag like the following:

We also have vintage valentine sugar cookie, each is $4. Here is a few example:

Please give us a call 512-476-3687, we have limited space for delivery slots. We'll deliver these sweets to your loved ones.