It's not too late for Halloween Post!

I love Halloween! I didn't grow up knowing anything about it, but now that I live here in America I have an excuse for another festive. Halloween colors are just so bright. It's so perfect for decorating party cookies, cupcakes, and cakes. One of my favorite project was the Halloween Baby Shower Cookies:

All these are sugar shortbread cookies and colored with royal icing. The addition of the pink little bow are just perfect for the occasion! They are not scary at all:)


We made a new set of Halloween sugar cookies design, witch hat, shoes broom, cauldron,candy corn, bat, ghost, and pumpkin.

Fun decorated Halloween Cupcakes and Cakes:

 This little mermaid cake was a blackbottom cake, covered with fondant. It serves up to 75 guests.

Ben and I didn't get a chance to dress up this year, due to crazy busy week at the shop. We are thankful and blessed to have the support from all of you! Thanks for looking!

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.

Valentines Day aftermath

Fourteen days straight of working, no break yet!! I am looking forward for a half day work tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, I will be done after 4PM birthday tasting.

How do I handle the aftermath?

I think I also develop "cake anxiety," I know this probably don't make sense to most of you. My neck and shoulder will just get so stiff. I become so anxious if one haven't picked up the cake. So worry that I will baby sit the cakes all night long ! Well.. so far it only happened once! 

Spending an hr at Pure Austin at least three times a week definitely helps. One day of an hour weight lifting on Monday. Thirty minutes of cardio on Thrusday afternoon. An hour combination of weight lifting and cardio on Sunday afternoon. Working out is an instant stress relief for me! My neck, shoulders, and my calf, you name it! On top of the cake anxiety problem that I develop lately,..... last Summer I started to have carpal tunnel syndrome. Every night I use these arm braces. It really helps a lot. Yup, there's give and take! No more pretty fingers and long nails. Alright enough nagging...

Back to our cake business, here are few cakes that we made this past week:

Coraline cake for "Carolee" Birthday, I think Chris is our husband of the week at Polkadots!

He was so creative!! I still can't get over it. He placed his order for Carolee last week, choosing a lemon blueberry cake with lemon pastry cream (Carolee's fav cake).  Instead of saying Coraline on top of the cake, he suggest it to say "Carolee" o as a button and L as cat's tail. Here is the cake that we came out with:

An Einstein Birthday cake for someone that loves anything sciece, gadget, physics, engineering! Happy Birthday Royce. This was a german chocolate cake with coconut and pecan and chocolate buttercream

A winter olympic theme birthday cake for Chandler, get the idea from Wii Mario VS Sonic Olympic Winter Games:

Wedding shower cupcakes and Tiffany box engagement cake, I love Tiffany blue color. Who doesn't? This remind me of our wedding two years ago! Time sure flies ... so fast.

Custom order hand ice cookies for Lori. She's throwing baby shower for one of her girlfriend. She picked all pastel colors, purple, pink, yellow, green and baby blue. I just love it when one trusted my opinion, here is what I come up with:

I think they are pretty darn cute!

Kenner is turning five the past week. Stephanie, his mom,  and he came in last Monday to place his birthday cake. I am telling you he was too cute, a typical five year old! I had so much fun working on the details on the cake. He brought in his "Rock Star" party stickers and party plates for the ideas. He requested that  he wanted a little figurine of himself on top of the cake, blonde, blue eyes, grey guitar, and wore cowboy boots! His cake was a 10" chocolate cake with strawberry buttercream and a 6" vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream- 40 servings. Here is the final cake:

Another fun request was the Zombie Hello Kitty cupcakes, yes I said Zombified Hello Kitty. What do you think?

First birthday cake for Natalie Care Bear Birthday theme.

 

Alright as I promised I am going to take off now, yeah I said now I am taking a break just for a day! Have a fab weekend and of course eat more cupcakes! I am planning to sleep in that is until 12 PM. I am jumping upside down, right, and left!!! Sleep = beauty.

Happy Superbowl

All I can say is what a thrilling week. It's a week a way from Valentine's weekend. Let's see how we survive, with custom cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and Yes!!!! weddings... I am already excited. 

Before the feast begin this afternoon, check out our latest cake from this past weekend. The newest 3D cake from our kitchen, clutch birthday cake. Let me tell you, it's a 6 layers devils food chocolate cake with peanut butter, yummmm!

The most requested (available with 24 hr notification) - SMASH Cupcakes:

 

Spider Man birthday cake (6" a four layers Italian Cream cake):

 

Train theme birthday cake for Lola:

 

Sock Monkey baby shower:

Polkadots signature baby shower cake with the custom figurine pregnant lady:

 

 Vintage 60th birthday Party:

 

Fun cookies for a 4 years old birthday party, some pink dresses for the girls and blue antique cars for the boys.

Cupcake theme party, a giant cupcake cake and matching "cherry" cupcakes:

I can't believe Sunday went by so fast, the end of the week approaching less then 6 days! It's going to be very challenging. I will survive.. I will survive. Hope everyone have a great week! 

Goodbye January !

What a busy day! Our phone has been ringing all day. It's a good sign, right? This weekend is Superbowl. We made a few Superbowl sugar cookies. Here is a snap shot before I left the shop tonight:

We are getting ready for Valentines next week. We made a few Valentines sugar cookies today.This year we are doing "sweetheart" cookies, vintage theme hearts, and of course cupcakes sugar cookies.

I could not resist to make this "vintage" stamp valentine cookies, these vintage pictures are just too cute to pass on. Call us soon and pre-order your cupcakes and cookies, we'll customize it just the way you like it !

Here is a sneak peak for Sam's 60th Birthday party this weekend! 

Not to forget some fun cakes from the past weekend:

My favorite was the "Double Dave" combination pizza! Look at those peperoni, you can see the marble-ing effects!

 

We also made a "Skate" birthday party:

 

A small 6" cake for ladies luncheon's:

 

A firefighter birthday cake included "SNOOPY" the birthday boy Dalmatian:

 

I am pretty exhausted! I can't believe Valentine's day is almost here. Don't forget to pre-order cookies, cupcakes, and cakes for the special day! Here is the link to our Valentines Day menu. Good night!