Fiesta Bridal Shower Cake

A fiesta themed bridal shower is one of the best ideas I think I've ever heard for a bridal shower. I had so much fun putting this cake and cupcake combo together for bride-to-be Jill, and hope she had a great day celebrating her upcoming marriage with her friends and family! 

Jill's sister and future sister-in-law planned the shower for her and selected Margarita and Mexican Chocolate as cake flavors to match the theme. Tequila infused, lime pound cake topped with tequila buttercream and sprinkled with lime zest made for deliciously pretty cupcakes decorated with a handmade mini sugar-carnation. 

Alongside those were rich, dark chocolate cupcakes stuffed with a spicy Mexican chocolate ganache filling and topped with an espresso buttercream and a handmade sugar sombrero.

The centerpiece cake was two tiered with one tier of each flavor and decorated to match the theme with buttercream mariachi ruffles and a traditional papel picado banner out of sugar. A carnation sugar flower tops the whole design off.

And a shot at the party courtesy of Jill's future sister in law...congratulations Jill!!

Elegant Hat Box Cake

For my final project in Confectionery Arts, we did a timed butter cream cake that could be designed in any way, as long as it was three, round tiers. We had about five hours of class time to complete the project when all was said and done, and it is a 10, 8 and 6 inch vanilla cake with vanilla butter cream. The design I chose for mine was hat boxes that are stacked and dripping with fondant pearls and gum paste roses, topped off with a floppy sugar bow. 

All the decorations are 100% edible and all hand made by yours truly. The edges of the 'boxes' and the striping on the third tier are formed from strips of fondant along with all of the pearls.

The roses are formed with individual petals around a base and dusted with powdered color for a more realistic touch. 

The bow is two-toned in gum paste and then steamed for a shiny finish. 

The elegance and femininity of this cake make it perfect for a bridal shower or birthday, but who really needs an excuse to eat cake when it looks this pretty? (Not me...)