What do I do when I receive a cake request that reads like the one below?
…She is a chocolate addict, so definitely a lot of chocolate. I was thinking chocolate mousse and fresh strawberries, but am open to suggestions on what you think would be good. Also, do you think it would be possible to do any kind of decorative work? Something along the lines of animals (maybe dogs or horses) maybe? She is also an artist if that helps. I am really open to ideas, just throwing out some stuff. Size wise, it only needs to be able to feed about 6 people….
First I clarify a few points with the customer – his sister is turning 22, and we decide to leave out the strawberries.
Then I bake a dark chocolate cake ala Cafe Coco, then fill it with a not-quite-authentic chocolate mousse because I’m afraid to use raw eggs at a time when eggs are being recalled by the zillions, and I finish it up with a chocolate Italian meringue buttercream, which I’m comfortable with because I beat the meringue with 245° syrup.
Then I bake 22 birthday candle sugar cookies, one artist’s palette cookie, one paintbrush cookie, and five paint splatter cookies. I only use one cookie cutter, and that’s for the paint splatters. The rest of the cookies are free-hand cutouts.
Next I whip up a big batch of royal icing, ala Bridget @Bake at 350 and I get busy decorating some cookies! Which, in case you’ve been reading Bridget, or Amanda, or Paula’s blogs, you might think is no big deal. But I am here to tell you that decorating cookies takes time. A whoooole lotta precious time. And patience. And skill. So make sure you give yourself plenty of each…except the skill, which (hopefully) comes with the practice. From start to finish, this cake took me 3 days. But I think the end result was worth it:
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make use of the leftover frosting and mousse workout. And then make use of the leftovers. 😀
Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Becki
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
That is adorable! I love the cookies (esp. the candles). Good enough to eat!!
You did a totally awesome job. Gail @ THEToughCookie would be very proud of you. Way to bake and decorate there Becki! Whoot Whoot 🙂
This cake was for my sister, and we all loved it! In her own words, “This is the best birthday cake ever!”
Thanks Becki!
Becki!! You are the best. It was the best cake ever!!! 🙂
That’s the coolest cake I’ve ever seen. It mixes all my favorite things, cake, cookies, and frosting! I almost think it’d be worth it to be overweight and eat things like that every day, almost.
cute!!! great job
Becki, you did a great job on this cake! I know my earliest cakes didn’t look as good as this! Congratulations!
This is such a cute cake!!
Becki! I know I’ve said it before, but sweets, you have some incredible talent! I am sitting here reading/looking at this in complete awe. What a fabulous cake! And so creative too!
So proud of you… your talent and creativity are shining through! Great job!