A Final Look on 2010

As I take a look back on the past year in cake, I cannot believe how busy and fulfilling it has all been. There have been sleepless nights, stressful cake deliveries, wonderful reactions (I love that part the best), exciting ideas and a few disasters.

I want to send out a thank you to my loyal customers who keep coming back with more opportunities to try something new, and to those who pass my name on for new business.

All year we had been designing, and then building a new cake shop where I could work without cake taking over the house, and clients could come and eat, chat, and design their creative cake in a comfortable atmosphere. It has all come together, and finally, in November, the new Cakes by Erin shop opened.

A huge thanks to my Mr. who supports me through my sleepless nights, rambling cake ideas, and lends a hand when I have to cover large pieces of fondant or put lids and labels on one hundred pill bottles. Often I come home from a delivery to find he has cleaned the shop kitchen (my least favourite job)! Love you dear!

As I end 2010, I thought I'd give you a peek into the first cake of 2011:

Can you guess?

Happy New Year everybody!

Yours in cake,

Erin

Calla Lily with Swag Wedding Cakes

Another cake that was popular this past summer was my three-tiered Calla Lily cake with a swag running throughout the flowers. I had originally done a mockup for a wedding show back in 2008, and this year the design was used on two wedding cakes.

The first cake was for a June wedding in Corbyville, Ontario and fed 100 people. It had yellow roses and white calla lilies, and was trimmed with a brown silk ribbon. The entire cake was vanilla with strawberry buttercream.

The second cake was for a July wedding in Napanee, Ontario, and fed 130 people. It was decorated with pale pink roses, white roses and white calla lilies. Below is a close up of the flowers.

The cake flavours were dark chocolate cake with strawberry buttercream, vanilla cake with chocolate ganache, and dark chocolate cake with chocolate ganache.

Hey, by the way...if you like what you see here, why not become a follower or a facebook fan?  There's always something interesting going on!

Erin

Daisy Wedding Cakes

When I first started making cakes, one of the first wedding cakes I ever made was a yellow and white daisy cake for my sister. This past year, I made three of them, with subtle differences for three brides who liked my design. The above square cake was a for a Stirling couple who were married in the summer. The cake was a copy of the original, only in 2-tiers rather than three.

The topper flowers are all made of gumpaste, as are the tiny daisies around each side. Each tier is surrounded by a fondant ribbon. The cake was vanilla with strawberry buttercream.

The next cake was made in the spring for a wedding in Kingston. As you can see, the tiers were changed to round rather than square, and violet was the preferred colour of fondant ribbon. Again, this cake was vanilla with strawberry buttercream.

And the final version was made for a fall wedding with yellow and black daisy centres, and a real black ribbon surrounding each of the square tiers. The topper has not yet been placed on in this picture but eventually had black-eyed susans lain on the top. The cake was carrot spice with cream cheese icing.

Hey, by the way...if you like what you see here, why not become a follower or a facebook fan?  There's always something interesting going on!

Erin

Christmas Cupcakes and Cookies

I have made a few fun things this Christmas season so I thought I'd show you some. Almost everybody should know the ancient Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer movie that's been on for years. Here are cupcakes topped with the Abominable Snowman and Rudolf himself.

Mr. Abominable is my favourite (how many times did I have to look up that spelling?)

There was also an order for decorated cookies for "Journey to Bethlehem" which was an outdoor performance by The Sidney Baptist Church here in Stirling. My family and friends attended and we enjoyed ourselves very much. There were people dressed up in Bible times, live animals for the children to touch, and of course, the nativity scene. My four-year-old daughter especially loved it. Out of the many ideas I had for the cookies, I chose angels and mangers. The client said they were "very awesome"!

Since I probably won't be posting until after Christmas, I thought I'd wish everyone a happy holiday, Happy Hanukah, and a Merry Christmas!

Erin

Tea Set Cake

I have always loved miniatures, and this cake certainly has a few! A dark chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream, covered in a table cloth of marshmallow fondant; this 3rd birthday cake was a cute princess tea party!

Complete with napkins, a stack of plates, and a chocolate cake, I loved making every bit of it. The dishes are trimmed with gold dust, and painted to look full of tea. Happy Birthday, Zoya!

Christmas Creations for $12

Gingerbread House Kits ($12):

Looking for an activity for the Holidays when your kids are home from school? Or looking for a fun and yummy gift for friends or family? This year I am making gingerbread house kits! This is NOT the same store-bought, inedible house. These houses are made with fresh, nut-free gingerbread cookie dough, freshly baked and held together with sweet royal icing. The only thing needed: oodles of candy, and BIG imagination! The kits will be available after December 17th, in time for school holidays. Order ahead for the day you'd like them!

In your box you will receive:

- four walls and two roof pieces made of fresh gingerbread (can be assembled if requested),

- one large icing tube of royal icing (extra bags can be bought),

- basic instructions with some decorating ideas.

- two gingerbread trees ready to decorate.

*Not included: candies

Pick up some candy on your way home and you've got a great afternoon activity! Once built, the house will keep for 5-7 days at room temperature, or store cookies in the fridge for a later date!

House dimensions: 7"x"5"x"7.5" (l x w x h)

Gift Cakes ($12):

Also, for the third year, I am selling 4" gift cakes in chocolate or carrot cake. Covered with fondant ribbons these are the cutest little gifts - you wouldn't even know they were made of cake! Order ahead and get your cake fresh!

*Just a warning: if buying for a family with a nut allergy - buy prepackaged candy with ingredients clearly listed. Do not buy candy at a bulk store as there is probably cross-contamination! Let's cut down on the allergic reactions at Christmas!

*Cakes by Erin will be closed from Dec. 24-26, so cakes and kits are not available on those days.