Butterfly Cake

My second fondant cake!
My dear friend's daughter Sophie is turning three years old. I didn't even think twice to offer Cristina to make her daughter's Birthday cake. The theme was pink and since she loves butterflies I thought straight away that i'd use fondant since i've been wanting to experiment with it more. I googled cake photos and tutorials and figured i could make a beautiful sweet cake with butterflies.

Stage one:
After reading some magazines and books I decide to try to use marzipan before covering my cake with fondant, just to get a nicer smoother finishing. Really worked the cake came so smooth that didn't even look like a cake. But confess that I will never use marzipan again. First I tough was very hard to rolled it, the amount of oil that releases almost made me change my mind about finishing the cake, but was too early to give up. Took me almost 2 hours to cover the whole cake.

Stage two:
I moist the surface of marzipan to add the rolled fondant, at least with the marzipan was easier to add the fondant, without braking or lumps.
When I finished I start to make all the details to decorate the cake, I made about 12 pink butterflies and 10 little flowers, also I need to make a bowl but I have no idea how do to one, so thank's to youtube videos was possible to learn how to make a beautiful one.

After everything dry, I took another 3 hours to decorate te cake, also add lot's of edible pearls, that gives such a beautiful touch to the cake.

Finally after 2 days of work, about 14 hours I finished the cake. I hate my handwriting so ask my husband Jai to do it.

Those who are familiar with my work will know I love to be creative, and to break away from the convention and try something new.

Valentine's day was coming up so I didn't think twice to create a cake with little hearts, but like I said I want to break away from my whipped cream cakes and try something different, why not fondant? I always heard so much about it, but was never brave enough to try. I new this is the perfect moment because fondant it's so time consuming and I wasn't working at that time.

After I went to Michael's and spent way more than I expected, including 1 book how to rolled fondant. I was ready to start.

Stage one:
I bake 2 small loaf cakes and because was just the first one, didn't care much for the filling so just put some butter cream and use the same to cover it. After spending a long time trying to make really smooth (or it will show the lumps when you add the fondant) I kept in the fridge for at least 30 min. I Confess that I didn't like this part very much, MESSY!

Stage two:
I Roll out the fondant, a little tricky the first time, but at the same time so much fun. It's like play doh, reminds me when I was a kid.
When I finish covering the cake with the white fondant I dye a small piece of it pink and cut hearts shape to attach to the cake using a layer of frosting as the 'glue' to hold it in place. Like my first cake wasn't perfect I use the little hearts to cover all the imperfections in it. I love that idea because really works.

A piece of a cake!

Today I’m going to share my first cake experience.

I always love making desserts, baking and my favorite thing decorate cakes. Since I left the coffee shop (where I used to bake cupcakes and a few cakes), I completely stop baking so after almost 2 years I start to think about starting baking again. A friend's birthday was in the way so I guess that was a perfect time.

I wanted to make something that I hadn't made before, something that used both fruit and fresh whipped cream. This cake seemed like the answer. It is a simple sponge cake that my mom used to make for us, but just simple and different toppings.

After baking 2 round 10" cakes I start working on the filling, I simply used some left over bittersweet chocolate and cooked with 1 can of condensed milk. (It's out of this world) in Brazil this is call "brigadeiro. After I sandwich my cake with the brigadeiro I prepared the topping. Simple, fast and delicious. I use 2 cups of heavy cream and 2 spoons of sugar, just mix altogether until reach a nice and firm peak. Make sure to stop once the peaks form because other wise the mixture will turn into butter.

I frosted the cake with the fresh whipped cream, cut some beautiful strawberries and decorate with mini dark chocolate chips.

A piece of cake to make. Simple, delicious and elegant.

How everything started

Like I already mention it, I am really creative and love when I'm not working to spend some time home creating new things.

First I start with Gift baskets. I really enjoy making it, decorating it and choosing delicious treats to put inside. But it's just a little expensive to make it here and not like Brazil it's not a big seller or maybe I don't know very much how to advertise it.

In a trip to San Francisco I found out I love candy apples. Well I'm eating a fruit that's covered with chocolate what it's not to like it? So I wait until the Holiday season and I didn't think twice to try to make Candy Apples at home, and if works could be the perfect gift for all my friends.

Well, thanks to "you tube" and some skills, I manage to come out with some beautiful candy apples and also pears (with I think are even better).

All you need is a day off, a little dedication, a few apples and pears, caramel, chocolate and at least 2 toppings and you won't believe it what you can create.