Adorable Penguin Cake

I know we are gearing up for Christmas... and I really should be getting to my holiday baking.  But, I wanted to share my newest video, an adorable Penguin Cake!

I think he is just too cute!  My son agreed, he wanted to keep him forever and when we brought him to a family get-together several of the kids actually cried when we cut into the cake (my 5 year old son was one of them!).

My other favorite part of this cake is how quick and easy it is to make.  I seriously but this together in under 2 hours (not including baking the cakes), which is really fast compared to some of the other cakes I make!  If you want to make a cute 3D cake to impress at a gathering, this is sure to be it.  No complicated carving, and not a ton of intricate pieces to cut out.

I hope you will give it a try... if you do, head over to my Facebook page or Twitter and share a photo!  I'd love to see your creations :)

Happy Caking :)
~Renee

Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

I just love this time of year!  Today, I have another holiday video for you!

Check out these fun, simple and pretty Gingerbread Wreath Cookies!

I was inspired by a cookie project I did with a family friend when I was a kid... used pumpkin seeds and made gingerbread mermaid cookies!  Nowadays I buy them to use in homemade trail mix snacks.  So, when coming up for a project for a Gingerbread Playlist Collaboration, I really wanted to use them somehow.  I really love the slightly nutty crunch they give the spicy, snappy gingerbread cookie!

Be sure to check out the other gingerbread themed videos from some of my favorite dessert YouTube channels:
GINGERBERAD COLLABORATION PLAYLIST : http://bit.ly/1w1Buy1
MONTREAL CONFECTIONS : http://bit.ly/1yY42d0
PINK CAKE PRINCESS : http://bit.ly/1ysnz2y
HAPPY CAKES BAKES : http://bit.ly/1CV9l1W
KRAZY KOOL CAKES : http://bit.ly/1AKCEj9
JULIA M USHER : http://bit.ly/1CV9qmn
SUGAR CODER : http://bit.ly/1whuwbD
HANIELA'S : http://bit.ly/1CV9B0R

Happy Holidays!
-Renee

Homemade Holiday Gifts: Chocolate Chip Biscotti

It's that time of year again!  Holiday baking season!  I absolutely love the holidays... and since I was a kid, have enjoyed baking during the holiday season.  My friends and family always receive little packages of home baked goods to enjoy.  Today, I want to share my first Holiday video of 2014!

Check out these delicious Chocolate Chip Biscotti... perfect for holiday parties, office gift exchanges, maybe a cookie swap?  Or, even just to have on hand when family or friends stop by to visit (they keep for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container!).

I hope you you're feeling as inspired for holiday baking as I am!  Stay-tuned for all of the goodies I will be sharing this month!

Happy Caking :)

Jack Skellington Candy Apples

Happy Halloween!! It has been a loooong time since I've updated my blog.  But, I have been busy with so many things... It's about time to get caught up!

I've been spending a lot of time working on my YouTube Channel... if you haven't already, head over and subscribe to see all of my videos as soon as they're up!  I have so many videos up, I'll be adding them here, but if you don't want to wait you can check them out instantly over on my channel!

Since Halloween is just around the corner... I wanted to start off with a post sharing my newest Halloween creations!

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" is one of my son's favorite movies (he just turned 5).  In fact, I was helping out in the classroom a few weeks ago and one of the little girls asked me "Is his last name really Skellington?"  He had been telling the kids in his preschool class that it was, lol!

So, my son is the inspiration for these candy apples.  I started thinking of it months ago!  I am so, so happy with how they'd turned out... I had never made candy apples before and was nervous that they wouldn't look nice... but they came out SO great!  Watch my video to see how I made these fun, "Jack Skellington Candy Apples."

Ingredients:

3 Cups Granulated Sugar

1 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

1 TBSP White Food Color: http://goo.gl/NxHCX8

Flavoring of your choice (I used Cinnamon Oil (http://goo.gl/nesvbL) about 1/4 tsp, if using an extract use about 1 tsp... clear extracts are better)

Stay tuned, next I will be posting my video for these adorable "Kawaii Halloween Treats!"

Until then...

Happy Caking :)

Irish Soda Bread Recipe!

Today, I have a great Irish Soda Bread recipe to share with you!  St. Patrick's Day is next week, and at my house we look forward all year to the boiled dinner, so we're excited!  This recipe is a great bread to go with your St. Patrick's Day meal!

 Check out the delicious recipe below!

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Ingredients:
4 1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
3 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
4 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Raisins
2 Tsp Caraway Seeds (optional)
Zest of 1 Orange (optional)
1 Egg (slightly beaten)
1 3/4 Cup Buttermilk

Enjoy!

Happy Caking :)

DIY Simple & Elegant Wedding Cake

This weeks tutorial is a simple and elegant cake project!  Perfect for the DIY bride, or anyone looking for a beautiful cake that is easy to pull off.  The effect looks a lot like stenciling, but using Wilton Sugar Sheets, you just trace, peal and stick!   You don't have to worry about smudging your icing, handling a stencil while your try to stencil your design, or marring the surface your your perfectly smooth cake!

For my tutorial I used white sugar sheets on a light lavender buttercream... and I have included the link to the custom template I made in the YouTube description box!  But, of course you can use this technique for virtually any design... it might become a bit more tedious with a very intricate stencil/template though.

I also think this would be so beautiful if you painted the sugar sheets with luster dust, or applied gold/silver leaf before cutting out the pattern.... I may just have to do that myself!

Check out my video below, and head on over to YouTube to find the complete list of products used, links to buy them and, of course, the link to download my template!

This project is part of a DIY Wedding Collaboration with some of my fellow dessert YouTubers.  All of the projects are fantastic, so be sure to check out the entire playlist!!

Happy Caking :)

Ruffled Petal Cake Tutorial!

I am excited to share my latest video tutorial today!  This "Ruffled Petal Cake" I made over the summer was one of my favorite cakes... and I've received quite a few inquiries for a tutorial...

Finally, I have the video to share with you... Take a look below to see how I made this different and elegant cake!

Hope you enjoyed it!

Happy Caking :)

"Hot" Chocolate Cupcakes w/ Fudge Icing (Recipes!!)

Today I have a recipe to add a little spice to your Valentine's Day!  These "hot" chocolate cupcakes pack a little heat with a mixture of chili powder, cinnamon and cayenne!  I know it sounds strange... but these cupcakes taste deliciously exotic.  

I paired these spicy chocolate cupcakes with the most delicious and cream chocolate fudge icing... ever... seriously!  This icing is truly decadent and intensely chocolatey.  So, so yummy...  Even if you don't care for spicy-chocolate, you must, at least, try this fudge icing!

Check out the video below:

Cupcake Ingredients:
-1 3/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
-3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder (I used Hershey's Special Dark)
-1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
-1 Tbsp Cinnamon
-2 Tbsp Chili Powder
-1/4 to 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you like it!)
-1 tsp Salt
-1 Cup Half & Half (room temp)
-3/4 Cup Strong Coffee
-1 tsp Vanilla Extract
-1 1/2 Sticks Unsalted Butter (softened)
-2 Cups Granulated Sugar
-4 Eggs (room temp)

Fudge Icing Ingredients:
-2 1/2 Sticks Unsalted Butter (softened)
-1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar
-3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder (I used Hershey's Special Dark)
-a pinch of salt
-3/4 Cup Light Corn Syrup
-2 tsp Vanilla
-1 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips (go ahead and use semi-sweet or dark chocolate if you like!)

*These recipes make enough to bake and ice 24 cupcakes.

I hope you will try this recipe (at least this fudge icing, seriously!), and enjoy!

Happy Caking :)

Closed Peony Center Tutorial!

Several weeks ago, I posted my Open Peony Tutorial...  I've received such great feedback on it, so if you haven't seen it, check it out!

 

Well, this week, I want to share a follow-up to that tutorial... how to make a closed center! 

  I typically use the closed centers when I want to make a smaller peony for a cake...  I would add a calyx to the base and use this as the peony bud, as well.

 Check out the video below to see how to make the closed center :)

Hope you enjoy and will trying making this beautiful flower!

Happy Caking :)

Donate with Causora!

Hi Everyone!

Today, I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to Causora, a new sponsor of my blog.  I know they are not really related to baking, and typically only work with companies that are.  However, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this great cause and opportunity! 

A little about Causora from their website:

YOU GIVE = YOU GET

Support your favorite cause and get rewarded for it.
Causora is a One-for-One giving platform that rewards donations.

Our mission is to help causes raise more funds by rewarding donations with the support of our network of socially conscious merchants.

We’re a team of entrepreneurs, engineers, strategists, and general do-gooders who are hoping to change the face of philanthropy. We love what we do and hope you are equally impressed with Causora.

Causora has created a new ecosystem that links donors, charities, and businesses.

For every $20 you donate you will receive a $20 gift certificate as a reward! 

I've decided to feature the Cure Alzheimer's Fund as my charity of choice.  Just a couple of months ago, in November, my grandmother passed away after her struggle with the disease.  It was heartbreaking to watch her go through it.  She was always so proud of her large family and stood as our proud matriarch.  So when she could no longer host the family parties, slowly lost her independence, and started to forget who her own children were it was painful for all of us, including her.  I am hoping that by supporting the Cure Alzheimer's Fund on my blog I can help raise even a little, to fund research to fight the disease.  You can read about the Cure Alzheimer's Fund here.

If you are inclined to donate, you will find the donation widget in the right hand column.  Any little bit will be appreciated!

Happy Caking :)

  

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post.  Causora reached out to me and asked me to feature their widget and write a post about them.  I am being compensated for this post and will earn a small commission.  However, all opinions are my own.

Open Gumpaste Peony Tutorial!

It's been a while since I've put out an in depth tutorial...  Well, today I have a great one for you all!  Recently I was asked to make a peony video, and that is what I am going to share today!

I love the look of the open-style peony!  I think they are full, and beautiful and natural looking.  They are beautiful, ruffley statement flowers for wedding cake (or any occasion!).

Take a look at my video, to see how I made this beautiful open peony!

How to Make an Open Gumpaste Peony

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7YlcUxYbfU

I hope you'll feel confident to give this flower a try!  If you do, head on over to my Facebook Page and share your photos!

Happy Caking :)