Cake Balls

Someone, who shall remain nameless, has long requested that I make cake balls. So, here they are in all their small-bite-of-heaven glory.

Represented here are vanilla bean with lemon curd cake balls dressed in a sweet white chocolate and red velvet with cream cheese mascarpone icing in a bittersweet chocolate coating. I'm sure more variations will come, but for now, I think these turned out successfully.
The only unsuccessful attempt during cake ball madness was coloring the red velvet cake green to honor spring. Instead of a beautiful spring green, they honored the good ol' Grinch. That is why the chocolate cake balls have a nice green drizzle. I could tell you were curious.

Though small, these cake balls are hearty and I wouldn't serve more than two or three per person. Unless you have a houseful of college-aged boys playing Settlers of Catan, in which case they might gobble them all up pretty quickly.

Engagement Cookies

I was pleasantly surprised by a sweet lady who ordered sugar cookies for an engagement party a few weeks back. She had clearly done her research into cookie ordering and I think these turned out just as she was hoping. We also recalled a good lesson when you're party-planning with the male species, Be Flexible! These little darlings went through a few changes before they finally got gussied up for the big night.

Packed up for their cross-town trip

By the way, these are made with a delicious and lightly sweet sugar cookie dough that takes a lot of a baker's self-control not to eat right out of the bowl. They are decorated with royal icing and marshmallow fondant.

Cowboys Don't Take Showers

Here's a large double chocolate cake I made for a little boy's baby shower a few weeks ago. The hostesses requested that it not be "too baby", but I couldn't help adding a few feminine flowers for the women who would be devouring the cake.

Welcome Baby Boy Cook!

Well Done Cupcakes!

The next time you need a little incentive or treat for your staff or co-workers, your kids' teachers, or hey, just for yourself, consider cupcakes! These red velvet cupcakes with mascarpone cream cheese icing do the trick very nicely.

At $1.50 a cupcake, you can enjoy a box of these delicious minis and barely dent the petty cash. Now, that's a way to celebrate!

Baby Shower Pink

Last weekend, I made two 9" cakes to take part in a dessert shower (the very best kind of party, I think) for a coming baby girl. The first, with a vines and leaves pattern, is a light vanilla bean cake with the wonderfully rich and tart lemon cream filling, iced in a light lemon buttercream.

The second cake is a deep dark double chocolate cake iced and filled with a rich chocolate ganache.

Boys might be great fun, but I will always love the sweet and delicate touches that accompany treats for little girls. Now, who wants a full tray of petit fours?