Win "Cake Styling" by Nicholas Lodge!

Calling all cupcake, cookie and cake decorators, bakers, and sugar artists!! Dreaming of that special cake gadget, mold, pan, class, or gift certificate for the holidays? NYC Cake Decorators Meetup wants to know!!

Leave a comment on this post and tell NYC Cake Decorators what cupcake, cookie, cake decorating or sugar art stocking stuffer YOU crave this year and you may win a copy of Cake Styling by Nicholas Lodge. Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on December 24, 2009. Winner will be announced on January 1, 2010. Good Luck and Happy Holidays!

Picture Perfect Holiday Cake!

This lovely poinsettia and roses cake was created by Karen, our New Hampshire member. Deep red poinsettia adorned cakes are picture perfect for the holidays!

December 2009 Cake Of The Month

Member Edi Rosado's Nativity cake is a sweet reminder of the reason for the season. Edi is a self-taught cake decorator. The figurine cake toppers of Mary and Jesus are totally edible and made by hand.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Photo courtesy of Iva, member NYC Cake Decorators Meetup

It's been a great year full of wonderful experiences and I am grateful for the members of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup, and the followers on NYC Cake Decorators Facebook, Twitter, and this blog. In behalf of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup, I wish you all a warm and wonderful Happy Thanksgiving Day!

If you still need ideas for your holiday dessert, try this scrumptious pumpkin cupcake recipe.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Cupcakes:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin

Frosting

• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350º and line a 12-cup muffin tin with bake cups. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Set the mixture aside.

2. In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the oil and sugar. Whisk in the eggs and stir in the vanilla extract.

3. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and gently stir the mixture until well combined. Explain to your child that she should stir only until she can no longer see any pockets or streaks of flour.

4. Stir the pumpkin into the batter until it is thoroughly combined. Spoon the batter into the lined muffin tins. Bake for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle of one cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes sit in the tin for 10 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool thoroughly.

5. Meanwhile, make the Cream Cheese Frosting. In a medium-size mixing bowl, beat together the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter, and lemon juice until smooth.
   

6. Frost with a star tip or to make a more decorative design, frost smoothly with an off-set spatula and then hand-mold pumpkins from fondant or white candy clay colored with orange food gel. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Meetup with New Jersey Cake Decorators Club

Photo Courtesy of Dina Gandy, Organizer, NYC Cake Decorators Meetup

A Love Birds Bas Relief class was held in partnership with the New Jersey Cake Decorators Meetup on Saturday, November 21, 2009. NJ cakers were shown how to create their own love birds step-by-step. It was really a lot of fun networking with a great bunch of folks and special thanks to Stephanie for her scrumptious brownies. Live in New Jersey? Contact Carmen, Organizer, New Jersey Cake Decorators Meetup for information on how to join their fun and educational group!

Ring in the New Year with Your Own Designer Bag Cake!

Come Join the NYC Cake Decorators Meetup and award winning cake designer Irene Likokas (Adven 68 on Cake Central) and create your own designer handbag cake! Contact Dina, Organizer, NYC Cake Decorators Meetup for more details. Looking forward to seeing you there!

141st Annual Salon of Culinary Art Exhibition

Photo courtesy of member/instructor Irene Likokas.

This elegant shoe and pillow cake was one of five showpieces entered into the 141st Annual Salon of Culinary Art Exhibition by award winning member Irene Likokas (Adven 68 on Cake Central). Check out Irene's other amazing cakes at her website The Painted Eye. Irene is scheduled to teach a designer purse class for members in January 2010. For more information, contact Dina, Organizer, NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

November 2009 Cake of The Month

Photo courtesy of member Amelia Monis

How about this amazing stocking stuffer? The Cartier Watch cake was created by member Amelia Monis. Amelia was bitten by the cake decorating bug in 2006 after taking a class with master decorators Debbie Brown and Colette Peters. Amelia is crazy about cake! She wakes up thinking about cake designs and goes to sleep thinking about her next cake decorating project. Her passion is evident in the superb attention to detail in her Cartier Watch Cake. Amelia is sure to be snapped up as an instructor for NYC Cake Decorators next "Best of the Best in NYC Cake Decorators" event. Check out her other fabulous creations at Amelia Cakes and her blog Sweet Alchemy by Amelie.

Highlights "Best of the Best" in NYC Cake Decorators Meetup

"Wild Things" 3D Cake was created by Helen, Helen's Cakes.

The "Where the Wild Things" 3D cake sculpture class was the runaway favorite for the NYC Cake Decorators first "Best of the Best". The workshop was conducted by Chef Janet Ben-Ami, owner of Hey!Cookie in Long Island. Chef Janet is a master cake sculptor and member of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup. Chef Janet is also a fantastic teacher, which is evident with the outstanding "Wild Things" 3D cake sculpture created by her student Helen, owner Helen's Cakes, which is shown above.



Chef Janet shared a wealth of knowledge regarding cake sculpting to members eager to learn how to create their own "Wild Things" cake creation. Chef Janet has agreed to conduct another 3D cake sculpture class in the near future. Why don't you join us! Contact Dina, Organizer, NYC Cake Decorators Meetup for more information.

Shoebox and Gumpaste Shoe Cake Class creation. This class was taught by member Marisol, an officer with the New York State Chapter I.C.E.S.

Member Annette taught the Winter Cupcake Design class. Annette is our resident cupcake diva. Her other creative cupcake designs can be seen on her blog Ladybugluggage.

Award Winning Cake Designer Connie DiTomasso taught the Gelatin Flower and Butterfly Class. The gelatin work is delicate, light, and shimmery.

Besides the classes, Dina, Organizer, of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup demonstrated how to make molds with Amazing Putty.  Members were fascinated with how easy the product is to use.  Special thanks to Amazing Putty for donating a sample of the product for the event, Albert Ulster Sales Representative for shipping samples of their delish Massa fondant and brochures, and member Lynette, Cakeworks, for providing samples of fondarific flavors.

Boo! Lisa's Bride of Frankenstein Doll Cake Video

Just in time for the spooky days ahead, our perennial favorite, member and filmmaker Lisa Stock's Bride of Frankenstein Doll video. Enjoy!

October 2009 Cake of the Month

Photo courtesy of Margaret, member NYC Cake Decorators Meetup

The beautiful cake pictured above was created by member Margaret Weekes. Margaret's ultimate goal is to start her own sugarcraft business specializing in sugar flowers. Margaret won 3rd Place in the very first competition she entered in England with her Royal Iced Wedding Cake.

Summer Cake & Cupcake Winner!

Photo courtesy of Iva, member NYC Cake Decorators Meetup

Don't you wish it was still summer? Iva's entry was one of several great submissions by members of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup. Ayana, Assistant Organizer, found it very difficult to choose a winner. Iva's cakes inched their way into the winner's circle because the cute flip-flops on the beach really captured the summer fun in the sun theme best.

Join Us at our "Best of the Best" Day of Sharing October 10th!

The "Best of the Best in NYC Cake Decorators Meetup" will showcase 5 extremely talented members this quarter. Why not join the fun and learn new techniques, make friends and "talk cake" with other cake and cupcake designers? Make a stunning shoe box cake and gumpaste shoe with instructor Kelly Roimisher!

Photo courtesy of instructor, Silvinia Barboza

Create a 3D Fondant Fayrie Doll with Silvinia Barboza!

Photo courtesy of instructor, Natalie Johnson.

Perfect your piping techniques with award winning cake designer, Natalie Johnson, owner A World of Cakes in Westchester, NY.

Photo courtesy of instructor, Connie DiTomasso

Learn one of the hottest techniques - gelatin flowers--with award winning cake designer Connie DiTomasso!

Chef Janet Ben-Ami featured in our Member Spotlight, will help students create their own "Where the Wild Things Are" 3D Character Cake. Annette Villaverde, our resident cupcake diva, will also teach how to create a winter cupcake design. Annette's cute hedgehog cupcake was selected by Martha Stewart in her 2009 Cutest Cupcake Contest!

For more information about Registration and individual class fees, please email Dina ASAP at NYC Cake Decorators Meetup!

Win a FREE Cake from Pink Cake Box!

Photo courtesy of Pink Cake Box

Pink Cake Box is offering an amazing opportunity for one lucky person to have their cake and eat it too! Purchase a raffle ticket to win one of their amazing special occasion or wedding cakes at pinkcakebox.com. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer . The contest ends October 17, 2009!