March 2010 Cake of the Month

This cute and colorful cake was decorated by member Aldana. Isn't it sweet?

The Adventures of Cakediva

The Great Taste Test: What's your FF?

What's your FF (favorite fondant)? Most of us cakers got our chops learning how to cover a cake with Wilton rolled fondant. Cakers in NYC Cake Decorators Meetup have noted that this brand of fondant tends to dry faster and thus, you must work quickly to keep the fondant from cracking.

There has been much ado online about the taste of Wilton's fondant, but many cakers in NYC Cake Decorators knead flavorings into the fondant which greatly improves the taste.

There is nothing better for show cakes than Wilton fondant which dries hard on cake dummies and is resistant to humidity once set.



Satin ice is highly favored by members in meetup. Satin ice is really easy to handle and takes less muscle strength to knead and roll-out than Wilton. Satin ice also seems to give a longer working time and has a better taste than Wilton, but both brands are rather chewy.

Satin ice comes in a variety of really neat colors, and in most meetups you can see this brand of fondant being whipped out bar none.

Massa Grischuna fondant (not shown) is an excellent fondant sold by Albert Ulster. It is extremely easy to handle; the chocolate massa has a great chocolate flavor. Massa is recommended by Nick Lodge as well. The only major drawback is the price--Massa is more expensive than other brands.

Anyone heard of Ballina fondant (not shown)? Many NYC Cake Decorators first learned about this brand of fondant in a 3D cake class with member/instructor Chef Janet Ben-Ami. Ballina is Chef Janet's FF bar none.

Fondarific is not yo' mama's fondant. Fondarific is winning over lots of cakers because of its great workability on real cakes. Fondarific stays pliable for a very long time, giving cakers the ability to fuss over every detail of the cake without the worry of the fondant tearing and cracking. You can also refrigerate and freeze Fondarific without the problem of sweating when brought to room temperature. And Fondarific comes in a variety of flavors that taste great; buttercream and chocolate are top fav's. One caveat is that Fondarific does not handle well in warm environments and has been reported to separate at warm temperatures.

So which fondant is your FF? We want to know!

The Wedding Library Bridal Expo!

Photo Courtesy of Ruth Drennan, (l-r) Ruth Drennan and members Nicolle, Jessica, and Melissa

Members Nicolle, Jessica, and Melissa had a great time assisting Chef Ruth Drennan, Ruth Drennan Cakes, at the Wedding Library Bridal Expo held at the NY Palace Hotel. Chef Ruth is known for her extraordinary sugar flowers, and the lucky few have learned some of her techniques at her school, NY Sugar Art.

Objects of Desire: New Gadgets to Die-For!

NYC Cake Decorators visited Chef Lauri DiTunno at Cake Alchemy's studio last Sunday for demo on blown and pulled sugar. As a special treat, Lauri's assistant Christine showed us how to use ShowPeels. ShowPeels are one of the most fun gadgets ever! Melt isomalt to a dipping consistency, carefully "dip" a food safe mold into the sugar mixture, wipe off the excess sugar, and leave to set. When the sugar is set, carefully pull back the mold to reveal a sparking sugar piece. It's easy enough for beginners! Chicago School of Mold Making has a variety of ShowPeels for sale on their website, and also has a neat video on how to use the product.



While surfing their website, I came across instructions on how to create a custom textured mat, and how to create a textured rolling pin. A downloadable copy for the textured rolling pin is also available on NYC Cake Decorators Meetup website. Just click Files.

And for all you cakers who want to make champagne bottles to adorn your cakes, Chicago School of Mold Making also sells champagne bottle molds.

Cricut cake is still making a very BIG buzz for us cakers. The digial machine, scheduled to be available this spring, appears to be the best thing since mom's apple pie! Rumor has it that we cakers will be able to see cricut cake in action at TLC's Ultimate Cake-Off with Norman Davis and Carrie Biggers on March 1, 2010.



The cake buzz is that cricut cake will not only work with gumpaste and fondant but sugarveil as well! Provocraft will offer gumpaste and frosting sheets as well as edible inks. The cricut cake cartridges will be interchangeable with other cricut cartridges. . Dolly our resident cricut guru, has stated that even novice cake decorators have been able to create professionally decorated cakes with cricut. Can I say, Amen!!

The Great Cupcake: Taste and Rate Tour

This cute cupcake was decorated by member Helen Murphy, Helen's Cakes.

Taste and rate the best cupcakes in SoHo and the West Village on Monday, April 26, 2010 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and Friday, May 21, 2010 from 1:00pm -4:00pm. The tour, sure to satisfy any sweet tooth, will visit such cupcakeries as Amy's Bread and Magnolia Bakery. For more information and to order your tickets visit the 92Y or call 212.415.5500.

Think Spring!

Ok, we are still in February but spring is right around the corner. These yummy cupcakes topped with fondant "clay pots" and posies were created by member Lynn. Lynn's cupcakes were made from scratch and swiss meringue buttercream icing was piped on top.

Ooh, La La!

Sadie, the Scottish Terrier that was recently awarded 2010 Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club, has nothing over this clever cupcake pooch created by member, Dawn. Dawn is passionate about cake decorating and hopes to own her own cake shop one day.

Fashionista Cakes!

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but I'll take a pair of Manolo Blahnik or Jimmy Choo's any day! It's NYC Fashion week and NYC Cake Decorators invite you to enjoy our members fashionista cakes.

Jimmy Choo gumpaste shoes and gold designer purse cake was created by member Brenda, Brenda's Dream Cakes.

Pink shopping bag cake, shoe box cake and black Jimmy Choo gumpaste shoes were created by member Jayme.

Louis Vuitton Bag cake and fondant purse were created by member Irene.

This Louis Vuitton inspired cake and key was decorated by member Caridad.

Member Anjone decorated these checked bag and wallet cakes.

And member Aldana made this yummy bag cake.

Cakes with Bling!

Diamonds, rubies, gold, and pearls--Oh my! What better way to tell your sweetie "I love you", then with one of these two outstanding cakes.

Member Chef Janet Ben-Ami, owner Hey! Cookie in Long Island created the jeweled heart tiered cake.

Member Ines created the Tiffany ring box cake. Ines hopes to open her own custom cake business in the future.

Dem' Bones! Cake Support System, that is!

Ever wonder how 3D cakes are constructed? Ever wanted to have the confidence that your topsy-turvy cake wouldn't topple over?

Finally cakers have access to armature kits that take the guess work out of topsy-turvy and 3D Cakes. Acclaimed sugar artist Bronwen Weber and Francois Long have created the "Cake Study" system in collaboration with CalJava. The cake support systems are sturdy and reusable.

"Cake Bones" is the novelty system that started it all. Cake Bones lets you create 2-legged 3D cakes such as clowns, dolls, people--you are only limited to your imagination.

Happy Caking!

Cake Buzz: The "Cooperative Kitchen's" Recipe for Success!

Congratulations to member, Annette Villaverde, owner Ladybugluggage Gourmet Cookies and Cakes! Annette and five other small businesses who share 1,475 sq.ft of commercial kitchen space at Wooden Spoon Catering Company, Princeton, NJ, made the cover of their local newspaper February 10, 2010 issue!

Confectionately called "The Cooperative Kitchen", Wooden Spoon Catering Company, owned by Chris Crawford, has become an incubator kitchen for member Annette Villaverde (wearing the cap), Ladybugluggage Gourmet Cookies and Cakes, Nicole Wilkins Bergman, Simply Nic's Artisanal Shortbread, Jen Carson, Jen's Cakes & Pastries, co-owners Marilyn Besner and Pirosca Toth, Moonlight Bakers, and Pamela Giggie-Accetta, La Bella Cakery. The fact that these savvy women entrepreneurs are all small business owners, wives, and mothers is a common ground that has proved to be a recipe for success.

Annette learned about the availability of commercial space at Wooden Spoon Catering Company through word of mouth at her son's school. It was the right opportunity at the right time; Annette had honed her decorating skills with Colette Peters, Colette Cakes, Lauri Ditunno, Cake Alchemy, and Ruth Drennan, Ruth Drennan Cakes, and was ready to take her fledging business to the next level. In addition, Annette's hedgehog cupcakes were selected as a winning design for Martha Stewart's 2009 Cutest Cupcake Contest.

NYC Cake Decorators Meetup wishes "The Cooperative Kitchen" much success. And to our readers, we invite you to read the inspirational article about the "Cooperative Kitchen" written by Pat Tanner, "7 Women, 1 Kitchen: Savoring the Business of Food".

Cake Buzz: Free Online NYC Food Protection Course

The New York City Food Protection Course satisfies the city Health Code requirement that supervisors of food service establishments and non-retail food service establishments be certified as having completed a course in food protection.

The course is also available for a limited time online for free, and is now offered in Spanish, Chinese and English.

Cake Buzz: Unusual Source of Sugar Art Supplies

We've all seen cake designers using gadgets from home improvement stores in their cake decorating. Ever think about going to a paint store?

There are several online superstores like TCP Global Kustom Paint Superstore which sell airbrush and airbrush stencils. The multilayered stencils "Famous Faces" is part of Anh Pham's stencil and DVD series offered at TCP Global online. They claim easy and professional results, like the portrait of Marilyn Monroe shown here and on TCP Global's website.

Mardi Gras Cake

Member Iva created this colorful Mardi Gras Cake. Iva has less then five years experience decorating cakes!

Football Cake

It's hard to believe but member Ines and her 9 year old step-son made this football cake together. Ines made one half of the cake and her step-son made the other half. Can you tell which half Ines made? Looks like there is a budding ace of cakes in her house.

Cake Buzz: Yummy Bake Shoppe Goodies!

Now that you've decorated that last custom cake or iced that last cupcake, how are you going to pamper yourself?

Carmen Ambercrombie, co-owner, A Scentimental Journey, has a basketload of yummy body bake shoppe treats that smell good enough to eat! Each bath and body product is totally handcrafted and beautifully presented.

My favorite in the collection is Birthday Cake, but perhaps strawberry shortcake, body frosting, chocolate bonbons, fudge brownie, sugar spray or tub cupcake will be your favorite.

Also a great gift for the caker and cupcaker who has everything.

Watch Chef Lauri Ditunno's Blown Sugar and Pulled Sugar Demo February 21st!

NYC Cake Decorators are fortunate that Chef Lauri DiTunno, Cake Alchemy, has agreed to a 1-hour demo in pulled and blown sugar.

If you have watched Lauri during 2 seasons of "Amazing Wedding Cakes" WEtv, you know that her signature technique is sugar work. What you may not know is that Lauri also teaches at French Culinary Institute and she has a new and more spacious custom cake shop in lower Manhattan.

This event is going to be big fun! Besides a wonderful opportunity to network with Lauri, each attendee will also get to sample a delish and decadent treat prepared just for you.

For more information, contact Dina, Organizer, NYC Cake Decorators.

How to Start a Cupcake and Custom Cake Biz!

CakeDiva, upscale cake designer to such stars as Beyonce, Jay Leno, Michael Jordan, Queen Latifah, and ABC Soaps, has agreed to "tell all' at a 3 hour seminar hosted by NYC Cake Decorators in Midtown Manhattan on February 15th.

Get inside information on what you need to start a legal business in NYC and New Jersey; how to develop a winning portfolio, how to photograph your cakes/cupcakes, unusual sources of supplies...and more in this 3 hour seminar.

CakeDiva will share a wealth of inside information learned through over 20 years in the competitive custom cake business. A must have for anyone thinking about starting a new business or revitalizing their current business. Light refreshments will be served and plenty of time to chat and network. Contact Dina for more info.

Member Spotlight: Cathy Olate's Cupcakes Take the Cake!

Member Cathy Olate happened to stumble upon cake decorating as a job to help pay the rent. It soon became her passion, prompting her to embark upon a culinary arts degree in pastry and baking, an externship with Ron Ben Israel, and finally to open Jacy Cakes, LLC., with co-owner Josh Whitney.

Cathy takes great pleasure in perfecting the details of every cake she makes. It drives everything she does. She's crazy about cake and wouldn't want it any other way!

When Cathy heard about a "Cupcake vs. Cake" contest at NY Cake Convention, January 2010, her creative juices and humor really started to flow. She pictured an actual fight between cupcakes and cake and designed her "cupcake vs. cake" throwdown cake to reflect that vision.


Cupcakes try to attack a cake and tag their signature with an airbrush gun on the top tier. The face on the top tier is sad because it is getting a beat down from the cupcakes. The large cupcake on top has actually pushed the face partially "off" its tier!

The face on the bottom tier has an evil grin because as the biggest tier it was strong enough to sprout arms and fight back. That big, bad tier smooshes the icing of one cupcake and gives another cupcake a wedgie.

Cathy's original design featured more cupcakes climbing up to attack the cake, but she ultimately had to edit her design to allow herself enough time to finish this cake as well as take cake orders. Not a surprise that Cathy won First Prize for her creative, fun, and outstanding cake design.

Black History Month: Wedding Cakes From Yesteryear

I love everything vintage and when I came upon this lovely cake, I thought it would be nice to look back in time and take a walk back down memory lane.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and in honor of Black History Month, I thought I would marry the two with vintage photos of African American brides and their wedding cakes.

The design of the wedding cake shown in this post in my opinion, looks like it's inspired by African textiles. It's so pretty I just had to post it.

Enjoy! - Dina

African-American Bride, circa 1840's. Photo with permission of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Wedding party circa 1920's, Harlem, USA.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Johnson, circa 1930.

Mrs. Julia Brooks' wedding day, circa 1940s.

Mrs. Gloria Smith cutting her wedding cake, circa 1956.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson-Jones Candids posed next to their wedding cake, circa 1956.

Chinese New Year!

Photo courtesy of 10,000 Blessings Feng Shui blog

Chinese New Year is on February 14th this year, and this fabulous cake found on 10,000 Blessings Feng Shui is certain to be a showstopper at the celebration.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo courtesy of member, Melania

These sweet valentine cookies crafted by member Melania, are so beautifully painted that they look like works of art. Check out Melania's website Palatofino and her cookie creations on Flickr.

Cake Buzz: Cupcake Couture

The cupcake has been elevated to couture status at Bella Cupcake Couture. Bella Cupcake Couture has a broad selection of really beautiful wrappers to choose from. The clear presentation box is a great way to give a single gift to that special someone or make a few and give as favors. Bella Cupcake Couture also sells selected cupcake wrappers in bulk. Cupcakes have never looked so good!

Cake Buzz: Say "I Love You" with Message-in-a-Cookie

I was so excited to get Williams-Sonoma's February 2010 catalog. It features among other baking tools, really neat cookie cutters called, "message-in-a cookie cutters".

You can make a personalized message by sliding selected letters into slots in the cutters and then depressing the plunger. "Sweet Heart", "I Love You", "Thank You", and all sorts of messages can be pressed and baked into your cookies with this little gizmo. I think that this would also work great on fondant covered mini-cakes and cupcakes as well.

I searched their website but I couldn't find the cutters for sale online; they may be an exclusive catalog item. However, you can print a scrumptious Valentine sugar cookie recipe on the Williams-Sonoma website. There is also a video demonstrating how to use the cutters on the website. -Dina

Valentine Bedecked Cupcakes!

Remember Sweet Hearts when you were a kid? I made sure I saved enough money to buy a small box of the treats for my mom and my BFF.

Member, Annette so beautifully transformed a retro favorite into a sugar lover's dream. What a cute way to let your sweetie know that they are the best!

Visit Annette's blog, Ladybugluggage, to check out her other cupcake designs.

- Dina

Cake Buzz: Erotic Cookie Academy - Feb. 12th!

Danielle Moore, owner of Annie Mae's Cheesecakes and Moore in historic Harlem, USA, will be offering a naughty cookie decorating class for Adults ONLY on February 12th at Pearl Studios in Midtown Manhattan.

The erotic cookie class for couples is a unique and fun way to spice it up with your loved one. And when Valentine's Day rolls around, why not say "I Love You" with one of Annie Mae's cheesecakes? You can follow Annie Mae's Cheesecakes and Moore on Facebook!

Danielle Moore is the founder and member of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

Kimmy's Kakes Wins Brides' Choice Awards 2010!

Member Kimmy Buchanan, owner Kimmy's Kakes was one of several custom cake designers voted Brides' Choice, wedding cake category, Northern New Jersey, Wedding Wire's Bride Choice Awards 2010.

Kimmy is well known in NYC Cake Decorators Meetup for her outstanding 3D cakes as well. Follow Kimmy's Kakes on Facebook!