Bling in the New Year!

Photo courtesy of member Jenny Ma, owner Jenny Cakes NYC

Why not ring in the New Year with a bling cupcake? Delish bling cupcakes are just one of the treats at Jenny Cakes NYC. Jennifer Ma was trained at the  Culinary Institute of America  and has done work for Nickelodeon.

Happy NewYear!

This festive tired cake was made by Megumi Suzuki, one of our international members in Japan. Check out her awesome cakes at her website Yonoji + Cakes, Custom Cake Designs. I would just love a slice of this cake.

FREE CLASS GIVEAWAY & Icing Smiles Fundraiser at Pink Cake Box!

Those of you who know me well, know that I am committed to support any worthy organization that helps children in need.

Chef Anne Heap, Pink Cake Box, is partnering with Icing Smiles again and hosting a Fundraiser. Go to Pink Cake Box's website, vote for your favorite cake posted for  chance at winning a free class. For every vote they receive, Pink Cake Box will donate $1 dollar to Icing Smiles with a maximum of $1,000 dollars! Volunteer to bake for Icing Smiles, donate some of your cake cash, or VOTE for free by clicking this link.

Extreme Sugar Art Workshops with Kaysie Lackey!

Kaysie Lackey is the queen of  gravity defying cakes. Having won numerous cake challenges and being renowned for her artistry and originality. The talented cake artist is teaching her techniques in structure, painting and modeling chocolate.

 

January 14 - 15, 2012: "The Butler" workshop is an excellent way for you to learn how to use modeling chocolate to make vivid, exciting characters and combine them with armature design to create jaw dropping works of art. You will learn methods for carving cake into unusual shapes, sculpting features into characters and micro-painting.

Kaysie Lackey winner of Food Network Challenges: Extreme Villain Cakes Paranomal Cakes and Smurf Cakes in 2011.

January 17-19, 2012- Learn how to construct gravity defying cakes. You will use fondant, gumpaste and marzipan for this cake design. You will paint on your fondant creation and walk away with a completed cake after 3 days. You will be able to re-use the internal structure and will also have the necessary skill set to make your own gravity defying cake structure again.

If you've seen it on television and wanted to learn the do's and don'ts then Kaysie is probably the best person to teach you. With her expertise in gravity defying cakes and structures you'll be able to learn the A-Z of Cake construction.


The Kaysie Lackey Workshops will take place at Mother of Cakes Sugar and Cake Academy in PA. Host/Owner Tanveer Walli can be contacted at Mother of Cakes or Facebook [Cake Mechanic] for further information.

Season's Greetings!

Photo courtesy of Rafael 

This adorable snowman with presents cake was designed and decorated by member Rafael.  This talented teen is so passionate about cake decorating that he started his own custom cake business in PA!

Ho Ho Ho! SugarVeil's Gingerbread Recipe and Templates!

I received a really cool gingerbread recipe and templates from SugarVeil and thought I would pass it along to my readers.

Julie Bashore visited NYC Cake Decorators and gave a spectacular workshop on SugarVeil (R).  If you haven't tried sugarveil, you don't know what you're missing! Let me know if you tried the gingerbread recipe or either of the projects.  Happy Holidays!

Spicy SugarVeil(R) Gingerbread People
(Makes a Family of About 20 - 8" People)

Download the pattern for the Gingerbread People and the 3-D Trees here.
Mix spices & sugars: 

• 1 Tbl. ginger
• 1 Tbl. mace
• 1 Tbl. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. white pepper
• 1 tsp. anise
• 1 tsp. cloves
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dk. brown sugar, packed

Cream: 

• 1 cup softened butter with the above on medium speed until fluffy

Add: 

• 2 tsp. baking soda, dissolved into 2 Tbl. water
• 1 cup light molasses

Beat until smooth. Mix in gradually: 

• 4 1/2 cups flour

Divide dough into thirds. Placing a sheet of wax paper over dough, roll dough 1/8" thick directly onto parchment sheets. Place pattern onto dough and cut along outside of pattern with sharp, narrow knife tip, taking care not to cut thru parchment sheet. Move pattern and repeat until entire dough sheet is cut. "Weed" scraps of dough around shapes.

Continue rolling dough/scraps as above until all the dough is used. Allow cut shapes to rest (room temperature is fine) overnight.

The next day, place parchment sheet with cut shapes onto baking tray. Bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool on tray.

Cupcake Ornament Class at NY Cake!

NY Cake Academy will hold a 2 hr. cupcake ornament class at NY Cake on December 10th and December 24th. The cupcakes, fondant, and gumpaste will be provided in the class. Students will make 6 different cupcake ornaments in class!  NY Cake is located at 56 W. 22nd Street [between 5th and 6th Avenues], New York NY 10021, 212-675-2253.

Sweet Fashion: Clothes Made from Chocolate and Royal Icing

You heard about the annual Chocolate Show in Manhattan but have your heard about pastry Chef Christos Vergados' Sweet Fashion Show? The exhibition took place in Greece earlier this year. The edible clothes and accessories are made of chocolate, candy, sugar, bread, and royal icing.

December 2011 Cake of the Month - Reader Showcase!

Photo courtesy of cake designer Roxanne Hernandez.

This stunning gumpaste shoe and shoebox cake was made by one of my readers, cake designer Roxanne Hernandez.  Roxanne is a self taught cake artist, having only taken a few sugar flower classes.  Her custom designed Christian Louboutin crystal pump is extremely detailed along with the hand painted logo on the shoe box cake.

Although the pump is made from gumpaste it is not edible as the sugar paste pump is decorated with real Swarovksi crystals. Roxanne created the mold/shoe design and placed every single crystal on the shoe one-by-one to give it the realism of the real shoe. Check out Roxanne's other amazing cakes at her website, Amazingly Delicious Desserts.

Roxanne grew up in Brooklyn and is proud of her Dominican heritage.  I look forward to sharing her recipe for Dominican Cake in the near future. If you would like to submit a cake or sugar art related article or digital photo for Cake of the Month, please contact me.

 

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

This sweet turkey cake was made by member Janet Ben-Ami.  Janet is a master 3D cake sculptor.

Eiffel Tower Cake Workshop with Mike McCarey!

The 4-Day Workshop with Mike McCarey and Lauren Kitchens was FABULOUS! 100% of those attending loved, loved, loved the worshops: Mike McCarey was truly amazing as he explained in fine detail the thinking process involved with planning a 3D cake.  Here is a peek of an Eiffel Tower cake being made during class.

Special thanks again to Mike McCarey and Buddy Valastro for making the venue (Buddy's Lackawanna Center) possible.

Character Sculpting 101 with Lauren Kitchens and Mike McCarey!

Character Sculpting 101 with Lauren Kitchens and Mike McCarey was BIG fun! Members were overwhelmed with the spectacular kitchen space at Buddy Valestro's ("Cake Boss") Lackawanna Center facility where all Meetups with Mike and Lauren are being held. I heard nothing but accolades about the focused and thorough instruction by Mike and Lauren, and as an extra special treat, members were able to chat and take photos with Mauro Castano, Carlos Bakery ("Cake Boss").

Lauren Kitchens and Mike McCarey headline NYC Cake Decorators first 4-Day hands-on workshops. Registrants came as far as Washington DC and Tennessee,  and Zacharoula Christou, owner of Sugar Designs, flew from Greece to take today's class! Now that's someone crazy about cake!

Our sincerest thanks to Mike and Buddy for the availability of the Lackawana Center, and to Assistant Organizers Ayana Brantley  and Marisol Cuevas for their outstanding coordination of this event!

Deli Garage Edible Food Finish Spray

German based company Deli Garage has come up with a bunch of new edible products. Their edible food finish spray lets you coat your cookies, cupcakes, and, yes, chicken in a coat of red, blue, silver, or gold. Now you can have your golden goose and eat it too! Check out the original post at Gizmag for more information.

November 2011 Cake of The Month

This outstanding pillow cake was created by member  Mercedes after she completed a Colette Peters class at Wilton confectionary school in Illinois.

Questa torta eccezionale cuscino è stato creato da Mercedes membrodopo aver completato un Colette Peters classe a scuola Wiltonpasticceria in Illinois.


Este bolo excepcional foi criado pela Mercedes membro depois que ela completou um Colette Peters classe na escola Wilton confeitariaem Illinois.

Cupcake Art

Are you obsessed with cupcake baking and decorating or know someone who is? Fine Art America sells yummy fine art. Maybe you'll find that unique holiday gift for your loved one or treat yourself.

Lil' Pink Cupcake Costume

Isn't this the cutest Halloween outfit for your little chef at home? This costume is currently being sold on Amazon.com.

Happy Howl-O-Ween!

This  Jack-O-Latern cake was made by member Aldana.

Angry Birds Cake!

Got an obsession with the "Angry Birds" app? Check out how this cake was created at Geekologie! [Scroll down, down, down the web page to read the article].

CAKE Push Ups!

Does anyone remember ice cream push ups? Well, Kitchen Krafts is selling a new product  where you can layer bite-sized pieces of cake, filling, and icing in a push up cylinder tube. The round cylinder part is 1-3/4” in diameter x 3” long. Each push up tube comes with a plastic domed cap to keep your desserts protected before serving. Caps are 1/2” deep. Set of 10 cylinders and caps.

Marina Sousa and James Rosselle at NY Cake!

Sponsor Lisa Mansour, NY Cake & Baking Supplies' NY Cake Academy will host Marina Sousa and James Rosselle
Saturday October 15-16, 10:00am - 6:00pm.

Marina Sousa

In this comprehensive course, Marina Sousa will share with you her expertise and techniques for creating your own award winning creations. She will share with you her favorite cake designs and include the master of all cakes the wedding cake. In this hands on class you will decorate a wedding cake in fondant, gumpaste and isomalt decorations.

James Rosselle

Join James as he shares with you some of his favorite stylized flowers...

Working with fondant and gumpaste, we will explore a variety of techniques used to make sugar flowers. We will bring the best of both worlds together in this class as we create Peonies, Parrot Tulips and Poppies that look like they were picked from the garden. As a bonus, students will have the opportunity to work with James Rosselle's new line of custom cutters.

Tuition: $350.00
To Register: Contact: NY Cake & Baking Supply http://www.nycake.com

October 2011 Cake of the Month

This adorable cake was created by member Angela. Angela has been a cake decorator since 2005.

FREE Sugar Art DEMOS at NY Cake and Baking Supply!

We all know how expensive Sugar Artist Demos can be.  Well, now we can all save a few pennies and gain important knowledge in cake decorating!

Starting September 26, 2011, and every Tuesday, thereafter, the NY Cake Academy at NY Cake and Baking Supply will offer FREE weekly in store Demonstrations, every Tuesday from 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Pretty sweet deal, huh?

OMG! Mike McCarey and Lauren Kitchens Meetups Coming!

NYC Cake Decorators Meetup is so excited to announce that we plan to host 4 days of unbelievable workshops taught by Mike McCarey and Lauren Kitchens this November!  All Supplies are included and the venue will be none other than Buddy Valastro's "Cake Boss" Studio in Jersey City!


Here is a taste of the workshops being offered: 

 A Morning of Chocolate Modeling with Mike McCarey

 A Morning of 3 Dimensional Cake Structure with Mike McCarey

 An Afternoon of Chocolate Modeling with Lauren Kitchens.

An Afternoon of 3 Dimensional Cake Structure with Lauren Kitchens.

                                         

Muppetizing with Lauren Kitchens

For more information and to register, please contact us at nyccakedecorators@hotmail.com.  You do not have to join our cake club to take any classes.

Chocolate Exhibition at the Openhouse Gallery Soho on Friday!

Need your chocolate fix? One of my friends Sid Chidiac, internationally acclaimed "The Chocolate Painter" is having an exhibition of his paintings- painted entirely with chocolate--at the Openhouse Gallery - Soho on Friday, August 26th. Admission includes a chocolate sampling. Hope to see you there.

September 2011 Cake of the Month

This whimsical topsy turvy cake was created by Chef Janet Ben-Ami, owner Hey! Cookie, and lead instructor of 3D Cake workshops in NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

Cupcake Competition!

Photo courtesy of member Arleen Sotomayor.

Cupcake Fans and Icing Magicians,do you have what it takes to be 4 Girls Glocal Leadership [4GGL] ActivistBaker of the YEAR? 
...Make a Difference with your Icing~support 4GGL.org's mission to empower the worlds poorest girls.
4GGL.org, a 501(c)(3) organization, invites NY Cupcake Decorators and talented ICING Magicians to send them your entry today.

Have a chance to be a showcased ActivistBaker in 4GGl's upcoming
event for Sept 18th, 2011, be chosen to attend their event and showcase your BEST in 4GGL's Cupcake Festival, in Astoria Queens at the new Omonia Next Door's-GreenSky Ampitheatre in Astoria New York (home of the original Big Fat Greek Wedding Cake) -
You will be contributing your talents and raising funds and for this much needed
cause.

This year's theme is "4GGL GLocal acts to change our world
empowering the worlds poorest girls
Educate~ Equip~ Engage~ Empower~ Evaluate!

Contest ends August 30th. All winning participants will be contacted by Sept 3rd. For more information and to enter contact: geocolors1@gmail.com

http://www.razoo.com/...
Read about their cause: www.4GGL.org

Asako's Peony!

I teach sugar art, and last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Asako. Her favorite flower is the peony and the class was a sugar flower interpretation of the Sarah Bernhardt peony.

Asako, a fine artist, among her many talents was a gracious and apt pupil.  This was her first time at gumpaste flower work and she caught onto the technique really fast.

Check out Asako's sugar flower peony after a light dusting. Isn't it beautiful?

"Cake Travels with Bronwen" A New Cake Adventure Web Series!

Follow Bronwen and Francois as they sample cake, explore, and teach cake decorating around the world in the latest web series by Caljava. In the following two episodes, Bronwen and Francois travel to Jakarta, Indonesia!

Episode One

Episode Two

August 2011 Cake of The Month!

Member Chistine created this amazing cake! Cake decorating is Christine's passion and she joined NYC Cake Decorators Meetup earlier this year in order to improve her skills and for networking opportunities.

Member Assists City Cakes on Food Network Challenge July 24th!

Cake designed by member Iva.

Member Iva will be assisting Chef Benny from City Cakes on Food Networks Challenge Smurf Movie Cakes, July 24th @8pm. Can I get a woot, woot? Congrats, Iva!

It's a Cookie, Lil' Wedding Cake!

Can you believe that these lil' wedding cakes are chocolate covered sandwich cookies? Fancy Flours shares the fool-proof directions and sells the mold and robin cutters.

Sweet Grace, Cake Designs Takes the Cake!

Sweet Grace, Cake Designs from Lisa Rochelle on Vimeo.

NYC Cake Decorators is partnering with Sweet Grace, Cake Designs to offer a series of fabulous cake decorating classes at the studio in New Jersey. The first class will be a 4 hr. 3D Car cake on August 21st! For more information and to Register contact Lisa, owner Sweet Grace, Cake Designs.

As Easy as Pie: Karen Tacks' Cherry Pie Cupcakes!

I think of Karen Tack as an old "friend in my head".  I love her ingenius approach to decorating; taking simple steps to create jaw dropping cupcakes. Her designs are easy enough for a novice baker--no need to sweat over a cake decorating class to create any of Karen's fabulously decorated cupcakes.



July is a time for picnics, bar-b-ques, and family gatherings. Karen's sweet little "cherry pie" cupcakes are sure to be a hit. The cherry pie cupcakes are just one of many creative cupcake designs in her latest book, What's New, Cupcake?

Make Your Own Sugar Flower Cake Shop Cake!

Sponsor, Sugar Flower Cake Shop, is partnering with Living Social to offer  a $65.00 Make Your Own Sugar Flower Cake Shop Cake classes.  You can register via Living Social or Sugar Flower Cake Shop website, and use the code "BASKET" to get this unbelievable 68% off class.

Edible Lady Bugs!

I'm baking a difference with Frosting for the Cause.  Find out how I made these not so little Lady Bug sugar cookies, step by step,  on Sunday, July 10th at Frosting for the Cause website. While you are there why not consider joining the cause and giving back using your skills at cupcake or cookie decorating.

Intensive Buttercream Piping Class

Want to ice your cake as smooth as the cake shown? Want to brush up on your piping? Now this is the class you are dreaming about.  Join accomplish cake designer Lynette Clark July 9th! For further details contact me at NYC Cake Decorators Meetup!

Happy July 4th!

This patriotic flag cake was designed by member Connie DiTommaso. Connie is an accomplished cake designer who has won several cake competitions, published in American Cake Decorating Magazine, and has taught classes with NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

Walk on the Sweet Side - 5" Inch Cupcake and Sprinkles Shoes

For the self-confident cupcaker who wants to strut her stuff, this shoe by Jellyfish Design Studio satisfies your sweet tooth. Find these shoes and other hand-painted "confections" by Jellyfish Design Studio on Etsy. Yummy!

Trending Same-Sex Wedding Cakes & Toppers

New York State recently legalized same-sex marriage. Sponsor and friend Amy DeGiulio, Sugar Flower Cake Shop, was interviewed by the Associated Press yesterday and photos were taken of her scrumptious cakes with same-sex toppers.

Amy's shop is located in the heart of the Fashion District in The Arts Building, 336 West 37th Street, Suite 950, New York, NY, 212-993-6441. The Sugar Flower Cake Shop was awarded Best of Weddings 2011 by The Knot and received a Bride's Choice Award for 2011 from Wedding Wire.

Prominent Cake Baker Tawny Ong Has Passed

I was deeply saddened to learn today that our dear friend Tawny Ong has passed.  Tawny was a very talented and very generous person.  She was a true blessing to our group and gave several fabulous opportunities to our members. The fact that Tawny was young makes her passing so very difficult to fathom.

For those who have met Tawny, worked with Tawny, or who were fortunate to sample her wonderful desserts, I have provided a link to her family's virtual memorial: http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/DignityMemorial/guestbook.aspx?n=tawny-chan-ong&pid=151108852

Our heartfelt and sincere condolences and prayers go out to Tawny's family.

Baby gender reveal parties

Photo on ivillage.com

Baby gender reveal parties seem to be the latest trend these days.  The cake designer/baker creates the cake which when cut reveals through pink or blue cake the gender of the child.  Have any of you received a cake order for a baby gender reveal cake?

Member Spotlight - Sweet Grace, Cake Designs

Happy Father's Day! June 2011 Cake of The Month

We all know how men feel about their cars--and  3D car cakes! This lovely cake created by new member Claudia is the perfect choice for our favorite men on Father's Day!

Easy, Breezy, Collapsible Cake Transporter

This stainless steel folding cart is a great tool for cake designers.  Transport the cake from your vehicle to the venue on the top shelf of the cart and your emergency supplies on the bottom rack! Check it out at Kitchen Krafts.

Summer Fun Workshops with NYC Cake Decorators!

Check out these fun classes conducted by Chef Janet Ben-Ami, owner, Hey!Cookie.

3D Tiered Cupcake Cake Workshop

Yummy Pan Pizza Cake

2D Diaper Bag Cake

Don't miss out on the fun. Contact nyccakedecorators@yahoo.com for information on how you can RSVP for any of the above workshops.  See you there!

Two Members Compete on WeTV's "Iced with Sylvia Weinstock"!

Danielle Moore, Founder of NYC Cake Decorators, and member Amelia Monis will compete to win a coveted internship with the grand dame of cake designers, Sylvia Weinstock!

Photo courtesy of Pastry Chef Danielle Moore, Founder, NYC Cake Decorators Meetup.

Danielle Moore is the owner of Annie Mae's Cheesecakes in Harlem, New York, and also conducts cookie decorating classes for children and adults.

Photo courtesy of member Amelia Monis.

Member Amelia Monis is the owner of Amelias Cakes and Favors. Congratulations, ladies! Woo-Hoo! Wishing you both the very best!