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!!

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: 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

Cake Buzz: Can You Cricut?

Photo of cake decorated with cricut fondant designs is courtesy of Pippilotta, Tortentante.blogspot.com

Cricut Cake is a new machine especially designed for cakers which will debut this spring! You can take a sheet of fondant or gumpaste, roll out the medium on a special mat, place in the feeder, and using the Cricut Cake machine cartridges, cut a number of intricate designs, pull the cut fondant or gumpaste designs from the special mat, and affix directly on a cake or cupcake!

Words, cute critters, scrollwork--any design you think of can be cut with precision with this nifty little machine! There is a video available on the subject, and a few YouTube tutorials using the current Cricut Expressions machine. Although the Cricut cartridges are said to be pricey, if you search long enough online there are companies and websites out there which reportedly offer affordable or even free software that is compatible with Cricut Expressions and probably Cricut Cake as well. A great idea for cupcakers and cakers alike.

A Nifty Cake Box Delivery System at Oasis Supply

Always on the search for unique cake decorating products and supplies, I came across a neat cake box delivery system for my upscale custom cakes at Oasis Supply.

The box is beautifully decorated to showcase that awesomely designed cake nestled inside. What is so great about this delivery system is that the medium box inset holds a 10" square cake or a 6" and 10" square stacked cake!

Oasis Supply, a sponsor of NYC Cake Decorators Meetup, also offers great discounts for bulk orders and has a variety of products to choose from. I am going to order the delivery system and will report how well it transports my tiered cake.