Cakes and other delights

Birthday Cupcakes

2012-03-04T01:50:00.000-08:00

A giant rainbow cupcake accompanied with smaller, regular yellow buttercup cupcakes to celebrate Joshua's 2nd birthday. Wow the year has passed quickly!

Happy Birthday Joshua!

Happy 40th Big Sis'

2012-03-03T20:01:00.001-08:00

My sister has hit the big '40', or is it the new 30?

To celebrate the occasion I made a Devils Food cake filled with dark chocolate ganache and decorated coloured fondant to match the party colour scheme. I handmade all the decorations which are 99.99% edible - the butterflies are floating on floral wire.

Happy Birthday Allison!

Happy "Diamond" Birthday - 60th

2012-03-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

A white chocolate mud cake, filled with white chocolate ganache and simply decorated with some handmade sugar roses.

The client's favourite colour is 'workchoice' orange!

Number '2'

2012-02-27T23:45:00.002-08:00

The order - a number '2' cake, pink icing and simple.

A moist vanilla cake, iced with strawberry flavoured buttercream and decorated with butterflies and blossoms.

Safe Travels

2012-02-19T11:42:00.000-08:00

Out of the blue my husband and I received an invitation to a BBQ; a get together with a friend who lives in Canada who had returned home to Sydney for a short visit.
This cake was made to suit the occasion; a Maple and Pecan Cake decorated in the Canadian colours of red and white.

Simplicity

2012-02-15T02:17:00.000-08:00

The simplicity of black and white always provides a level of elegance, letting the design speak for itself. Complementing the classic design is the tantalising flavour of a vanilla bean cake. Happy Birthday Desiree!

Elton John 21st Theme Cake

2012-02-11T23:56:00.000-08:00

An Elton John Themed 21st cake, with only two requests - it had to taste good and include sunglasses. Now this had me thinking! I suggested a cake representing various Elton John songs, and had complete control of the design. This can be a little stressful, as you hope what you present is close to what the customer had visualised.

Elton John's song list filled me with inspiration! The cake represented 15 songs, some may say 16. Can you guess them all? (answers below)

Bennie and the Jets
Blue Eyes
Candle in the Wind/Goodbye England's Rose
Circle of Life
Crocodile Rock
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Pinball Wizard
Rocket Man
Sad Songs
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Shooting Star
Tiny Dancer

Happy to say the cake was a huge success on all fronts!

Surrender the Booty !!! - Happy 1st Birthday Luca.

2012-02-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

Our youngest family member Luca celebrated his 1st birthday with a pirate theme. Sadly we couldn't attend, but I was very happy to send some cupcakes to suit the occasion. The cupcake toppers were hand-made and sat on chocolate cupcakes covered with vanilla buttercream. Best wishes Luca!

Ben 10!

2012-02-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

My niece Ruby had a special request for her 4th Birthday - Ben 10 cupcakes! My first thought, "what or who is Ben 10"? After a little Google research I was on the right path, and set to work on all the 'cupcake toppers" - and yes this included hand painting the actual "Ben 10" toppers.

-Happy to say they were a hit with Ruby and her party guests!

Orange Blossom!

2012-02-05T03:01:00.000-08:00

My sister and father's birthdays are only days apart, and for as long as I can remember we have always celebrated with a BBQ . I decided to go "old school" with the cake - a giant "marble" cupcake and a dozen chocolate cupcakes on the side. The "cakes" were decorated with Orange Blossom flavoured buttercream and coloured with tones to reflect the "marble".

Ruby loves a good Birthday Cake!

An explosion of colour

Playful Fun!

2012-01-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

During the past week I have enjoyed the company of my two nieces, Ruby - 3 yrs & McKenzie - 18 months). For creative entertainment, my husband and Ruby baked a Devils Food Cake (with my supervision).

I wanted to experiment with a tie-dye fondant effect, so Ruby and my husband selected the colour scheme and I finished it off with a few decorations. Yes, the result was very colourful and a lot of fun.

Christening

2012-01-27T20:18:00.000-08:00

Two firsts; my first Christening Cake and the first order for 2012. The cake is a White Velvet Cake filled with 'pink' White Chocolate Ganache and decorated using handmade decorations; teddy bear, plaque, butterflies and blossoms.

All Wrapped Up!

2011-12-30T15:21:00.000-08:00

This is it......the final 2011 Christmas Cake! A miniature 5" fruit cake covered with patterned fondant and finished with a pearl lustre. A fondant ribbon and bow added the final decorative touch. All 100% edible, and from the comments received, delicious!

2011 McKeough Family Christmas Cake

2011-12-26T03:25:00.000-08:00

My favourite Christmas Cake of 2011 - the family's cake. I baked my first family Christmas Cake in 2007, and at the time I sat down with my late mother and we selected the recipe. She gave me some advice on how to bake and decorate it and I guess that's what started the passion.

This cake was baked with that same special recipe, and it reminds me of all the special times I shared with my mother on Christmas Day.

My Mother, our last Christmas Day shared together (2007)

Merry Christmas "B" Platoon

2011-12-25T16:14:00.001-08:00

My husband who is a Firefighter worked on Christmas Day and his Platoon had a "cook up" planned, so I offered to make a cake.

Blue Dog gave me a detailed list of the decorative effects he wanted; crimping, quilting, reindeers, fondant ribbon and bow, and finished with fondant spiral curls. I did suggest 'less is more' - but delivered his wishes. All elements are handmade and edible, yes even the hand painted reindeers.

I actually like the fun appearance this cake. Merry Christmas "B" Platoon!

Gift Cakes

2011-12-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas Gift Cakes..... cakes I baked and decorated to give to some of my dearest friends (all 6" cakes)

Christmas Cup Cakes

2011-12-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

One of my final Christmas order this year, 24 Cupcakes. I was given a little creative freedom but I chose a traditional theme.

Sweet As Bro!

2011-12-22T11:36:00.000-08:00

Yes we all know who won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. A Kiwi mate asked for a Christmas Cake to be enjoyed by all her friends on Christmas Day, requesting a silver fern leaf with a little kiwi bird and a black and white colour scheme.

Hidden underneath the hand cut fern leaf, hand painted detail and fondant ribbon and bow is a Devils Food Cake filled with dark chocolate ganache.

Snow Flakes.....

2011-12-18T02:36:00.000-08:00

By special request..... an order for a local business owner.

Candy Cane......

2011-12-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

I received an order for a Christmas Cake with a special request to include candy canes. After some discussion with the client who admired a cake I had previously made, I went to work.

The cake is a fruit cake covered with fondant and 100% handmade decorations, all naturally 100% edible. (The fruit mixture soaks for a considerable time in brandy ..... yum!)

Purple Haze....

2011-12-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

Happy 21st !!!......

The instructions I received for this cake were quite specific; a purple & silver topsy-turvy exploding cake.

I am thrilled with the result and very happy to have been asked by some close friends to make the cake for a special occasion; a 21st birthday.

The cake is Devil's Food Cake, an extremely moist and rich chocolate flavour, filled with dark chocolate ganache.

I then covered and decorated it with fondant and finished it off with "BLING". What girl doesn't like BLING?


Explosion Centre

A Festive Welcome!

2011-12-04T02:14:00.001-08:00

This week some very special friends are arriving from the USA for a "vacation", so I have made a little gift they can enjoy on their travels during the festive season.

Twinkle, Twinkle.....

2011-12-03T04:37:00.001-08:00

And the Christmas Cakes continue......

Stig......

2011-11-25T11:11:00.001-08:00

Last week I was unaware of "STIG" but now I know him a little more intimately following a little research, moulding his torso and the infamous helmet. I really enjoyed this order for a new customer.

The cake itself is Lemon Mud, filled with white chocolate ganache, covered and decorated with fondant.

Happy 1st Birthday....Retro

2011-11-19T00:37:00.001-08:00

A classic design for a little man's 1st Birthday. The cake itself is mud iced with chocolate buttercream, and with Sydney's current warm weather (30 degree +) I pulled out my faithful buttercream suited for high humidity/heat.

To accompany the cake, 36 cupcakes were ordered in a classic colours and simple design.

A little more Christmas Cheer......

2011-11-15T01:53:00.001-08:00

The final two Christmas Cakes.....(for this order)

Winter Wonderland

The completed order.......

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

2011-11-14T01:46:00.001-08:00

Christmas Cakes decorated in the classical colours of green, red and white. Both cakes are to be sold at a local cafe/gift shop.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

2011-11-07T03:37:00.000-08:00

Christmas is just around the corner and a local cafe/gift store has ordered a number of Christmas cakes to sell in their store. I have baked several cakes but now it's time to decorate.... here's a little peak.

80th Celebration

2011-10-29T18:43:00.000-07:00

My mother-in-law Ruth celebrated her 80th Birthday this weekend, and I had the pleasure of making the cake.

The cake itself is Passionfruit Mud Cake filled with white chocolate ganache and fresh passionfruit giving an extra hit of flavour. I handmade the lily, frangipanis, rope work and the name plaque with sugarpaste and fondant.

Handmade lily and franipanis

Kitchen Tea by the Sea

2011-10-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

I received an impromptu cake order for a Kitchen Tea. My client explained the Kitchen Tea invitations and the beach wedding theme, so I suggested using colours of the beach, and I hand-made some frangipanis and sea shells for decoration.

The cake itself is a super moist White Chocolate Mud Cake; the end result is a cake beautifully decorated and 100% edible.

I slightly marbled the blue fondant to give a watery effect.

Happy Birthday Harper

2011-10-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

Handcrafted 3D butterflies

When a beautiful little girl celebrates her 3rd Birthday everything should be especially pretty; so I was delighted to bake and decorate cupcakes for Harper's special occasion. These cupcakes are a consistent favourite of my customers; Chocolate Butter Cake iced with Vanilla Buttercream and finished with assorted handmade fondant decorations.


Handmade blossoms with contrasting centres

A delight to make and pretty enough to eat.

3rd Birthday

2011-09-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

Add caption

I was excited to receive a cupcake order for a little man's 3rd Birthday. I really wanted to make something vibrant for a young child and great tasting.

I was pretty happy with the finished product.........

Chocolate Butter Cupcakes with Dark Belgian Chocolate Buttercream.

Yellow Butter Cupcakes decorated with edible handmade fish.

Yellow Butter Cupcakes with fondant.

All finished and ready to pack and go!!!

Baby Shower

2011-09-23T23:45:00.000-07:00

I was delighted when a good friend contacted

me to request some cupcakes for a Baby Shower and orders frogs, ducks and cats. So here you see the end result, all hand made and 100% edible. The cupcakes are Vanilla Bean, both the Frog and Duck cupcakes were iced with Rosewater Buttercream and the Cats are decorated with fondant.

Happy Birthday Blue Dog!!!!!!

2011-09-06T03:54:00.000-07:00

Passionfruit Mud Cake

My husband, Wayne, or otherwise known as Blue Dog, AWG or Uncle Nee Naw, is celebrating his birthday this week, and to celebrate I have baked a Passionfruit Mud Cake. The cake has been filled with white chocolate ganache and fresh passionfruit (giving it another hit of flavour), then ganached and decorated with fondant - yes even the "glittery" stars are edible.

Explosion Centre!!!

Shadows of the Past.......Moving Towards the Future

2011-08-19T00:44:00.000-07:00

A close up of the roses I made

A cake with an unusual theme: my Aunt is a Sister of Mercy; yes a Nun. This weekend they are having a conference to reflect upon their past and focus on the future. I was asked to make a cake that reflected their "shadows" and their bright future.

I covered the cake board with fondant and then added some shading with silver and pear shimmer dust.

The cake itself is a rich chocolate cake, ganached with dark chocolate, then covered and decorated with fondant and handmade sugar-paste roses.

A Splash of Colour

2011-08-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

My husband and I received an invitation for an impromptu birthday celebration. I decided to make a cake that was bright, cheerful... and fast, due to limited time. I baked a vanilla bean butter cake, filled and covered with a dark chocolate Baileys Irish Cream ganache. It was then decorated with fondant and royal icing.

Happy Birthday Down Under.......

2011-07-23T23:09:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe my nephew has turned 16. I offered to make the birthday cake and decided on the "Australian Flag". I have been wanting to attempt this for a while now and given I had no requests for the design I set myself free. The cake itself was a vanilla bean butter cake, covered with milk chocolate ganache and decorated with fondant.

The birthday boy,

Exploding 40th

2011-07-23T22:51:00.001-07:00

This cake was an order for a client whose friend was turning 40! The birthday girl's favourite colours are black, white and red. I decided on a square topsy-turvy exploding cake, and was very pleased with the result.

North Sydney Bears.......

2011-07-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

A colleague requested a cake for a fellow team member with a couple of basic requests; carrot cake and something to reflect the North Sydney Bears football club. Hence, the bear and team colours; black and red.

Cupcakes: McKenzie's 1st Birthday

2011-07-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

My youngest niece, McKenzie, celebrated her 1st Birthday yesterday (9 July). To help celebrate I baked some vanilla bean and chocolate velvet cupcakes, iced with a strawberry buttercream and decorated with an assortment of edible decorations I handmade.

Not only did the cakes look pretty the strawberry smelt wonderful.

Just for something different to the regular lolly bag to give the children, each child was given a cupcake - with a little "M" and some handmade roses and hearts were boxed as a thank you.

Crazy Caramel

2011-06-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

A buttery Caramel Cupcake filled with Salted Caramel Sauce, topped with Caramel Icing and a Jersey Caramel.

Stars and Stripes

2011-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Red, White, and Blue: One of my colleagues is about to set off for three months travel across America so we had a little afternoon tea for the occasion.

A miniature Topsy Turvy Cake made of white chocolate mud cake with ganache and fondant - there were no left overs so I'll assume it not only looked good but was also tasty.

Plain and Simple

2011-06-19T01:18:00.000-07:00

A client asked if I could cover a fruit cake for her grandmothers 70th Birthday. It was relatively easy request give that the caked had been made and the client had ordered some flowers to be placed on the cake. Just a simple request - white and plain.

I covered the cake with a layer of marzipan and fondant and kept decorations simple, a plain handmade rope band and roses on the edge of the cake board.

Brunch on the Run

2011-06-04T04:11:00.000-07:00

While I have a passion for baking and cake decorating, one of my other great loves is running. I regularly race distances from 3km up to 100km, including marathons. So with this year's racing season well underway I'm heading to brunch with my coach and good friend, Sean Williams with his lovely wife Cindy, daughter Matilda and plenty of running friends from Sean's squad.

To help replenish the energy levels of the group (after our morning run), I baked some cupcakes; White Velvet with Rose-water buttercream and Chocolate Butter Cupcakes with Belgian Buttercream, all with handmade decorations.

Topsy Turvy

2011-05-28T17:42:00.000-07:00

My beautiful niece, Laura, has reached one on life's milestones - her 18th Birthday. To celebrate this occasion I made the birthday cake. Some of Laura's favourite things are white chocolate mud cake and the colour lime green, so I ensured both elements featured in the cake.

After baking a couple of white chocolate mud cakes and preparing my ganache, it was time to carve, assemble and decorate. I really enjoyed making this cake and there were no hiccups, however again I learned a lot along the way.

I'm a Little Teapot......

2011-05-16T01:55:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at a "teapot cake". I baked a white chocolate mud cake, then carved it to shape. Once the correct shape was achieved it was then ganached with white chocolate ganache and covered in chocolate fondant.

I was happy with the result and the I'm pleased to say not only did I get some great feedback on the appearance, but it tasted fantastic too.

On A Saturday Afternoon

2011-05-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my sister, a good friend Amanda and I shared the afternoon decorating cakes. I baked some caramel mud cakes and then covered them with white chocolate ganache plus a few White Velvet Butter Cupcakes to give us a canvass to play with.

I made a "present box cake" and here are the final results.

Happy Easter

2011-05-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Easter with my family I decided to attempt a "Checker Board" cake using a slightly different technique than my previous attempt. I found a beautiful recipe "White Velvet Buttercake" as the base, adding some colour. All the decorations (excluding the chocolate Easter eggs) I hand made, yes including the lamb and the little rabbits.

Explosions of Flavour

2011-04-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

With my continued research into the world of baking and my desire to experiment, I have been in the kitchen trying out a few more recipes. My husband is big fan of macadamia nuts and requested I make some cupcakes using them in the batter. After some thought I baked Maple Syrup and Macadamia Nut Cupcakes. Rather than rely on feedback I sampled one and was pleased with both the flavour and the texture.

It was back to the kitchen to again try something new. My audience was well known for their "sweet tooth", so I decided to create a true chocolate experience; milk chocolate cup cakes iced with milk chocolate butter cream and then decorated with candy coated chocolate pieces. My husband and I enjoyed half a cup cake each, and we were both delightfully surprised.

Some of my readers know that I participate in the 'Relay for Life' each year, an event which raises money for the Cancer Council to fund cancer research. The Maple Syrup and Macadamia Nut Cupcakes and the Milk Chocolate Cupcakes were sold and the proceeds donated to this fundraising.

Alternatively, you may wish to sponsor me directly via this link: http://relay.cancercouncil.com.au/2011/sutherland_shire_relay_for_life_2011/Happy-Feet/214501

Farewell.....

2011-03-31T22:32:00.000-07:00

I made this cake as a surprise, to farewell a colleague. It is a Vanilla Bean Cake filled and iced with White Chocolate Ganache and then decorated in fondant.

Tempting the Tastebuds

2011-03-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks I have been scanning the Internet and cookbook aisles of bookstores looking for cake recipes, to add a little variety to the mix. This has been a very interesting exercise, not only have I found some new recipes and exciting flavours, I have also picked up quite a few baking tips along the way.

Last weekend I baked a lemon, lime and white chocolate mud cake. The cake was filled and covered in a coconut, lemon, lime and white chocolate ganache. I was a little concerned the ganache may have been a little too rich. However, my judges (my husbands shift of approximately 16 people at his Fire Station) gave me rave reviews, "spot on", "the best yet", and "that cake was to die for". I myself did not taste the cake so I'll rely on their judgement.

NB. Unfortunately I did not get a photo of this cake.

This week I was very excited to find some very interesting recipes and I was keen to experiment a little more. To pick up a few rare but essential ingredients I visited The Essential Ingredient - Rozelle, this store is fabulous, and I spent far too much money. After admiring my purchases and reviewing a few recipes I decided upon Lavender and Honey Cup Cakes. I implemented the new tips I had picked up through my research and took great care with the ingredients, mixing and baking. The end result was 18 lovely cupcakes that have again been sent off to my "judges" - I'll keep you posted on the feedback.

Afternoon Tea

2011-03-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

My lovely 3 year old niece helped me bake some vanilla cupcakes to take to Poppy's house for afternoon tea. The cakes were iced with meringue buttercream.

A Little Girl's 1st Birthday

2011-03-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

A little Man's 1st Birthday!

2011-03-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to you......

2011-02-27T11:23:00.000-08:00

I made this cake to celebrate my sister's birthday. Chocolate cake (three layers) filled with buttercream (orange coloured) and raspberries, covered in a layer of chocolate ganache. The cake was then covered and decorated in fondant again using my sister's favourite colour, orange.

Handmade sugarpaste flowers.

Sugar and Sweet

2011-02-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

A selection of fondant cupcakes for a child's 3rd Birthday.

Toddler's and Tiaras

2011-02-13T01:21:00.000-08:00

Devil's Food Cake filled with buttercream (pink) and raspberries then decorated with fondant.

The final touch, a Snow White Tiara

A happy little girl, Ruby

Happy Birthday

2011-02-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

Devils Food Cake (Chocolate) filled with chocolate buttercream and fresh raspberries and covered with fondant.

Rory's 1st Birthday

2011-01-29T14:42:00.000-08:00

Cup Cakes: Fondant and Buttercream

2011-01-22T19:47:00.000-08:00

Vanilla Cupcake with Buttercream decorated with fondant.

Vanilla Cupcakes with buttercream and sugar paste frangipanis

Cup Cakes: Lady Birds and Spiders.

2011-01-22T02:56:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream and Fondant

Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream

New Year 2011

2010-12-30T19:59:00.000-08:00

I'm quite happy with this cake, it's a white chocolate cake filled and covered with dark chocolate ganache and then covered in fondant.

Cakes.....

2010-12-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

I have only recently taken up a more active interest in cake decorating and have decided to photograph my work and share some of my creations. I have baked and decorated purely for the enjoyment, however I have a few requests for some work during the year, so hopefully I will be able to add a larger variety of cakes and designs.

Dec 2007 - McKeough Family Christmas Cake.

Feb 2009

Red Velvet Cake - Sept 2010

Layers of Red Velvet.

Preparation - Dec 2010

2010 McKeough Family Christmas Cake

6" Square Cake

Dec 2010 - Traditional Christmas Design

Dec 2010 - Shooting Stars

6" inch round

Dec 2010 - Snowflakes

Dec 2010 - Stars and Stripes