I really enjoyed the challenge of making an edible version of this onboard computer for a workplace celebration. Inside is lemon cake with raspberry buttercream filling and a layer of white chocolate vanilla buttercream underneath buttercream fondant. Entirely edible aside from one toothpick supporting the toggle, this 14x10-inch carved cake was as close to the real thing as possible, right down to the onscreen icons.

Cake version:

 

Real computer:

Special delivery baby shower cake

There are so many great ideas for baby shower cakes but I especially like the stork-themed creations. They're playful and whimsical ~ perfect for a happy event like a baby shower. The sugarpaste topper on this two-tiered neopolitan cake features a stork taking a much-needed rest after landing with his "special delivery", wings wrapped protectively around the bundled baby. The border around each tier is made up of individually embossed baby blocks in pale yellow, soft fuschia and teal. An embossed cake board and light spray of pearl dust adds the final touch!

Have your cake and play it too!

My dad has quite a collection of string instruments so it made sense to create an edible version of one for his birthday. Other than the strings, this replica of a Kala ukelele was completely edible. Underneath the fondant is tangy lemon cake with raspberry buttercream filling.

Fun with flavours!

February was a month for dessert cakes and an opportunity to work with some fantastic flavour combinations!

The first was a German chocolate cake, which is a huge favourite at our house. Layers of rich chocolate cake and the signature sweet coconut and pecan filling, iced with a milk chocolate truffle buttercream. The chocolate plaque is completely edible!

Next was my version of a Butterered Almond cake ... layers of vanilla cake filled with an almond custard cream, iced in brown butter frosting and dressed up with toasted almond slices. A delicious flavour combination!

You can't go wrong with banana and caramel. This four-layer banana cake was filled and iced with a yummy salted caramel buttercream (you can see the flecks of homemade caramel in the frosting) and then topped with a sprinkle of crystallized caramel and fleur de sel. Sophisticated and delicious!

 

Faux wedding cakes

It's a fact that some couples simply don't want to serve wedding cake. They may opt for a buffet dessert table or choose to provide plated desserts that are part of the venue package. For those who still want to dress up their decor with a beautiful cake or pose for traditional cake slicing photos, a faux or artificial cake is a great option. These fondant-covered cakes have all of the attributes of a real wedding cake, from unique toppers to delicate sugar flowers, and can be custom designed to suit the wedding theme. In addition, they can either be returned or kept as a wedding keepsake.

The best part...the price can be substantially lower than a real cake but no one would know the difference - unless they try to take a bite!

Football fever

The Superbowl is over but football cakes are still popular. This 13th birthday cake for a football enthusiast - San Diego in particular - combined a fun vanilla sprinkle cake with sweet vanilla buttercream filling. Sugar pearls in the team colours surround an edible football "exploding" out of the centre of the cake.

New year, new flavours!

It's February, it's cold outside and I can feel myself fighting the mid-winter blahs. I think a creative pick-me-up is in order and coming up with a few new flavour combinations might just do the trick!

Just off the top of my head, I'm thinking about pink lemonade (layers of moist lemon cake filled with lemon and raspberry buttercream), margarita (I love homemade lime curd!!)  and chocolate chip cookie (similar to my vanilla surprise cake, combining chocolate and vanilla cake with a layer of chocolate chip cookie and vanilla and milk chocolate swirl buttercream.

Then there's the buttered almond dessert cake (a version of the cake made famous by a former Cambridge restaurant). White chocolate and lemon sounds tempting....so does chocolate and salted caramel buttercream. It's time to do some experimenting . . . taste testers apply here! :)