Sunday, June 20, 2010

Another year older

It seems all too fast, but my elder daughter has again grown a year older. Time sure flies! It seems just not too long ago when I made that Powerpuff girl cupcakes and fondant cake for her 6th birthday. I remember vividly that powerpuff girl cakes took me 3 days to complete...burning midnight oil to mould the figurines etc. This time round, it took me less then a day,...I even took a break and went out with my sister to have coffee and chit chat at the nearby cafe! Please don't be mistaken, I'm not trying to boast here. It's just that I realize simplicity can be a form of beauty too! Looking back at the amount of effort I pile into making her last birthday cake makes me amaze of my own patience. :P I guess maybe I had a helper then...now I am on my own. :P With the time constraint, I had no choice but to make a "simpler" cake for her....and here it is:
You must be wondering why I had not prepare way ahead for this...why push to the very day to make it. I was tight down with the new house and family gatherings that's why. :P Sadly I have much lesser time to bake like I used to back in Malaysia....not to mention blogging. But I try not to stay away for too long though. ;)
If you look carefully, there are imperfections all over the cake...but I could not really "beautify" it any further since I had already invited the rest of the family over for a cake cutting session. So I just handed in as is! :) Just close one eye....lol!
I made 2X8 inch round cake pan plus a 6 inch round for this. There was some left over batter which I made it into cupcakes; my girls gobbled up moments after it came out of the oven! Moulding the figurine was fun...but I wish I had more time to make a nicer one. :P
For the cake recipe, I used the same chocolate cake in my husband's birthday cake last year. I like the moist chocolate cake but still "sturdy" enough to hold up the fondant. As for the filling, I got lazy and used simple heavy cream whipped with powered sugar & vanilla extract. Turns out it worked just fine! *phew*
Check out the layers inside *sorry...a wee bit messy here*. Just fresh whipped cream and strawberries sandwiched between layers of dark chocolate cake...as what my girl had requested. :) I am glad that she loves this cake and most of all everyone enjoys eating it (can't say about the fondant though, lol!) I hope next year I won't have to rush like mad again making my girl's birthday cake! Hope you all enjoyed viewing this cake as much as I have made it. Last but not least...Happy Sweet 7th Birthday to my DD!

23 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

wow A masterpiece!
Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Bakericious said...

Hi HBS, happy birthday to ur dd. The cake is so beautiful, cant find much flaw for me, I bet ur dd love this cake to bit. Just by the look of the inner of the cake, already know it must be very yummy!

Esther said...

I love the idea of stacking up fondant layers on top of each other to form the dress. Good job on the cake. It looks so yummy. Your husband's cake looks so cool too! :)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Angie for the compliment. :)

Thanks Jess. :) Yeah, my daughter loved it...but she loves her birthday presents better, lol!

Thanks Esther. Welcome to my blog!

Kitchen Corner said...

Hi Bee,
You're such a lovely mum with so much passion, patient and a pair of magic hand to give your girl such a super pretty, lovely and delicious cake with yummy fillings! I couldn't make something like this. You are a great mum! Happy birthday to your daughter, kiss kiss and hug hug!

Sonia ~ Nasi Lemak Lover said...

Happy Belated Birthday to your daughter, you are a good mom as this is cake is so pretty and really well done!

WendyinKK said...

My elder daughter saw your cake and kept on telling me to look at the dress...
My daughter loves your cake.

ann low said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter! Very pretty tiered cake. I'm still have no confident to make fondant cake. Did you put the whole cake in the fridge after adding the fondant on it?

janice said...

Wow.... simple & nice + yummy!!! Good job..
Happy Birthday Amelia @->--

ReeseKitchen said...

Very nice cake Bee Bee..;) Amelia must be very happy! Yeah, fondant playing needs alot time and patient, and I know you can do it..:)After you settle down with your house, we'll have more post to read..;)Looking fwd to your bread posts, I miss all your breads!

Quinn said...

HBS....If this is something 'simple' that is made out of tight schedule, then my cakes can all be thrown down the drain!!!! It looks great, the imperfections further demonstrate that it is homemade and full of love from a mother to her kid. Just wondering if you all eat he fondant layer as well or just discard it?

Hearty Bakes said...

Happy Birthday to your daughter. The cake is very sweet and pretty!

Unknown said...

happy bday to your daughter! lovely cake you have made! it looks like you put so much love into it :).

well done! i might try making fondant cake. looks hard but i will give it a go

Unknown said...

Wow... the cake is so beautiful, love the cake, love the way it is being decorated, and love the doll also.

pigpigscorner said...

Wow, this is simpl?! It looks amazing! Happy Birthday to your daughter!

Honey Bee Sweets said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Grace! Haha, you made me so high up in the sky! No larr, I believe I can be a better mum then I am now. Hugs and kisses from us to you too!

Thanks Sonia...I try my best. :)

Hahaha, Wendy, looks like you have to make a fondant cake for your elder daughter as well. :)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks so much Anncoo! It's actually fun to play with fondant! Although it can tricky sometimes. :) No you cannot fondant in the fridge, it will melt away due to the moisture in there. I usually "air-dry" it in aircon room. :)

Thanks Janice for dropping by. :)

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Reese. :P Now you make such lovely fondant cakes too...might is probably not as pro as yours. :P I do hope I can make some bread too...maybe start the proofing tonight, tomorrow morning can bake some. Wish me luck! ;)

Quinn, you are too humble, your cake is always like a piece of art. The way you decorate and plate them sometimes...always an artistic touch. Again, like I said, I wish I am a better mum then I am now...making a cake is just a tiny part of my responsibility.

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks Hearty Bakes! Welcome to my blog. :) Love your sweet little baking blog too. :)

Thanks Ann! It's been so long since we hear from you...hope everything is well. Glad that you are free to start blogging again. :) Come by again when you are free. :D

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Thanks so much neyeeloh. :)

Thanks pigpigscorner. ;) Haha...actually when I compare my fondant cakes with some of them pro bakers...it is indeed very simple.

Pei-Lin said...

Happy belated 7th birthday to your DD!!! Sorry for such a late birthday wish ...

Aiya ... The fondant figurines & everything are good enough for me loh ... Alamak, if you're talking down on yourself like this, I dunno where I should hide myself then ... Malu-malu ... I don't even know how to work with fondant! Argh!

Yes, be amazed at ourselves! Oftentimes, we do things beyond our expectations and unplanned!

Honey Bee Sweets said...

Hi Pei-lin,
No...I bet you will do a much better job then me if you start playing with fondant. :) You have such attention to detail and your artistic touch in all your food! When I compare mine with those wedding cake bakers...mine is like child's play larr. ;P Anyway, I always enjoy playing with fondant...hopefully can improve more in the future. :)