Sunday, December 14, 2008

Confection Connections

I can remember in the 1950's my mother would go off to cake class and come home with a doll cake, almost too beautiful to eat. We learned from her how to make roses and pansies and those piped shell borders.

Looking to pass on some of the traditions and an alternative to iPod and YouTube for the grandbabies - well, they're not babies anymore - I found a young woman who was willing to come to the house for a weekend afternoon and we started in home cake decorating classes for Hayley and Jennifer. We've added a third, Kolby, and I can say these chicklets have the best time decorating, drinking Martinellis, and gabbing away.


For November, they used leaves gathered from the yard - washed, of course - and molded fall colored white chocolate leaves, made caramel and chocolate acorns dipped in chocolate sprinkles, and put together a striking fall cupcake wreath.


Yesterday was Christmas theme with ornament cupcakes. They learned a trick to frost the cupcake smoothly with a spreader cut from a plastic water bottle.


Gorgeous, aren't they. The tops are dipped in colored sugar. Um-yes, about 1000 calories/cupcake.

We awarded first place to the ornate string of lights, made by the teacher, Teresa, second place to the plaid ornament for design, and third to the string of lights on white background, for its simple elegance.


The best part...eating the result, of course.

10 comments:

Pat said...

Whaddya mean, "we learned" how to decorate cakes from our parental unit? I didn't learn how to decorate (or cook) anything - hence my ineptitude in the kitchen, perhaps?

The cupcakes are too lovely to eat!

Katharine said...

Yeah, sometimes the youngest gets left behind, but that's no excuse for the cooking part.

Anonymous said...

The cupcakes look beautiful

Anonymous said...

Wow! They are beautiful! Cupcakes are so much fun. Maybe Pat can make some for our Valentine's Day contest.....hint, hint.

Sonnjea said...

What a fun idea! And delicious too, I bet.

Katharine said...

Lovely, beautiful, delicious, but mostly fun... fun for the kids and great fun for their Ouma to watch their innocent, creative excitement.

Pat said...

Don't hold your breath, Joan! :)

Anonymous said...

Those Christmas cupcakes are just beautiful! Wow, I'm impressed.

Katharine said...

Pam,
I am thanking you on behalf of my granddaughters and their friend, Kolby, who are as beautiful as the cupcakes.

sprinkles said...

Fantastic idea to make a fall wreath, I loved it and so have included it in our 25 fabulous fall idea at http://partycupcakeideas.com/25-fabulous-autumn-fall-cupcakes/