Cake Topper For Geeks

OK, so you're a video game-a-holic and so is your husband to be...what better cake topper than Zelda and the love of her life, Link.  I have to admit, while not a huge gamer, Zelda is one of my favorite games, not quite so into it that I'd put a Zelda and Link cake topper on my wedding cake, but I'm sure there are some gamers out there who would love this.  For the rest of you, I thought it might at least offer some relief from all the intensity of wedding planning--face it, when you're arguing over things like napery or cake flavors with your mom, you can show her this and swear YOU MUST have this on the top of your cake as well as have your bridesmaids dressed in green and carrying gold flowers or show her the Triforce cake--bet she caves! So while personally, I'm not planning a wedding with Zelda and Link on my cake, I thought it might offer some light relief!

Would You Call This Cheesecake?

While this cake is made of brie, it's not exactly what I'd call cheesecake! But it's sure to be a hit with all your guests.  This cake, courtesy of Southern Living, is made from wheels of brie and is a perfect centerpiece for a shower or also works as a grooms cake. Can you say EASY?  Add flower accents and serve with baguettes or your favorite crackers. 

If you don't want to make it for a wedding, consider using it for holidays and making it a Christmas tree, decorate with evergreens and cranberries.  You can always count on Southern Living to come up with great ideas--fortunately for us, this one is attractive and EASY! My favorite kind!

This pretty centerpiece made by stacking wheels of cheese and is drop-dead easy. Choose pretty flowers and herbs in season—lavender would be perfect. Serve with your favorite crackers or French bread rounds. The hardest part of this 'cake' is finding your favorite brie in the right size.  Consider ordering it from your local cheese store ahead of time and not leaving anything to chance.                                     

Cupcake Cuties--DIY Cupcake Kits Any DIY'er Can Handle

Cupcake Cuties

This Black & White Wedding Cupcake Kit is perfect for your wedding day or even a wedding shower.  Each Black and White Wedding Cupcake Kit Contains:

• (24) Black & White Wedding Cupcake Sleeves
• (48) Wedding Rings for Decorating
• (2) Ivory Sugar Pearls Shakers
• Easy to follow How-To decorating instructions and illustrations

To Order your cupcake cuties contact:

Cupcake Cuties™
466 Foothill Blvd. #200
La Canada, CA 91011
Tel: 877 62CUTIES (877-622-8843)

Email: info@cupcakecuties.com

Visit the Cupcake Cuites web site to see other designs to fit almost any occasion. 

Strawberries and Cake--All in One Bite! Plus a Giveaway Link!

(Just a heads up...I couldn't decide where to post this on my cake blog or my diy blog so it's in both places, if you already read it in my DIY Wedding Planning blog, just skip over, or enjoy the eye candy!)

As you may know from reading my blog I am hooked on strawberries--I eat them plain, use them in recipes, on recipes, and turn them into drinks--you name it, I've done it to or with strawberries! (Hmm..that sounded weird, but I think you know what I mean!) I found this recipe on Taste and Tell, a great cooking blog that you'll want to bookmark or follow so you don't miss any recipes they have! This recipe for Strawberry Shortcake Cake Bites not only tasted good it looked pretty as well!

I like cake bites for weddings or showers because they are so EASY! Easy to make, easy to eat...and face it, they just taste good. Not to mention being perfect as wedding favors or on a sweet table. As the writers at Taste and Tell note, some of them are just a little too sweet so sometimes I have to adjust the recipes to suit my taste buds or change the icing on them so they don't make my teeth hurt from the sweetness. So head over and take a look at the recipe for the Strawberry Shortcake Cake Bites, it's a perfect time of the year to make these, especially if you've just been strawberry picking and have lots of berries--this gives you something new to make with them!

Taste and Tell suggests a book all about cake bites called 101 Gourmet Cake Bites that they're running a giveaway for until August 12th, so get your chance for a free book--what could be better than free? So yet another reason to read their blog! (And enter their giveaway!)

All photos courtesy of Taste and Tell Blog

Belgian Chocolate Rose Covered Wedding Cakes.

Belgian chocolate wedding cakes -- what more could you ask for. No more dry pound cakes for a wedding if you order your cake from Fancy Nancy located in the United Kingdom.  Fancy Nancy created this gorgeous cake for Wedding Magazine! It's chocolate cake (YUM!) with sorbet colored roses--perfect for a spring/summer wedding.  Love the color combinations and I admit to being partial to chocolate cake for a wedding cake (or for anything else for that matter!)  For more gorgeous cakes from Fancy Nancy visit their web site.

If you're looking for a fall version, try this Fancy Nancy cake.  Again, flower covered and three tiered--delicious!  This is a Belgian Chocolate Rose cake covered entirely in handmade Belgian chocolate roses that Fancy Nancy made for a party celebrating the launch of "Bride Ideas and Frock-Ups," a book that every bride should read whenever they start taking themselves too seriously, by Sim Canetty Clarke, Amanda Lockhart and Susannah Frieze. The book is filled with beautiful photographs and witty anecdotes, stories and jokes, a great read for anyone, particularly if you are a potential bride and/or groom or if you deal with them day in and day out and need to laugh. 

Cupcake Cones and Other Things To Make You Lick Your Lips!

Martha Stewart Weddings offers brides this great idea on how to serve your cupcakes at your wedding.  Maybe your mom made a version of these for you when you had to take cupcakes to school for a class party, but this more sophisticated version is sure to please not only palates but the eye of all your guests.  Visit Martha's site for more ideas and the link on where to buy the cones.  Additional info on where she purchased sprinkles and nonpariels, as well as edible stars and hearts glitter.

Read more and get the recipe at Marthastewartweddings.com: Cupcake Ice Cream Cones. Martha even tells you where to buy something to hold the cones up on your sweet table! TY Martha!

Martha also provides a recipe for these ice cream cups made using a pizzele maker.  Love using new ways to serve the ice cream or sorbet at your wedding!  Recipe is here.

BTW, when you hit the page to purchase the mini-cones you'll find some great mini-phyllo shells in CHOCOLATE! OK, I know I can't be the only chocolate lover out there--has anyone ever used these? If you have I'd love to hear your ideas or if you'd like to guest post your experience using these just let me know. 

The web is a dangerous place for a chocolate lover--it gives me access to all sorts of chocolate I never knew existed before--past the lips... ah well, I know Weight Watchers would approve of these, if I only eat just one!  (which of course if the real trick for me with anything chocolate!)

Love Birds Top This Cake

In general I'm not a big fan of love birds at weddings or cake toppers on wedding cakes--a little too much for me, but this cake by Bobbette and Belle (located in Toronto, Canada) is an exception.  I saw it and fell in love with the creativity of it!  Bobbette and Belle made this cake for a Toronto wedding.  Lucky bride and groom!  Bet it tastes as good as it looks! Visit Bobbette and Belle's web site by clicking this link where you'll see they make this cake with other color schemes as well. 

California Brides--La Monarca Bakery Suggest Cake Bites For Your Wedding

Cake bites--are they taking the place of cupcakes at weddings and other special occasions?  Co-founder of La Monarca Bakery, Ricardo Cervantes thinks they will.  (Ricardo, I fell in love with just your name, add the cake bites and you have a customer for life!) He's so convinced he's serving them at his own upcoming wedding reception.  La Monarca offers them in a variety of different flavors including: fruit tarts, dark Mexican mocha cake, traditional puff pastry Napoleon, tres leches and caramel flan. They also offer less traditional wedding cakes like tiramisu and dulce de leche. So many sweets to choose from it is a hard decision, so don't waste time choosing, just serve your guests a selection from La Monarca.  Visit their web site at La Monarca Bakery where all the food is made from scratch--no mixes here, no preservatives, no lard, no artificial flavors--no wonder they taste so good!  The store was named after the Monarch butterfly--even it's boxes for it's goods are gorgeous.  La Monarca-a feast for your mouth and for your eyes!  Visit them soon if you are lucky enough to live in California near one of their stores!

Lacey Looking Cake

I love this black and white cake that I found on Real Simple's web site.  Black and white is one of the most popular wedding combinations for brides looking to make a personal statement.  This black and white lace confection may be on a site called Real Simple but it looks anything but simple!

This cake from Call Me Cupcake's site, also in black and white is not quite as inticate but would work well for a less fromal black tie wedding.  This cake was inspired by fabric and has the same look...clean but sophisticated. Be sure to visit both these sites to find even more great cakes to give you some inspiration for your own cake.

Let Them Eat Cupcakes

Cupcake Wrapture, Couture for Cupcakes published this great photo of cupcakes served at a wedding.  Their web site offers a variety of wraps for cupcakes to make your wedding day look like a designer baked everything!  See their blog for more great photos of cupcakes for your wedding or wedding shower.