DIY Cakes?

Photo courtesy of http://www.weddingfads.com/

There is one easy way to have a DIY cake. Instead of having a traditional wedding cake, go for several layers cakes displayed on tiered cake stands. You can rent or buy these stands and put a traditional layer cake that is easy to make at home and easy to transport as well. You can buy decorations for you cakes that make them look like you are a pro, or consider a simple easy to do yourself decoration. The cake stands shown are available on http://www.weddingfads.com/. The decorations on these cakes are available at the same site.

Cupcake Topiary Tree

Photograph courtesy of Food Network Magazine/Taken by Tara Donne

Considering using cupcakes in lieu of cake at your wedding? Why not have them do double duty as decorations as well? This Cupcake Topiary Tree was featured in Food Network Magazine in their May 2010 issue.

To make your Cupcake Topiary Tree you'll need:

1 Terracotta pot

Floral Foam

12 inch floral foam ball

12 inch dowel

Brown Paint

Pink Paint

24 Mini cupcake liners

Straight Pins

Toothpicks

Directions:

Fill the terracotta pot with floral foam, and insert a 12 inch dowel or thick stick in foam. If you're using a dowel you'll need to paint it brown before placing it. Paint a 12 inch floral foam ball pink and let dry. This can take an hour, be sure it's all the way dry. Push the ball down onto the dowel that's already been anchored into the pot. Using straight pins and cupcake papers to plot your cupcake design, then place real cupcakes in each spot removing the pins and papers used for plotting as you go. Attach cupcakes using 3 toothpicks poked halfway into the bottom of each cupcake and press them into the ball.

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Wedding Cake Recipe

Butter Cake
This is the classic recipe that is used to create tiered confections for wedding cakes.
Butter cake has a firm, moist texture that makes it perfect for tiered designs.
The almond extract is optional but if you are making a wedding cake it is a very traditional additive.
You could also add extra vanilla, rum flavoring, cognac or brandy, orange blossom water or rosewater instead of the almond flavoring if you prefer.

1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
3/4 teaspoon Almond Flavoring (optional)
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray pans with vegetable pan spray or grease pans.

In mixer bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Mix in vanilla and almond (or other) flavorings. Mix in flour with baking powder and salt.
Add flour mixture alternately with milk, starting with the flour.
Pour into prepared pans. Bake until toothpick comes out clean. Cool ten minutes in pan. Loosen sides and remove.

Cool completely before decorating.

Makes 7 1/2 cups batter which will give you either two 8" round cakes or one 6" and one 9" round cake.

This Article is brought to you by YummyArts.com

Detailed Wedding Cakes

These two wedding cakes have the most intricate details, one in the ever-poplular black and white, the other in a spring time yellow.  Photos courtesy of http://www.artesanalsweets.com/.

Unusual Sweets from Artesanal Sweets

Individual Raspberry Cheesecake

Photos courtesy of http://www.artesanalsweets.com/

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

Photos courtesy of http://www.artesanalsweets.com/

Individual Chocolate Gateaux

Photos courtesy of http://www.artesanalsweets.com/

Individual Lemon Bundt Cake

Photos courtesy of http://www.artesanalsweets.com/

Smoothing the Icing on Your Wedding Cake

If you're using buttercream icing and want it to look like fondant, wait until the buttercream frosting gets a 'crust' on it, then just take a plain white paper towel (like Viva or Bounty), lay the inside that was closest to the roll on top of the cake, and smooth it with your hand or fondant smoother.  Then do the same with the sides.  Voila! Perfect, smooth icing on your wedding cake, ready to be decorated!  Thank you Debbie for the info! 

Pretty Cupcake Wrappers

All photos courtesy of http://www.fancyflours.com/

This web site has some fabulous cupcake wrappers for your diy wedding cupcakes.  http://www.fancyflours.com./  Prices vary, but all of them seem well worth the price.  Note that prices are for different numbers of cupcake cups depending on the style. 

Butterflies To Decorate Your Cupcakes, Cookies or Wedding Cake

Thirteen 8" X 11" wafer paper sheets printed with 155 assorted butterfly designs in hues of blue and lavender,orange and pink, green and earth. Sizes range from 2" to 3" wide. Decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies or any edible product with these beautiful butterflies. Apply to buttercream, fondant or royal icing covered cakes/cookies/or cupcakes. Wafer Paper is edible and is a starch based confection, made from potato starch, water and vegetable oil. All ink is food safe and edible. If you are making cookies, spread a thin layer of light corn syrup to the back of the paper and then apply to the cookie. To ensure a smooth finish, turn the cookie over, wafer paper side down, on a piece of parchment paper for approximately 30 minutes. To completely dry, turn the cookie design side up for 12 hours. You can add a 3 dimensional effect by adding small sugar pearls, dragees, sugar decorations or edible glitter. To adhere, just use a small dot of clear piping gel. To adhere to cupcakes and cakes just use a dot of clear piping gels to hold the butterfly in place. Information and photos courtesy of http://www.fancyflours.com/ where you can purchase these beautiful butterflies! Butterflies All Hues in Set $46.00.

Making Individual Cakes - A DIY Project

All Photos courtesy of William Sonoma

Interested in making individual cakes for each of your guests for either your wedding or a shower you are hosting? Try these great cake pans from William Sonoma.  The pan they sell has two different cakes shown above which you can decorate to match your color scheme.  See your craft or party supply store if you're using them as favors for guests to take home for some convenient boxes.

Unique Cake Stand Ideas

Square vases aren't just for centerpieces! Use them as supports for your cake! Fill with a variety of flowers, lights or items of your choice!  http://www.save-on-crafts.com/ has great prices for the vases no matter what you are planning on using them for!

Use 12(or more) of them to make a cake stand -place some floralytes in the middle to light it. Place your cake on a sheet of glass and place on top. Design idea only,vases do not come with flowers or lights.

(Unless otherwise noted photo and craft ideas are courtesy of http://www.save-on-crafts.com/. )

Beautiful Wedding Cakes from the Pros

Photos Courtesy of: Cheryl Kleinman cakes / Carlos Bakery cakes

Photos Courtesy of: Jim Smeal Wedding Cakes / La Tulipe Cakes

 Photos Courtesy of: Carlos Bakery / Confetti Cakes