Happy Birthday Babygirl! Cake and Photos!

Yesterday was my daughter's 3rd birthday and she absolutely loved the cake I've been nervous about. I am not the most artistically creative person, but I've learned SO much about cake decoration and fondant that I only want to get better! I also appreciate the cake industry more than ever!

So what did I do? In this post, you can see what recipe I used for the marshmallow fondant and how I did it.

Wednesday I used Ina Garten's Butter Icing recipe, then colored it pink with Wilton gel dyes sent to me from a friend.

For the cakes, I cut the tops even then frosted cut side, then added the other cake cut side down; then I spread a thin layer of icing and put in a fridge for about 20 minutes.

I cut,  no ripped, pieces of parchment to put under the cake so the cake stand would not get messy.

While that was in the fridge, I asked my daughter what color she wanted her fondant to be. She wanted pink, but then was serious about golden yellow! So I kneaded the gel dye into the fondant which took about 7 minutes. Once kneaded, I put the fondant back into in a plastic bag. I added a final layer of icing to the cake, and made sure it was smooth as possible.

 I put it to the side, sprinkled some cornstarch on my counter and  with a rolling pin I then rolled the fondant out until it was about 16 by 16. It rolled out nicely! With the help of my husband, I quickly put the fondant on the cake and gently smoothed it on. Once it was on nicely, I cut the ends.

The thing I am most sad about is that I didn't really decorate it. I am not so artistic, but my children thought it was pretty and I was told that's all that matters. I would do this again a million times over! I am so happy to make it from scratch, because it tasted lovely!

Not so creative I know :)

She thoroughly loved the cake and even snook some bites. By the crooked "T" you can see a big gash she made. Hehe. She helped me with the fondant, so I guess she wanted to taste test it. 

Some photos from the party, too. 

Didn't want to hear us singing

Princess of the table

Cake sliced and dished. My friend's daughter were excited  about waiting the fondant. It was tasty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        I did it!! Oh one of the children's friends gave e a candy accessory ;) I didn't go crazy....close, though!

My First Fondant Adventure- Pt. 2

Babygirl

In 2 more days my darling daughter will be 3, THREE, drei, tres, THREE! I can not believe time has flown by so quickly. She's my darling only lil babygirl, full of personality, laughter, and er dirt.  This year, as I said here, I am working with fondant for the first time ever. And I am super nervous.

I started the fondant THREE weeks in advance- told ya I was nervous. I surfed the web, looked at every single baking forum, youtube video, blog I could find about this sweet, yet intimidating dough. I talked to a few friends about it as well! I found marshmallow fondant to be the easiest and one of the tastiest to make from scratch. There are numerous of marshmallow fondant recipes and  I used the one from the Wilton's website. Since I am coloring the fondant, I did not use a clear vanilla flavoring, just the pure stuff, so there is a slight off-white color. It tastes great and the soon-to-be birthday girl approves!

                                                                    Some photos!

Ingredients

Rubbing the table down with Crisco. This is a messy sticky process!

Water and marshmallows from the microwave

Stirring in sugar. SIFT SUGAR FIRST!!!!! I did not and paid for it. 

Lots of kneading. Lots of sugar and Crisco to prevent stickiness.

Sweetest dough ever! I am proud. But I still have to color it and put it on the cake! 

I wrapped the fondant in plastic wrap and then in an airtight plastic bag then did three Hail Marys over it. Ok one of those three things aren't true. Take a guess ;)

Last weekend my good friend from the states sent me all kinds of Wilton Gel dyes, so in the next post I will show that process as well. I am so nervous- eek!

Yesterday, my daughter helped prep her cake. I used a Butter Cake Recipe from my Martha Stewart's Cooking School Cookbook. I made this cake last winter and forgot a whole stick of butter and the cake was STILL moist. So I had to try it again, and I did not forget the stick of butter this time!

buttering the pans

Now parchment

flouring pans

Refrigerated, ready to be decorated.

Too early to make a wish, baby. Well unless you're wishing mommy doesn't mess up the cake!!

Tomorrow is the big decorating day. Then Thursday is her birthday!!