Sunday Sweets: That Takes The Cake 2011

Ah, Austin. That sweet, funky town in the middle of a state that yearns for my death. I can actually feel its beady little state eyes glaring at me from here, waiting for me to fly over its borders so it can shoot down my plane with its state death ray. Or maybe make my spleen burst. Or - OR - maybe I'll just choke on a Texas peanut. But, I digress.

So, apparently, there's this "cake show" in Austin where bakers make cakes and show them. Which is why it's called a "cake show." And apparently, many of these cakes are freaking awesome. Let's take a look, shall we?

By Susie's Victorian Cakes

Wow.

No, seriously. Wow.

(You may have noticed by this point that I'm not all that "good" with "words" but I am "trying.")

Hey, look!

By Carley King

Yellow is my favorite color!

Ya know, what's most impressive to me is that these bakers actually left the relative safety of their own homes and, as far as I know, Texas did not kill a single one of them. Frankly, I'm amazed.

By Chris Suson Wingler

Green is my favorite color!

Sidenote: Can anyone confirm that there were, in fact, Official Texas State zombies roaming the streets outside the show? Just curious.

Ooooh...

By Top That! Cake Designs

I'm pretty sure those are daisies.


This next cake was part of the official Texas theme of the show:

By Ashlee Trotter

Which was death.


Wait. I'm being told that it actually wasn't death.

(Are you sure? It was in Texas, right?

Huh.)

Ok, apparently the theme was "Superheros."

Like this one:

By Kimberly Chapman

Great. Now I have the theme from "Batman" stuck in my head.

(I'm also not so good with "Superheros.")

He looks like he's ready to kill me. Clearly, he is from Texas.

By Cakes by Cassandra

Blue is my favorite color!

Speaking of blue, I've heard that smallpox is especially bad in Texas this time of year.

Look! Birds!

By Laura Finlay

So young. So angry. Darn that rap music.

The helmet is to prevent Texas bird flu.

And finally, the most awesome cake I've seen in quite some time:

By Susie's Victorian Cakes

Because, if you remember from up there ^, yellow is my favorite color!

Those elephants look so life-like! Like they're about to trample me.

Clearly, they come from dysfunctional families.

Or they're from Texas.

A special thanks to our Texas liaison, Kimberly Chapman. And hey, maybe next year Jen and I will be able to attend the show! (They rent out the Popemobile, right?)


Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.

Several of the above photographs courtesy of Lynn Moore of Flip Images.

Quick update: Thanks for the great comments today guys. For the record, Jen and I both agree that Texans are some of the kindest, most awesome people we have met. However, I've been to Alamo, Houston, Amarillo, Dallas and Austin and been sick, injured or hospitalized every time. But maybe it's just me... -j

Sunday Sweets to Put a Spring in Your Step

Today is the first day of Spring! Time to celebrate all the verdant vivaciousness of the season with a charming cornucopia of fabulous flowers!

Meaning lots of daisies.

Submitted by Katrina S. and made by Too Nice to Slice

Haha! Those really *are* daisies. Gotcha.

And here's a sweet spring shower of miniature daisies:

By Gail Watson Custom Cakes

Yellow and white are so cheerful and springy together, don't you think?

For this next one you might wonder why I'm showing you a shelf full of potted flowers...

Sub'd by Chris J., made by the Australian National Cake Decorators Association

...but believe it or not, those pots are cake, and the flowers are handmade from sugarpaste.

Of course, real flowers can be equally Sweet. Here's one of my favorites:

Baker unknown - anyone recognize it?

I love the colors! And that harlequin pattern is one of the smoothest I've ever seen.


And here's one of the best support columns I've ever seen:

Submitted by Promise W.; made by Sugarland

Gorgeous! I would guess it's made from gumpaste, so you could display it as a memento afterward. I love pieces like that; as a baker, it makes you feel your work isn't completely temporary.

[Update: Eagle-eyed reader Jim A. just pointed out the column is actually this resin cake stand. Now I feel silly. It's still a gorgeous cake, though!]

This one reminds me of ivory cameos:

By Nonpareils

The soft colors are dreeeamy.

This one, too, if you have topsy-turvy dreams:

Sub'd by Vanessa M., made by Ron Ben-Israel (?)

Or, if you're feeling a little blue:

Sub'd by Lauren S., made by Continental Pastries

Imagine the time it took to make each of those little flowers! And I love the textured icing here; sometimes the smoothness of fondant is just a little too modern.


And finally, let's go out with a bang.


Meaning more daisies.

By Sugar Creations

WANT.

I mean, I know this was for a pair of one-year-olds, but a thirty-something can have one, too, right?

Right?

Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.

Sunday Sweets: Double Dose

You're in for a treat today, guys; I've got a special double-feature Sweets for you!

First, a little luck o' the Irish:

By Debbie Does Cakes

Now that's a rockin' shamrock.

And these little clover cookies are pure gold:

By LilaLoa

I love the technique used for drawing the clovers: you drop three dollops of liquid green icing into the white, and then draw a pin or toothpick through to give them the classic heart shape. Aren't they just perfect?

This neck-less Leprechaun made me grin:

By Inspired by Cake

And I still have a hard time believing this one is actually cake:

Submitted by Snow W. and made by Cakes by Design

Of course, everyone knows the rainbow has to end in the pot of gold:

By For the Love of Cake


And here's some fondant-free fun:

By The Dairy Berry

This one, too!

Also by The Dairy Berry

Check out that "foam" on top: amazing!


And finally, a wee tiered beauty:

By Ava Sweet Cakes

SO. CUTE.

Ah, but we're not done yet! Since I haven't featured any Mardi Gras Sweets, here are a few masquerade beauties to make up for it:

By The Cake Mamas

Pretty paisley.

By Small Things Iced

Gooorgeous. And the mask and flower on top are sugar paste!


This one was spotted at the "That Takes the Cake Show" in Austin:

Photo by Amanda SG, made by Daniel Keadle

Such a cool design: it was split down the middle!

I always love color, but sometimes an all-white design really lets the detail shine through:

By Black Flour

Beautiful. The mask is also made from gumpaste, and would you believe those lower feathers are cut from rice paper?

And finally, hold on to your hats, 'cuz yes, this really is cake:

By Highland Bakery

There are no words. Just "WOW."


Hope you enjoyed your double dose of Sweets, all!

Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.

Seussical Sunday Sweets

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday last week, let's take a look at some Sweets that would make the good doctor proud.

Submitted by Katelyn P. and made by Violet Sweet Shoppe

Like we could start with anything but green eggs and ham. ;)

These are a few of my favorite Things:

By Marj J. of The Icing on the Cake

And check out the detail on these cupcakes:

Submitted by Kaity G. and made by Sift Cupcake and Dessert Bar


It only seems natural that a Seuss cake should defy the laws of gravity:

Sub'd by Wendy O., made by Kate of And Everything Sweet (hit the link for more pics)

By Karen's Specialty Cakes and Confections

And the famous Cat in the Hat's striped hat is almost synonymous with Dr. Seuss:

By Dessert Works

Look at that razor-sharp edge! That is some awesome icing work.

Here's the sweetest Seuss birthday cake I've ever seen:

By Christina of Creative Cake Designs

Look at that green balloon! And the hand-cut lettering! [swoon]


Here's another inspired by the same book:

Sub'd by Ashley C., made by Glenda's Good Witch Goodies

These colors are just gorgeous. I'm also stumped as to how the baker made the stripes. They don't look painted on, and I see no seams, so...? (Glenda, can you weigh in?)


Seuss is often credited with the whimsical and topsy-turvy style for cakes, and you can definitely see his influence on this wedding cake:

Photo found here, made by Mike's Amazing Cakes


Of course, I think nothing would delight Dr. Seuss more than a wedding cake that hangs upside down from the ceiling:

By Chrissie B. of Too Nice To Slice

WOW. Just when you thought you'd seen it all...

Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.

Update: We got a late entry today that was too good not to post.

By Cakes by Suzy

So cool!

Oscar's Sunday Sweets

In honor of the Oscars tonight, I've put together a collection of Sweets representing each of the top nominees for Best Picture.

[Opening envelope] And the nominees are...

The Fighter

By Palermo's Bakery

As Mal Reynolds would say: shiny.

Black Swan

By House of the Rising Cake

Just imagine a much darker, hallucinating cake counterpart lurking right outside of frame.

Toy Story 3

By Iced Over

Lots more detail and in-process shots here!

True Grit

By mrm71

Not the best photo, but check out the amazing details in the brick, nails, and rope:

The Social Network

Found via @zfarmville, baker unknown

Oh, like you use Facebook for anything else anyway.

127 Hours

By Mike's Amazing Cakes

Granted, I went a little abstract on this one. If you want a better fit (and have a reeeeally strong stomach), then you could always go with this cake instead. But don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

The Kids Are All Right

By Small Things Iced

Do Mr. Bump and Miss Giggles fit this title perfectly, or what? So cute!

The King's Speech

By Francesca

With cakes this gorgeous, it certainly is.

Inception

Made by Cory of Rosebud Cakes

Because Inception and Salvador Dali are a match made in heaven.
Or maybe just crazy dreams.


Happy Oscar-watching, everyone!

Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com.