This Year's Big Cake Project - Final

The big cake, of course, wasn't a big cake at all. It was over 100 cupcakes, divided up by display to honour three different William Morris walllpaper patterns. You can read more about the plan here. The event was at University College on the University of Toronto campus. Laura and James's display was so striking. Someone said it looked like the William Morris cupcakes had been put into a Frank Lloyd Wright house. I sort of see that. It went well, and we're done for another year. Of course... plans are already afoot for next year's project. Thanks, J and L!

This Year's Big Cake Project, Part Three (if you Count my Blethering)

Day two of the cupcake project... This was baking and finessing of decorations.

I used most of the three jars of Soma cocoa powder. It's deep, dark and mysterious. And I was mesmerized as I sifted. Or maybe that was the shiny bowl. Or lack of sleep. Anyway, I was happy. Finding four opened bags of flour in my baking cupboard made me wonder what the hell I get up to sometimes. You see James's hand as he brought the cupcake toppers to life with painted detail.

The cupcakes were baked in one day (120 of them). Then ganached (Callebaut 51% for a change) and then frosted. I barely had room for them.

The final result will be posted tomorrow.

Bit of a Blether

OMG not enough room in kitchen for supplies. So many eggs. And butter. Icing sugar. Granulated sugar. Heavy cream. Chocolate... Callebaut this time, the 51%... eep! National Theatre out earlier than expected but still, 10 p.m. and I need to sleep.. lack of sleep = return of old nemesis. Powerpoint! OMG signage! Cupcakes... okay, all day Saturday. Laundry must be done tomorrow night. While finishing Powerpoint. OMG 400" of bronzey ribbon. That's lunchtime. Fuck. 120 cupcakes on Saturday? Yes.. baking. Then ganache. Then frosting. Small kitchen... ARGH! Shouldn't have eaten fries. Why??? Ok. powerpoint, laundry, cupcakes, signage, update web stuff. WORK. Oh yes, that too. Fuck. BUY RIBBON! Ok, now I have to sleep, so - you know... MAKE LIST!

This Year's Big Cake Project - Update

Where are we with this year's Big Cake Project?

Well, first off, for those of you who don't know, it's always in honour of William Morris's birthday (1834 - 96). This link will show you previous year's efforts.

Secondly, this year's big cake project isn't a big cake at all. It's 99 little cakes... 99 triple chocolate cupcakes each featuring one of three elements pulled from three William Morris wallpaper patterns: Marigold, Acanthus and Willow (a blog favourite, and it was a cake all on its own in 2010.)

Each cupcake is made of devil's foodcake, topped with ganache and swirled with chocolate frosting. On top of that will be the little Morris-inspired sugar tile. Each will sit in a little box made of paper printed with a shrunk rendition of its wallpaper inspiration. My co-cake-creator Laura has been brilliant at sourcing and resizing and testing a box pattern. They take a long time to create but are very satifsying. Each box is lined on the bottom to give sturdiness and to soak up any cakey butteryness that soaks through the cupcake paper holders.

Below you see us working on boxes, Laura flooding the willow leaf outlines (more finessing and detail work will come later this week), the outlines of the marigolds and acanthus leaves, and finally trying to figure out how to display all these cupcakes. We're thinking of blocking them all together (as opposed to mingling them). It will be a more bold design.

Stay tuned!

 

Comments Word Verification Back On, and Smeared with Chocolate

I'd turned it off because it sucks, but what sucks more is having endless spam comments. Sigh.

On a happier note - chocolate! Yeah. Watch this space. There's LOTS OF CHOCOLATE HAPPENING.

It's That Time Again... Cake Time!

Yes, it's cake time, the annual creation...L, J and I met for an early dinner and came up with a plan.

Wondering what it's all about?

Check here for 2012,

... 2011...
... 2010 ...
... 2009...
... 2008...
...2007...
... and before that...

Click here for all the cake decorating fun and games that this blog has witnessed.

And stay tuned. In a few weeks we'll be starting work.