The fabulous people over at Renshaw Baking sent me the most amazing package full of their baking goodies to test out a few weeks ago. I was brimming with ideas and couldn't wait to get started.
First of all I hit Pinterest to get some inspiration for how to decorate successfully with fondant icing. My plan was to make two batches of cupcakes, and decorate them with elaborate icing decorations - for two very special birthdays - my friend Alison turning 62, and my husband's nan who was turning 94!!
First things first I baked the cakes - chocolate sponge with dark chocolate centre cupcakes, and plain vanilla cupcakes. I iced the chocolate cakes with homemade chocolate cream cheese frosting, and made a plain vanilla frosting with my homemade vanilla extract for the vanilla cupcakes.
I went for a pink and green theme - as these are Liam's Nan's favourite colours - I also knew I wanted to incorporate cats and crafts somewhere - as they are both important things to the birthday ladies. I coloured the vanilla frosting a very light green, and then set to work making my decorations using the fabulous ready to roll icing packs that Renshaw had sent me.
Co-ordinating my icing with apron, as you do!
Stamping out little flowers from my Renshaw icing...
Icing flowers everywhere!
I used a silicone leaf mat to print leaf shapes onto icing, and then carefully cut them out. Painstaking job!
I curled some of the leaves before they dried to make them look a little more realistic.
Next I marbled together two shades of pink icing - and then used a small star cutter to cut out these cute little stars!
Next I combined two shades of brown and yellow fondant to create this tortoiseshell effect - I then pushed the fondant into a silicone button mat (which I bought ages ago to make chocolate "buttons") - this was very fiddly but totally worth it as I was so pleased with how the buttons turned out.
Next I made a super special single cupcake for my friend Alison, who is cat-mad...I used inspiration from my Pinterest board to create a cat face using fondant. This was pretty tricky, and so I'm glad I had only decided to make one of these, otherwise I'd have been chained to the kitchen for hours longer! I was really pleased with how this little fella turned out...
I was super-chuffed with my finished cakes, especially as it was my first time using fondant to decorate cupcakes. I don't usually go in for highly decorated bakes, and instead to try to concentrate on the quality of the bake and flavours, but on this occasion it was really nice to get über-creative and have a play.
My finished flower cakes
Chocolate cupcakes decorated with Renshaw icing flowers.
Buttons and stars cake!
Marble stars cake
The Renshaw products were so fun to work with, all the colours are really even and so vibrant. The ready to roll fondant is lovely and soft and malleable, which makes it a pleasure to mould. I especially loved the effect I got when marbling colours together. I'm looking forward to coming up with fun ways to use the rest of my Renshaw stash!
If you'd like to get your hands on your own Renshaw stash of goodies, then I have one to giveaway to a lucky reader - to enter just use the Gleam App below.
Good Luck Everyone!
And Happy Baking!
Mrs B
xxx
WIN a Renshaw Baking Hamper
Each year we get to October and I'm not sure make a big deal about it or not. But I think I would make a cake for the day that Our Sidekick has been living with us for four years. It's imminent and kind of exciting but it's also kind of sad if that makes sense. So I think I would make cake but I'd ask him first if he's happy with that before I spring it on him and it upsets him
ReplyDeleteSomething for our Anniversary in November - I love Renshaw products - you did a great job lovely xx
ReplyDeleteI'd bake some Halloween cupcakes with my little ones! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI would make my own Birthday cake witch in Dec xx
ReplyDeleteI 'd bake a birthday cake for Dad...his birthday is mid december
ReplyDeleteI'd make some special Halloween themed cakes with my super talented sister in law for my neice and nephew x
ReplyDeleteI would really love to make a christmas cake for the family this year
ReplyDeleteChristmas biscuits x
ReplyDeleteI would make a chocolate anniversary cake for my Mum & Dad :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try a surprise polka dot cake
ReplyDeleteSome nice biscuits!
ReplyDeleteAShleigh
A big birthday cake for my daughter. :)
ReplyDeletewould have to be a banana cake with a couple of other flavourings
ReplyDeleteA Key Lime Pie....would love to try and get a bright green dessert!
ReplyDeleteI would bake some Banana loaf
ReplyDeleteMy husband's birthday cake x
ReplyDeleteAn 18th birthday cake for my daughter 😀
ReplyDeleteI would practice decorating cupcakes with my son.
ReplyDeletecongratulations cupcakes for a new baby
ReplyDeleteA house moving cake for my daughter
ReplyDeletecupcakes with my grandaughter
ReplyDeleteSon's 1st birthday cake!
ReplyDeleteI'd bake some fancy cupcakes :)
ReplyDeleteA Birthday cake for big man
ReplyDeleteI think some pretty cupcakes!
ReplyDeleteI'd bake my Grandad's birthday cake!
ReplyDeleteI'd attempt to make my Mum's 60th birthday cake! Your cupcakes look delicious! :)
ReplyDeleteJen xx
http://www.kitsch-n-sync.com
Red Velvet Cake xx
ReplyDeleteI would make some nice cupcakes for my husband, its our anniversary soon
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to attempt to bake the cat cupcake you have made!!! WOW weldone super cute, My little ones would love to help me bake that :)
ReplyDeletea cake.
ReplyDeleteSome cupcakes with my kids
ReplyDeleteSome cupcakes with my kids
ReplyDeletemy sons birthday cake!
ReplyDeleteI really want to teach myself how to decorate properly, my eldest little girl wants a Hello Kitty birthday cake so I have 4 months to learn!
ReplyDeleteA birthday cake for my son's 3rd birthday! He wants a minecraft one!
ReplyDeleteI would bake some halloween cakes
ReplyDeleteI would bake some spooky halloween cupcakes :)
ReplyDeleteI would use it for baking my sons birthday cake X
ReplyDeleteWould make my children's teachers there Christmas treats
ReplyDeleteMarble cake
ReplyDeleteMarble cake
ReplyDeleteIt's my twin daughters 17th birthday in November so I could surprise (or horrify them) and make a cake instead of buying one x
ReplyDeletecakes with a Winter design with my little girl
ReplyDeleteA Halloween themed Birthday cake for my friend : )
ReplyDeleteOur start to think about our christmas cake x
ReplyDeletesome xmas cupcakes :)
ReplyDeleteCarrot cake, my favourite
ReplyDeleteWell I've got 2 of the kids birthdays before Christmas so birthday cakes and cupcakes :)
ReplyDeletei'd try and copy those cute flower cupcakes you made!
ReplyDeleteSome Christmas tree biscuits.
ReplyDeleteI'd let my husband decide....he's the pro baker in our house lol!
ReplyDeleteI think I'd make cupcakes with my daughter.
ReplyDeleteMuffins
ReplyDeleteBirthday cakes - lots of birthdays coming up in November, December and January! (HELP!)
ReplyDeletehmm something easy to introduce my 3 year old to baking :)
ReplyDeleteI'd make my hubby an amazing superhero birthday cake and really go to town with the decorations :)
ReplyDeleteId give it all to my friend, it's her birthday coming up and she's a very talented cake dectorator so I'd leave it to her!!
ReplyDeleteA cake for my mum.
ReplyDeleteI guess I would have to do a xmas cake for the family
ReplyDeleteChristmas cake and decorated cookies x
ReplyDeleteA big chocolate cake
ReplyDeleteCupcakes, my three love making cupcakes x
ReplyDeleteI'd like to make some cake pops first. I haven't made any in a while, so I can try out some different designs for Christmas
ReplyDeleteI need to do more practicing for my sister in laws wedding cake so chocolate cake for her
ReplyDeleteI'd bake a party cake for my daughter and her friends.
ReplyDeleteA celebratory cake for my sister, who is due a baby boy the end of November!
ReplyDeleteI would start my Christmas cake
ReplyDeleteI would let my son decide as we love baking together. Something with chocolate in no doubt!
ReplyDeleteI need to make my dad a 90th birthday cake for end of November! He loves cricker so guess I need to model a footballer, but this is a challenge as they are hard to get to stand up!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing stash! And I am really impressed with your ideas, and they look great :) I would make some Christmas themed cakes for the village school fayre!
ReplyDeleteI would bake a Christmas cake. In previous years the cake itself has been OK but let down by the decorating, so hopefully this year will be better
ReplyDeleteSome biscuits or cupcakes with my little girl - she loves baking with me :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd make a nice Christmas cake for the kids :D
ReplyDeleteChocolate guiness cake
ReplyDeleteI would make a Christmas cake as not bothered too much before but this year i would like a traditional Christmas
ReplyDeleteA rainbow cake for our little girls upcoming birthday. Amazing giveaway! Thank you for the chance :-)
ReplyDeleteI would love to make some caked for the family ♥♥
ReplyDeleteMy mums 50th birthday cake x
ReplyDeletecupcakes as gifts for my family and friends
ReplyDeleteCupcakes. I love them with my tea.
ReplyDelete