I heart cake

I guess you could say my goal is to make everything, or a slight variation on everything in Milk - my new favorite pastry book by Christina Tosi. Have all of the recipes worked out well...ummm, not exactly. However, it is not because I don't know what I am doing, I SWEAR! Haven't figured out just what is going wrong yet. But, cakes tend to back over the pans...some of the cookies burn, but regardless, I am trying out all of these wacky recipes!

Here is the Banana Hazelnut Cake. Well, minus the hazelnuts and crap. I couldn't handle the 7 recipes in the 1 recipe the day I made this, so it was a bit simpler.

And here is a picture where you can see the crazy layers! I love it!!! I will probably never make a normal cake again.

The most organized mess.

I got a new book! I am SO excited! Along with everyone else who got this book & caused Amazon to be out of stock on 6 inch cake rings...who knew?! Christina Tosi is kind of like a celebrity & her book rocks. Check it out here.

I made the Birthday Cake (pictured above) with a little trouble, but it came together in the end. This truly is a glorified Funfetti Cake...like from a box...just WAY better. Because these recipes in the book are like recipes with recipes inside of recipes...inside of recipes...I took the idea, with the cake recipe  & simplified it by using my own butter cream recipe. I'm not a production kitchen, much to many people's surprise! And I have to say, it turned out well.

This cake looks like a giant mess! But, then once you look closer, you realize it really is a neat, organized mess in a perfect 6 inch circle. Then, you get to thinking, how the hell do you do that?! Acetate stripes & 6 inch cake rings. It really isn't as tough as it may seem!

Anyhow, this was the first idea I made from this book & I cannot wait to make more awesome messes! Check out the book...seriously.

Hummingbird Cake...I don't get the name...

I made this cake (http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Hummingbird-Cake-1000070102) for my co-worker/friend's birthday. Oooops, she is on vacation all week! Ha.

It has been over a month since I last posted something, which means it has been a REALLY long time since I have made something worth posting about! Maybe I made a lot of ice cream, but they all look the same for the most part. This is why I was SO happy to make a frekain' cake!!!

I followed the recipe above to a 'T' and everyone at work LOVED it. Then I added some dehydrated pineapple chips, a white chocolate truffle dusted in gold & gold sprinkles to make it extra fancy! Cause that is how I roll, people. I was also pretty thrilled with my 'ruffled' frosting technique. I hadn't had the opportunity to try it before now. Love. Next time...I am going to add a gradient of color to the frosting. Cannot wait!

Anyhow...make this cake! I promise you will like it. 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are just ugly cupcakes...

A slight banana kick? I think yes. Everything I have made recently has included bananas. Not sure why. But bananas are awesome. Possibly because of the high carb content...mmmmmm...

I wanted to make something that seemed breakfast-y for people at work. I mean, is it odd I am trying to constantly give people cupcakes, ice cream, cakes, cookies at like 9AM? Ehhh, whatever! Call it a cupcake and people think it is fancy, call it a muffin and people think it is breakfast!

Recipe? Click here. I added an oat crumble, too. And then sugar & butter. Why not?! Ugly can taste good.

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

Cookies & Cream Frosting with a chocolate cake, studded with white chocolate chips. Really, this butter cream rocked. And was super easy.

I used my standard recipe (which is in previous posts), but used just over 1/2 of the butter called for. Then, I crushed Oreos, mixed them in and let it sit over night. This way the Oreos softened and I was able to get a smooth frosting that was nice and pipe-able. No chunks! Chunks are bad!

Peanut Butter Raspberry Cupcakes

My mini obsession shown again through baked goods. A mini on a mini.What is not to love here?!

This was a mini cupcake I made for a Locks of Love event - which is why they had to be pink (and the next post, there is blue). So, what is this? A peanut butter cake, soaked with raspberry sauce, topped with a raspberry butter cream & a mini reeses pb cup topped with the butter cream to make it look like a mini cupcake. Have I done this before? Ya, but different flavors. So, it is new kinda.

Lilikoi Chiffon Cupcakes & Mini Cakes

So I made these a while ago & I am lame & seem to have no time to do anything but work, make edible things & take picture. Then........one day post them here! LAME. Anyhow, this was a request for a birthday for a co-worker's son. Passion fruit curd, a passion fruit scented chiffon cake & some lighter than usual butter cream.

I had to research a little, because apparently this is something that is very popular in Hawaii. Usually a layered cake, filled with passion fruit, then frosted with a whipped cream. Knowing whipped cream wouldn't hold up, I decided the butter cream would have to work. I just added a lot less butter. It worked, I think.

Then, because I am obsessed with miniature things, I decided to make mini layered cakes like the actual Lilikoi Chiffon Cake. Not knowing how well it would work, I still make the cupcakes. And...I was very happy the mini cakes turned out! They were actually smaller than the cupcakes! How funny?! I am easily amused.

An insanely picture heavy post, because I think the mini cakes are cute!

My iPhone was bigger than the mini cake.

If you are interested in this recipe, use this for the curd, but replace lemon juice with passion fruit puree. Then, use google Chiffon Cake. You will get a decent one. They are all pretty much the same. Just be sure to fold the eggs whites in carefully & use cream of tarter! Don't leave it out! Fun tip - use a balloon whisk to fold! It is like folding with 10 spatulas at once!