This post is long overdue. In fact I planned to have it published for St. Patrick’s day hoping some of my readers will be inspired to make similar cakes. Things however do not always pan out the way we plan. I hope to remember to bring this post to the front next year around St. Patrick’s day. Meanwhile if you are into all things Irish, you may like my idea of making a cake in form of a shamrock.
A friend of mine has asked me to bake a cake for her daughter’s birthday. My friend’s daughter was whose birthday coincides with St. Patrick’s Day. I decided to bake a cake that will look like a four leaf shamrock.
A lucky shamrock cake can be very easily done using a small heart cake pan. If you have a set of three heart cake pans for a tier cake- use the smallest one.
You will need to bake four heart shape cakes, then turn them round so all the bottom of each hear almost touch each other.. The stem part can be baked in a simple rectangular bread pan.
About two weeks ago I made a cake for a friends niece’s 15th birthday. The cake was decorated with white and dead daisies and a red ribbon made out fondant. The flowers on the cake topper were made out of fondant as well, accented with red tulle. The cake required 89 white daisies, 60 small red daisies, 20 flowers for the cake topper along with about 8 feet of fondant ribbon.
It took me about 5 hours to make the flowers and the cake topper. To bake, assemble and decorate the cake required another 4.5 hours.
Although fondant cakes look great, the assembling and decorations needs to be done the last minute as fondant can not be refrigerated.
During last three weeks I have attended a class at a friend’s candy and baking supply store. During the class we learned how to make Gum Paste flowers. I have attended Ann’s classes in the past. Working with gum paste is some what similar to working with fondant. However gum paste is more “forgiving”. Gum Paste once hardened, gum paste flowers can last for much longer time- for months if needed.
During the class we learned ho to make roses, cherry blossoms, baby’s breath, leafs, stephanotis, violets, forget me not flowers and daisies.
I was pleasantly surprised how realistic the gum paste flowers look. One of the trick I have learned is to make the petals for your flowers as thin as possible- it adds that extra realistic look.
Can’t wait for the follow up class where we will learn more advanced flowers. If you leave in New Jersey, consider attending one of the classes at Chocolate Belles in Brick. You won’t regret it!
