Crossword Puzzle Cake

For Eric Larson

Eric Larson's lovely son Arthur came to me with the idea for this cake. It was his father's 60th birthday and he loves crossword puzzles. It originally only said "Happy Sixtieth Birthday Eric" but it seemed like it was missing more answers. So Arthur texted me other words that Eric is associated with like, being sarcastic, the love of his dog and coffee, and the fact that he's a grandfather. So, even though this might seem like it says "Happy Sarcastic Birthday Dog" -- it's still super appropriate. Arthur also explained to me that his parents are not big fans of fondant, so this was all iced by hand and hand-piped, a little more work, but it was definitely worth it!

Cake: Chocolate chunk raspberry cake with buttercream frosting.

Details: Black piping icing, blue piping icing

Beatles Cake

For Matthew Sanders

My friend Erika came to me and asked if I can make a Beatles-themed cake for her friend Matt's birthday. He's a huge fan and he has a tattoo of this very image, a silhouette of the famous Abbey Road cover, on his arm. We snuck into Erika's empty apartment and waited for him to come for his surprise birthday party -- 'twas a fun night!

Cake: Chocolate cake & brownie, vanilla frosting.

Details: White & black butter-cream fondant, black piping icing.

Save The Turtles Cake

For Gina Caputo

My dear sister, Gina, will be traveling to Greece this summer to live in a commune on the beach and "save the turtles." I decided to make her a comical cake of a turtle in distress. I apologize if you think it's in bad taste but come on, it's funny. He's on his back! And his friend can't help, he has such tiny arms! You have to admit, it has some charm to it. I may be the only one who thinks that.

Cake: Turtle cake (get it?) Chocolate chunk cake, chocolate icing, caramel icing, pecans.

Details: Green frosting, 8 Ring Dings, Rice Krispy Treats, brown mini M&M's, homemade chocolate fudge, caramel squares, chocolate piping, white & black piping icing.

Breast Cancer Awareness Cake

for Breast Cancer Awareness Walk 2010

The ladies walk for a cause, not for exercise, okay? However many calories they burned, they gained right back with this little gem. I was asked to make a Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon cake and somehow incorporate "boobies." This is what happened.

Cake: Fresh strawberry cake & chocolate chunk chocolate cake.

Details: Vanilla frosting, pink piping frosting.

Funfetti FOF Cake

(Fof is on the right.)

For Bryan Francis

Bryan Francis' birthday fell on the same day we were having a party at my apartment. So he so generously celebrated his birthday the night before, so he can attend our party, as well as all our friends. So I made him this cake. It's a somewhat impressionist drawing of his girlfriend, Stefanie Garcia, or "Fof" as we call her. She's awesome and stunningly beautiful. So making this cake version of her was a treat!

Cake: Funfetti cake with vanilla frosting and a layer of multi-colored chocolate chips inside.

Details: Black, red and yellow piping icing.

Everything Ashley Loves Cake

For Ashley Casparie

It was my best friend Ashley's birthday and even though I've been her friend for longer than 5 years, I have never been able to make her a cake. We were either apart, in school or abroad when it was her birthday. So, to make up for it, I made her a cake of EVERYTHING she has ever loved.

Including, but no limited to:

HER BED

Cigars

Toast

Tiny Pies

Candy Corn

Her Adidas Tracksuit

Mushrooms

Babies (she wants a boy)

Michael Buble tickets (she had requested as a present)

Sour Cream

Big Gulps

Cake: Chocolate chocolate chunk raspberry cake. White chocolate vanilla frosting. With a layer of fresh raspberries inside. White fondant blanket.

Details:

2 giant white chocolate bars. 4 vanilla cookie straws.

Candy Corn

Baby, mushroom, tickets, tracksuit: multi-colored fondant.

Toast: fondant, one yellow Starburst

Big Gulp: Rice Krispy Treats, fondant, sugar candy letters, vanilla cookie straw.

Sour Cream: Chocolate chip muffin, fondant, black piping icing.

1 bubble-gum cigar

1 tiny pumpkin pie

Bounce House Cake

For Chaz Petruzzi

Chaz, my nephew, had his 5th birthday party at a place called Bounce U. It was a UNIVERSITY of bounce houses. And pizza. Pretty much the coolest birthday party ever. My sister RoseLyn asked for a bounce house cake with a slide. I had a lot of trouble with this one, I even bought another cake to replace it because I thought there was no way it was going to work. However, when I brought it to the party, Chaz was just so happy I made him a cake. And that made me happy. But no more pudding!

Cake: Chocolate cake, vanilla pudding. Multi-colored fondant.

Details: Red, green, blue, black and purple icing. Blue, green and white Airheads. Multi-colored gumdrops. Teddy Graham crackers, candy corn, chocolate wafer cookies. Fruit roll-ups, marshmallows, chocolate bars.