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Showing posts with the label CAKE DECORATING

Chonky Boys: The Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches that Scream Summer!

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Featuring my thick and nuggy Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookies, these ice cream sandwiches are the stuff that summer dreams are made of.  If you've ever had the Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich at Disneyland , you are going to LOVE these!  These big and bold chocolate chip cookies are based on a recipe from my culinary school studies at Auguste Escoffier, but with a few modifications to give them that Jennuine touch.  They make the perfectas book for a fat slice of real vanilla bean ice cream.  And those mini chips?  You just gotta have that extra cronch! Thank goodness this recipe only makes 8 sandwiches, otherwise I would be eating them for breakfast lunch and dinner.  This way, my big family can help save me from my inner child diet-saboteur.   Print With Image Without Image Chonky Boy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches Yield: 8 Author: Jenn Erickson Loaded with chocolate chips and buttery, brown-sugary vanilla flavor, these mall-sized cookies form a perfect partnership with a
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How to Make Buttons from Rolled Fondant -- A fun and easy tutorial!

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What keeps you coming back to Rook No. 17?  Is it the recipes or the crafts, or a shared affinity for vintage whatnots, retro nerderie, and childhood nostalgia?  Several readers have gently prodded and asked why I haven't been more forthcoming with tips and tutorials relating to my occupational specialty -- cake decorating.   Jolly good question, friends!  The answer:  I don't quite know.  What I do know is that it's high time to begin...so, I give you the first installment of what I hope to be an ongoing series of cake art how-tos.   We'll start with a tutorial for HOW TO MAKE BUTTONS FROM ROLLED FONDANT.  This is a great project for beginners who are just starting to work in modeling rolled fondant.  This project is easy and the results are satisfying.  You don't need any costly specialty equipment.  Most everything you need can be found at home. The buttons can be used to decorate cupcakes, cakes, cookies, etc... An affordable and ea
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Lalaloopsy Birthday Cake -- Sew Cute!

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Update:  I am honored to have received so many requests to make and ship this cake all over the world.  However, I want to make it clear that this cake was done as a gift for a close friend and that I am no longer making cakes as a business.  If you are interested in having this cake duplicated, feel free to share a link to this post with a cake artist in your area.  Thank you. This past weekend I had the pleasure of designing and making a birthday cake for my friend Holly's daughter's 4th birthday. The birthday girl chose a Lalaloopsy theme. If you're not yet aquainted with Lalaloopsy , they're a line of whimsical dolls that take a modern twist on the classic rag doll. Their slogan is "Sew Magical, Sew Cute!". So, here she is, my interpretation of a Lalaloopsy doll in cake and krispie treats:    Her head and body were made from Rice Krispie treats covered in rolled fondant. Her legs, clothes and hair were made from roll
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How to Make a LIGHTNING MCQUEEN Cake Topper Out of Fondant

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After what was a very long and seriously intense week, it was wonderful to unwind by hanging out and getting creative with some good friends.  I brought along some fondant and fondant tools so I could play and just have fun.  I have to admit, there's a lot of kid in me, so I'm really looking forward to the summer release of Pixar's " Cars II ".  I must have had ' Cars ' on the brain as I twizzled and twisted my red fondant because before I knew it, the pieces were coming together in the form of Lightning McQueen . This little guy is just 3" long and was made from red, white, black and blue fondant.  The metallic elements were brushed on with a combination of lemon extract and luster dusts.  I used an food-writer pen to highlight the lettering. Here's a quick little slideshow of how I put Lighting McQueen together.  He'd be the perfect little cake topper for a CARS birthday party.  I can imagine him posed on top of a fon
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The Vintage Fire Truck Cake Project -- Complete!

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  After 60+ hours, 18 pounds of rolled fondant, 10 pounds of gumpaste, 12 pounds of raspberries, and burning lots of "midnight oil", the fire truck and wedding cake are done! It was an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to make these cakes for such a beautiful wedding and such a lovely young couple!   Here is a 5-minute video of the entire process from concept to reality.  Enjoy the journey!
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Vintage Fire Truck Cake Has Me On A Bloggy Break...

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This week I'm recreating the 1917 fire truck pictured above in sugar and cake!  There won't be any new posts this week, since 100% of my time is going in to making this cake a show-stopper. There are lots and lots of fine details! If you'd like to share any of your posts, please stop by my linky party, A Little Birdie Told Me... I look forward to showing off the finished cake on Sunday or Monday. In the meantime, here are some photos showing the process and progress up to this point: First we visited the fire truck and took loads of measurements and photos. Next, we built a scale model out of foam. We began fabricating pieces out of gumpaste. Then, started "gluing" it all together. Coming together and up on "blocks" courtesy of the Girl Scouts. Painted red... Adding details like the grill... the upholstery... And the "wooden" truck bed. Still lots and lots of fine detail-work to go. To
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Snow Cone Cupcakes!

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These nostalgia tickling treats combine my love of baking cupcakes in unusual containers and an unrequited childhood desire for a Snoopy Snow Cone Machine. They're easy to make and you don't need any special equipment. I think my favorite thing about this experiment was the discovery that the snow cone spoon/straws actually work as a spoon for eating the cupcake! Here's how to bake up your own batch of melt-free snow cones: Snow Cone Cupcakes (makes 1 dozen) Ingredients/Supplies 1 dozen snow cone cups 1 dozen snow cone spoons I found a kit at Target for $3.49 Your favorite cake recipe --or-- A pudding-free cake mix like Duncan Hines Classic Yellow (puddin-in-the-mix types are too moist for the paper cups) Vanilla Frosting Colored Sanding Sugars 2 bags of dried beans or rice Step 1:  Fill a standard cupcake pan with dried beans or rice.  Tightly cover pan with aluminum foil.  Poke the pointy end of each snow cone cu
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Sandcastle Cake Recipe -- A Fun and Easy Summer Classic!

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A whimsical, sculpted cake in less than an hour! Every year my daughters' school has a year-end carnival that includes a Cake Walk. The end of the school year is so impossibly busy  -- Who has time to spend on an elaborate cake?  I love Nordicware bundt pans for their ease of use, consistent results, whimsical designs, and for the way that they can make anyone look like a cake sculpting pro! My favorite Nordicware design is their Castle Bundt Pan.  I've enjoyed using it to make this crowd-pleasing Sandcastle cake, especially when I'm in a pinch for time, but still want to do something special.  The Sandcastle cake is the perfect celebration or donation dessert -- delicious, charming, and easy! Here's the super short-cut version to making your very own Sandcastle Cake using the Nordicware castle pan: Castle Bundt Cake (takes approx. 50 minutes) Ingredients 1 box yellow or white cake mix 1  3-3/4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding 4 large
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