Sprinkles in Philly

I really want this Sprinkles Cupcake Bakery (located in Beverly Hills) to come to this area. They are fresh and super cute. Cupcakes are $3.25 each and come in a ton of yummy to die for flavors - I want to try the strawberry or ginger lemon!

They are now introducing the Sprinkle mobile. How great would this be to pull up at your wedding reception and serve some cupcakes from the van. Or order them as a favor and they come wrapped in this cute box (but they only courier to the local markets so we are out of luck here on the east coast):


Click here to vote on Philadelphia to be the next location!!
Become a fan on facebook and you could win a trip to see the bakery.

I am going to have to pull out my Martha Stewart Cupcake cookbook and make some cupcakes this week!

The Story of the Wedding Cake

The Wedding Cake has to be one of the most traditional and symbolic parts of a wedding, besides the wedding gown of course. Couples think a lot about the design of the cake and the yummy insides. Some people used to think guests don't eat cake- well I haven't been at a wedding where the cake wasn't delish and the guests either ate it up or took some home.

But where did the idea of a wedding cake come from:

During the days of the Roman Empire, wedding cakes were actually small loaves of bread made of wheat, a symbol of fertility and abundance. The groom would eat a piece of the cake and then break the rest over the bride’s head, thereby showering her with fruitfulness. Guests would then scramble for the crumbs on the floor and eat them, in case the good luck could spread.

So it doesn't matter if you do a traditional cake, towers of cupcakes or an assortment of pies. They symbolic part is eating with your new husband or wife and then sharing it with your guests.

classiccreationsphotography.com, marthastewart.com,

Move Over Gingerbread Boys!

And Hello Chai Spice Girls! When I was growing up my grandmother worked in a bakery -the old fashioned kind with a store front - I loved watching her decorate wedding cakes but what I remember the most was the holidays when the bakery would have Gingerbread Men and Cherry Chews. (I think they were there year round but I just remember them at Christmas) Well my mom has taken on the task of making the Cherry Chews and I was thinking I would start making Gingerbread Men - until I found these yummies!

Ingredients

• 2 spiced chai-flavored tea bags
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1-1/2 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 Tbsp. molasses
• 1 recipe Powdered Sugar Icing

Directions

1. Remove tea bag contents (3 teaspoons); discard bags. In medium bowl combine tea, flour, and pumpkin pie spice; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high 30 seconds. Add sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and molasses. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can; stir in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate about 3 hours or until easy to handle.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. On lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time until 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough with 4-inch gingerbread girl cutters.

4. Bake 12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheets 2 minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely. Decorate with Powdered Sugar Icing. Makes 18 to 20 cookies.

5. Powdered Sugar Icing: In medium bowl combine 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 4 teaspoons milk. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until piping consistency.

6. To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper is covered airtight container. Store at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

BHG

Cake Inspiration

Coming soon:

Sylvia Weinstock's Sensational Cakes

New coffee table book filled with lots of oversized pictures and inspiration. Preorder now with Amazon.com

Cake Saving Tip

So the old tradition says that you should save the top tier of your wedding cake and eat it on your first anniversary.

Well if you don't wrap and freeze it correctly it could potentially be pretty gross.

Here's an idea - While you jet off for your honeymoon have your mom or maid of honor cut the saved cake into 12 individual pieces. Wrap each piece in clear wrap, then in foil, then place in the freezer.

This way you can enjoy a bit of your wedding, a slice of the cake every month on the date of your wedding.

What a way to celebrate every month in your first year of marriage.

A Beach Wedding

Well Sort of....My bride and groom really really wanted to get married on the beach but it just wasn't working out so they decided on an outdoor ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn with a tropical reception in the ballroom.
The room glowed in aqua - the lines were beautiful. Handmade centerpieces consisted of glass containers with candles and shells. Everyone received a Hershey's bar but the best part was the 6 tier cake from Charm City - Ace of Cakes.
Beautiful fondant painted with palm trees and water.







Congratulations Kelly and Duke - it was a pleasure working with you.

You Top The Cake

I have noticed more and more couples are starting to use bride and groom cake toppers. Not the flimsy plastic ones your mom used or the gazebo with birds on it. A few years ago they were showing off their hobbies and being fun on a grooms cake but now I am seeing a switch to the wedding cake itself.

Something more stylish and more personal.

Like this from You Top The Cake
Very personal - you can add in dogs, kids or a theme.


Hand Sculpted & Hand Painted Figurine made to Look Like YOU !!

and the most expensive and very quirky from PatchNYC



or this company will add in a sport or hobby Custom Toppers

thanks to bff bridal, brides for some links.

Mini Cakes Wins

I am glued to the Today Show on Wednesday mornings - I love when they throw a wedding. This time its a Race to the Alter. The couples had to sell cupcakes today and the person that raised the most money got to choose the wedding cake for the big wedding.

The WINNER is the Mini Cupcakes!

I can see it now white gloved waiters bringing every guest their very own mini wedding cake.
Stunning and certainly a way to wow those guests some more.

Southern Guide to the Perfect Wedding 3

The Wedding Cake - made the central point of the wedding reception. Long before Martha Stewart the southerners were making a statement using the wedding cake. Set on a table with beautiful heirloom linens surrounded by flowers, for all to admire.

Originally a symbol of fertility and feeding each other was the first act the bride and groom did together as a married couple. Recently many brides felt the cake was an afterthought, just something they have to have. I think the importance of the cake is coming back around, more and more brides are caring about how it tastes and making sure it is decorated a bit over the top and matches the rest of the reception decor.

In reading the book I was reminded about the history of the wedding cake. It was customary to send the guests home with a piece of cake in little boxes wrapped up in a bow. For little girls this was very exciting - they would go home and put it under their pillow for good luck.