Showing posts with label cakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cakes. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2011

{Recipe} Marshmallow Fondant

Hey guys! Have you ever tasted a cake with fondant icing and was like about to barf?! That would be the commercial stuff that taste like plastic and rubber. Seriously who came up with that to put and a scrumptious cake? Why would anyone mess up a great cake recipe with that nasty fondant?

Good news is that there IS a great tasting fondant out there. Actually, there is 2. One is by Satin Ice and the other is Marshmallow fondant that you can make at home. It behaves just like the regular fondant, only tastes so much better. The possibilities are endless when making decorations.

Here it is on this Spiderman cake I made for my nephew. (just the decor. The cake is iced with white buttercream icing)




Marshmallow Fondant Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 1 package (16 ounces) white mini marshmallows (use a good quality brand)
  • 2-5 tablespoons water
  • 2 pounds (about 8 cups) sifted confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 cup solid vegetable shortening
Makes about 2 pounds marshmallow fondant.

Instructions:

To make marshmallow fondant, place marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 30 seconds on high; stir until mixed well. Continue microwaving 30 seconds more; stir again. Continue until melted (about 2 1/2 minutes). (I usually grease my bowl and spatula before working things will get STICKY)

Place 3/4 of the confectioners' sugar on top of the melted marshmallow mixture. Fold sugar into marshmallow mixture. Flavoring can be added at this point if desired. Place solid vegetable shortening in easily accessed bowl so you can reach into it with fingers as you are working. Grease hands and counter GENEROUSLY; turn marshmallow mixture onto counter. Start kneading like you would dough. Continue kneading, adding additional confectioners' sugar and re-greasing hands and counter so the fondant doesn't stick. If the marshmallow fondant is tearing easily, it is too dry; add water (about 1/2 tablespoon at a time) kneading until fondant forms a firm, smooth elastic ball that will stretch without tearing, about 8 minutes. (NOTE: you can actually use your mixer with a dough hook to do this part - just grease the qt bowl and the dough hook really good)

It's best to allow Marshmallow Fondant to sit, double-wrapped, overnight. Prepare the fondant for storing by coating with a thin layer of solid vegetable shortening, wrap in plastic wrap and then place in resealable bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible. Marshmallow Fondant will keep well in refrigerator for several weeks.

When not working with fondant, make sure to keep it covered with plastic wrap or in a bag to prevent it from drying out. When ready to use, knead fondant until smooth. Roll out fondant 1/8 in. thick.

To color fondant: If you need to tint the entire batch of fondant, add a little icing color to the melted marshmallow mixture before adding confectioners' sugar. For smaller amounts of tinted fondant, add icing color to portions of fondant as needed.

Begin to knead the portion of fondant just like you did before. As you work it, you will begin to see streaks of color coming through from the center. Continue to knead until the streaks are gone and the fondant is a uniform color. Your fondant is now ready to be used or stored as outlined above.



Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Blogiversary, Cake Recap and a GIVEAWAY!

UPDATE:WINNER OF BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY
Comment number two! Kim Cook you are the winner of the 12 piece cupcake decorating set and the "What's New Cupcake" book.


Kim said "One of my favorite childhood memories is playing in the sprinklers during the summer time. Can't wait for Savannah to be big enough for that!"

Congratulations Kim! I have your email and will send you an email.
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WOW! I can't believe it has been a year since I have been blogging. I am glad that I got on the blogging wagon as it has been lots of fun and meeting new people along with other bloggers. Thanks to all of my followers and supporters - you mean so much to me!

Looking back at all the yummy treats I added makes me so hungry for sweets. Remember  this party I did for my nephew with this cute Cars themed cake. 


And this cake for Constance's (my daughter) Dora Fiesta


And here are just some others from the past year!






 This clown cake was one of my first cakes I did during a cake decorating class!!

WELL ON TO THE GIVEAWAY!!!!

One Lucky reader will win a brand new Wilton 12-piece cupcake decorating set along with a brand new What's new cupcake book by Alan Richardson and Karen Tack!
This cupcake decorating set is perfect for those wanting to learn to decorate cupcakes. You will get 4 decorating tips, 8 disposable decorating bags and decorating instructions! The What's New Cupcake book is LOADED with easy and fun cupcake ideas to create a one of a kind cupcake! LOVE this book!




Here is how to enter:
Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite childhood memory is!
- also a way for me to get in contact with you (email address)
-open for the US only (sorry!)

A few other ways to enter:
Become a fan of Sweet Memories on facebook and comment saying that you did or that you are already a fan!

 Suggest my facebook page to your friends and tell them to leave a post on my wall saying that you sent them!

Follow my blog and invite your friends to follow me!

Giveaway will end Sunday, June 5th at Noon! Winner will be announced on Monday, June 6th! 

Good Luck!!


Thursday, March 31, 2011

German Chocolate Cake using cupcake recipe

Hey guys! I hope everyone is having a great week. Today was such a yucky day here in South Carolina! Rain, rain and more rain! Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Well it will be better because it is my Friday at my preschool job. I took Friday off to do the 10k bridge run here in Mt. Pleasant, but the training did not work out so well. Actually, I did not train at ALL! So I am gonna spend my day with my beautiful sweet daughter! I will be thrilled to be a SAHM again, even if it is just for a day! 

I am so sorry this is the week's first post. I think I have come to the realization that as long as I am working full time at the preschool, I won't be able to post every day. There is just not enough time in my day! I was trying to post this last night and guess what happened? I found myself falling asleep at the desk. I was knocked out!! Woke up to look at the computer screen and was trying to pry my eyes open. LOL, just wasn't working! You guys still love me right?! I do promise to keep bringing you recipes and keep you updated on different happenings of Sweet Memories!



I made this cake for my husband's birthday.  Last year I made THESE cupcakes for Father's Day. Every time they are delicious. I have developed a love for coconut. It was the texture that I had to get over and now I really like it! The chocolate frosting added was such a nice touch! Though, I could just sit and eat a bowl of the coconut filling by itself........
German Chocolate Cake Recipe

 Ingredients:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream at room temperature
2 tablespoons freshly brewed coffee
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used hershey's dark chocolate)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray your cake pans with Easy Off - this helps the cake come out the pan easily. You can also line your pan with parchment paper or just do it the old fashioned way of greasing and flouring.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and both sugars on high speed until light and fluffy, approximately 5 minutes. Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, sour cream, and coffee. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it's completely blended.

3. Divide the batter between 2 cake pans. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from the pans, transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely before frosting.



GERMAN CHOCOLATE FROSTING


Ingredients:

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk 1 1/4 cups sugar
5 extra-large egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup sliced blanched almonds, toasted
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the milk, sugar, egg yolks, almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt with a wooden spoon. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Lower the heat to low and simmer for about 5 minutes until the mixture thickens a little and coats the back of the spoon. Don't allow it to boil! If the mixture gets lumpy, turn off the heat and beat it vigorously with a whisk.

2. Off the heat, add the coconut, almonds, and pecans and allow to cool about 1 hour. Frost the cake with a dinner knife or metal spatula

Adapted from Ina Garten

Monday, September 27, 2010

Wow Wow Wubbzy Cake

Whew! What a weekend! The Dora fiesta is over and was such a blast! The weekend was crazy though. I took a half day off work on Thursday and all day off on Friday to work on stuff. And along with all the party planning, I took a cake order as well as a custom order for some designs for a friend. Call me CRAZY!! Doing another cake along with all the other baking and decorating I had to do? Of course I will do another cake! I love baking and decorating cakes. It has been a while since I have posted something from the baking/cake side of things. 



The cake was a Wow Wow Wubzy cake. Vanilla inside and vanilla buttercream for the icing, with marshmallow fondant touches.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

PS. Stay tuned for photos from our Dora Fiesta!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Cake and Designs From Weekend

This weekend was a busy one! Not to mention working full time during the whole week as a preschool teacher. Seriously I had no idea how I was going to function on Saturday. I had a cake order and some announcement keepsake cards to make for the weekend. My mind was tired, body aching..... My original plan was to stay up all night Friday after I got home from work. I'm thinking no biggie, I stay up all time time when I am not doing anything important. 

Friday came and I CRASHED!!! Didn't even know I fell asleep on the chaise. I recall being in the kitchen cleaning and telling my husband to leave the channel to Blue Crush (loved that movie). Then he calls back "if you are gonna stay in there cleaning, I am going to turn the channel". So I stop and tell myself, okay just watch it for a bit and get back to the kitchen. HA! That is when I crashed - watched like 5 minutes I think. So I went to bed. Had to come up with a new plan! So that was to set my alarm for 4:30 am to take out the butter, eggs, and milk/buttermilk so they can come to room temp. Then set alarm again for like 5:15 for me to wake up and start on everything.

Ran into a few other issues, but I got things done! Here is the invitation I designed for a high school friend.

Here is the keepsake card:

And here is the cake:


Friday, July 23, 2010

{Favorite} Cake Friday


I have decided to showcase some great bakeries around with "Favorite Cake Friday". I love cake and love seeing other people's creations. And I love all styles of cakes, sculpted, tiered, wedding, kids cakes, cupcakes, etc. It is really inspiring to look at different cakes from successful bakeries. It lets me know that anything is possible!
This cake is from Studio Cake Design and this cake is what I am loving this week!
{Photo via Studio Cake Design}

In love with the detailed work!

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Mini Cakes

I just love the cute size of mini cakes. I use this size (6") to make 1st birthday smash cakes and the babies just LOVE them! When I was thinking of Mother's Day, I thought it would be neat to make my mom and mother-in-law their own personal size decorated cake. They came out great and were delicious! I made them both vanilla cake and vanilla buttercream icing. Our moms adored the idea of their own personal cake! 

The flower cake was for my mother.


The grapevine cake was for my mother-in-law.


Contact me if you like what you see and you need a cake for that special occasion!

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