The Bouqu-cake

A cake close to my heart, was one I made in July 2011 for my sister's wedding. The official wedding cake was made by my new brother-in-law's Grandma, however, many of the wedding guests would be unable to eat the cake, due to allergies and intolerances, including lactose and wheat intolerances and nut allergies, so I was put in charge of making a cake catering for all.

I have a lot of experiences baking for these intolerances/allergies so rather than paying for a dessert course (that many, including the bride may not be able to eat), it was decided that there would be a pudding table which a selection of treats including the cake I made that everyone could eat, and they did (the sign disappeared and everyone happily dug in, unknowingly, to a lactose, gluten and nut free cake).

This cake was affectionately named the "Bouqu-cake", as you can see below, as it is a bouquet. I cannot take credit for the design, also taken from a fondant cake book, but was adapted to fit the wedding colours. It was fun to make, and a lovely calm couple of hours making it amongst the pre-wedding activities.

How I decorate my cakes

For each cake I make, I start out with a theme from the customer or the friend/family member in question. Then I find an image or two of the subject idea, or even a photo or two of similar cakes, so I can plan out my idea.

For example, one of my first official "Jess' Fondant Cakes" client was an avid computer gamer. He requested a Gears of War Lancer cake - to the ill-educated in this field, this means a special gun that doubles as a chainsaw from one of his favourite games. After researching the gun in question, I began to construct the cake.





First, I made the cake base and, once cooked and filled with jam and buttercream, I cut and assemble to the desired shape.







This cake leant itself to a base colour and the addition of sections afterwards for the details. So, once the shape was made, I covered in fondant icing in the base colour.Carefully forming and cutting out the desired shapes.







The completed Lancer. I finish by painting with a watered down glace icing finish to remove any icing sugar marks left from the decorating process.







Based on the type of game this gun came from, it could not be complete without some splattered fake blood, make from icing sugar, water and concentrated icing colouring paste.






The feedback I got from this cake was very two sided: those that understood what it was and played aforementioned game, liked it; and those, especially the more squeamish, did not appreciate the fake blood.

Every cake has a story

Over the last few years, before Jess' Fondant Cakes began, I have been photographing the cakes I have been making, just as a record for me, remembering the ones I really liked and the memories from those events. As all my cakes are personalised to the recipient, they each have a story. As I have only just started this blog, this seemed a good place to start, showing some of my favourite cakes and the stories behind them. The rest can be found on my website and facebook page

Anemone and clown fish cake

As a trained marine biologist and diver, marine themed cakes will always be a favourite (see the diver cake in later posts). This cake is special to me. Made as a name-day cake for a close friend and felow marine biologist, it was a very easy cake to make and came out quite well, if I do say myself.

Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants Cake

The title of this cake may seem random to most, but this cake was made for a very close friend. As young girls, we both read the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" books (later made into films) so I decided to decorate a cake in the same theme. I enjoyed making this cake, using a number of icing media. Other than having to explain the cake to many people, the cake was much appreciated.

Caveman Dinosaur Cake

I cannot take credit for the design of this cake, as it taken directly from a fondant cake book. I do love this cake though, I managed to make this cake in my kitchen without my boyfriend seeing it, before the day itself. He was very surprised, especially as the man looks a little like him (although in real-life, a little less beardy).

A British Goodbye Cake

A simple but effective designed cake for a young girl emigrating, obviously around Christmas time. She especially appreciated the addition of glitter.

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome.

Hi, welcome to Jess' Fondant Cakes' first blog. Jess' Fondant Cakes has been running for about a year now and I, Jess, thought it was about time I document the process, a different way that just putting the photos on the website, facebook, squidoo and flickr.

Jess' Fondant Cakes is in its infancy but I have been a cake maker since I was a little girl and in my teenage/adult years have been developing my skills by making celebration cakes for my family and friends.

This blog will, hopefully, show a selection of my cakes and the process that goes into making them. I have a number of cakes on the horizon, including a cake for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary, which, due to the immensity of the event, requires a very impressive cake.

Enjoy and remember, there is always a occasion for cake and a cake for every occasion.