Andreas Cakes

When Life Hands You A Lemon...

2011-09-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

...Make a pink lemonade cake! For Whitany's first birthday party, her mommy ordered a Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Pink Lemonade Filling/Frosting. I topped the simple, but sweet cake with handmade fondant lemons, green leaves, and a custom paper bunting banner with the birthday girl's name.

Her smash cake was also classic Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Vanilla Buttercream. The guests were also treated to Chocolate Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream, but I didn't get a chance to snap a photo of them!

Lately, I have been spending as much time with my girl outside as we can. The weather has been nice in the evenings and she LOVES running around in the grass. On a side note, I just had to pack away this cute ruffled dress because she is just getting too big. What happened to my tiny little baby!?

Alyssa's Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes

2011-09-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

I can't beleive my sweet baby girl turned ONE in August! I guess I can't call her a "baby" anymore... she's officially a walking, talking (well, babbling) toddler.

Since I bake cakes and cupcakes all the time, I really wanted to just keep things simple for her party. I made Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes with Orange Creamsicle Frosting and I used the same flavors for her smash cake. Nothing fancy... but completely yummy!

Here is the aftermath of her smash cake... i'd say she did pretty good!

Wedding Cupcakes: Three Yummy Flavors!

2011-08-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Wedding cupcakes: the ultimate "get this party started" treat! In July, I baked 200 yummy wedding cupcakes for bride Allie. She requested some pretty delicious flavors, such as Chocolate Cupcakes with Andes Mint Buttercream, Southern Red Velvet Cakes with Classic Cream Cheese Frosting, and Vanilla Buttermilk Cakes with Chocolate Fudge Buttercream. Is your mouth watering yet?!

For the set-up, I used my custom, 7-tiered dark wood cupcake stand (designed by my talented hubby) and brown polka-dot cupcake liners for each little cake. I love these next photos of the bride and groom feeding each other a cupcake!

If you are interested in wedding cupcakes or using my cupcake stand, please email Aliandy14@aol.com. Thank you to haileyking.com for sending me these fantastic photos!

Balancing Act

2011-08-26T13:07:00.000-07:00

My life is a balancing act these days - wife, mommy, baker, full-time career, baby # 2 on the way - but I wouldn't have it any other way. It goes without saying that this little blog project of mine has been neglected and is screaming for some attention!

Here are a few quick shots of some cakes and cupcakes that just didn't make it on here for one reason or another - maybe I decided that taking a shower would be a much wiser use of of my time than blogging. Don't worry though... my oven is still full of goodies and I promise more updates and cake photos will be coming soon!

Happy baking everyone!

Cupcake Themed Birthday

2011-06-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

What could be sweeter than a cupcake tower for a little girl's 2nd birthday party!? For Lyla, I made 2 dozen Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes with a combination of White Chocolate Buttercream and Pink Lemonade Frosting. To top off the tower, I made a mini Classic Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Buttercream filling and frosting. I used marshmallow fondant to create little cupcake decorations to match the colorful theme.

Here is a little behind-the-scenes-cake-photo action for you... she likes to watch mommy!

Surf's Up Baby Shower Cake

2011-06-08T05:53:00.001-07:00

Classic Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Fudge Filling... that is what the mommy-of-two-to-be requested for her baby shower. Her baby boy will arrive in early September and I know she is so excited!

This cake was so much fun to make and I just love the surfing theme and bright, cheery colors! I frosted it with White Chooclate Buttercream, used graham crackers for the "sand" and made the surf boards out of Marshmallow Fondant. Surf's Up!

Elmo Birthday Cake

2011-03-17T05:24:00.001-07:00

This adorable Sesame Street - inspired cake was for Bailey's 2nd birthday party. The cake was made up of three layers of Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Raspberry filling and White Chocolate Buttercream. The decorations, including Elmo, are made from fondant.

Bailey is one of the most adorable little girls and I am so happy that her mommy trusted me with her special birthday cake!

Wedding Cupcake Tower

2011-03-03T04:36:00.000-08:00

Wedding cupcakes are such a fun, modern twist on a classic wedding cake. I am so happy with the way Lauren & Michael's cupcakes turned out.

They chose simple flavors, such as Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream, Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Frosting, and Strawberry-Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream. For the cake topper (which is now in their freezer waiting on their one-year anniversary), they chose Chocolate Cake with Cookies n' Cream filling.

The bride asked for this "branch" detail, which I think turned out so beautiful. The morning of the wedding, I cut the branch and stripped all of it's leaves. I used dark brown spraypaint to acheive the color of the wooden cupcake stand and let it dry for a few hours. I used a padded art tape to adhere the branch to the cupcake stand. LOVE it!

Lauren found this adorable "Love" cake topper on etsy.

Lauren surpirsed Michael with a groom's cake... she asked for his favorite Cookies n' Cream Filling and i decorated it with a nautical theme. Yum!

I just love my solid-wood, 7-tier cupcake display stand... and I can't wait to use it for more wedding cupcake orders! Also, I want to thank Ashley McCormick for sending me these AMAZING cake photos. Be sure to check out her photography blog!

Dump Truck Baby Shower Cake

2011-02-14T10:48:00.000-08:00

Growing up, I always played with boy toys. That's just what happens when you have an older brother. I used to "drive" his dump trucks and hot wheels all over the house. Although my daughter doesn't have any real "boy toys" to play with, her absolute favorite toy is a little stuffed turtle that has black and green spots and a blue turtle face. It's not girly at all... and she doesn't care.

This baby boy shower cake has a homemade marshmallow fondant road and dump truck on top. The cake is made up of three layers of Vanilla Buttermilk cake with White Chocolate Buttercream filling and frosting. Simple and delicious!

Guy Harvey Cake

2011-02-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

I love the way this fishing-themed cake turned out... rustic waves with the Guy Harvey signature logo on the front. Harrison's mommy found those cute toy fish for the cake, and it was perfect for the birthday boy!

The cake was vanilla buttermilk cake with chocolate fudge filling.

What a Sweet Year it Has Been!

2010-12-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

They say time flies when you are having fun... well 2010 must have been a really fun year! When I reflect back on all of the blessings in my life this past year, I am so humbled and amazed.

We started the year off right in January by visiting our nephews in Chicago. In February, we closed on our very first home. We celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary in March and in April we found out that our bun in the oven was a precious baby girl. In May we hosted our first gathering with friends in our new home, and during the month of June our nephews occupied our pool almost everyday! So many people I love attended my baby shower in July and the best day ever was in August when our sweet baby girl entered the world. I didn't sleep much in September, but I got to be a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding. The month of October was filled with cake orders and our sweet little niece Jovie was born. In November, we celebrated Alyssa's first Thanksgiving with family and friends. Now it's December and there are too many blessings to count. I can't wait to see what 2011 holds for my family!

Construction Cupcakes

2010-10-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

I'm married to a building contractor, so I had to get this construction zone cake right! I love the way it turned out, with the bright colors and "manly" appeal perfect for a little boy's birthday party.

For Cole's 1st birthday, I made a Banana "smash" cake with chocolate frosting and two different cupcake flavors... classic chocolate and vanilla buttermilk. Yum! All of the decorations are made out of homemade marshmallow fondant.

Hello Kitty

2010-10-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

Now that I have a little girl of my own, I am learning to appreciate all things girly and pink. In fact, pretty much every item of clothing in her closet has some form of pink on it!

I LOVE the way this girly, Hello Kitty birthday cake turned out. Whimsical and feminine, perfect for any little girl's special day.

It's made up of Strawberry Cake layers and Cream Cheese filling with White Chocolate Buttercream.

Steelers Cookies

2010-10-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

Fantasy Football, a new sport in our household. Brian is playing in a Fantasy Football group for the first time this year and Sundays will never be the same. I can't tell you how many NFL games we watch on Sundays, but it is actually kind of fun to have players to cheer for!

Here are some adorable Pittsburg Steelers sugar cookies that I made for a football fan's 30th birthday...

Babies & Brides

2010-09-29T10:43:00.001-07:00

I enjoy making cakes for those special moments in life... like expecting a baby or getting married. Here are two recent cakes that I made for special celebrations...

The first was a baby shower cake for a mom expecting a little girl. It is made up of lemon cake with Lemonade Buttercream Filling and the entire cake is covered in homemade marshmallow fondant.

The next cake was ordered for a Bachelorette weekend at the beach for a bride-to-be. It was Fresh Strawberry Cake with Cream Cheese Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream.

Orange & Blue!

2010-09-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

Football season is finally here! It's one of my favorite times of the year... friends getting together, chips & salsa, my crazy husband yelling at the TV... what's not to love!?

For Grady's 7th birthday, he requested a Florida Gator cake. Although we are seminole fans in my household, I agreed to make this special cake for him!

The cake is made up of Vanilla Buttermilk Cake and Cookies 'n Cream filling with White Chocolate Buttercream. The mini footballs are homemade marshmallow fondant. Even though this cake is orange and blue, I love the way it turned out!

Happy Birthday to You!

2010-09-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of birthdays... they deserve extra attention and celebration no matter how young or old you are. Best of all, a birthday is the PERFECT excuse to eat cake! Here are a few of my recent birthday cakes...

For Chevis, I made an Orange Cake with Orange-Cream Cheese Filling and White Chocolate frosting. She called me the next day and explained that her husband, who doesn't usually like any cake at all LOVED this cake! I was so glad I could make the birthday girl (and her hubby) happy :)

Here is an "Over the Hill" birthday cake that I think turned out so cute! It is made up of Classic Chocolate Cake with Raspberry FIlling and White Chocolate Frosting. I topped the cake with fresh raspberries to give a little clue as to what was inside. Along with the cake, I made Southern Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. I topped each cupcake with a chocolate swirl.

X-Games Cupcakes

2010-09-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

It's official... Kalen had the coolest 9-year-old birthday party EVER! The party theme was X-Games and his mom and dad planned so many fun activites for everyone. There was a water balloon fight, kickball game (the adults won this one), and a battle of "Capture the Flag." The crazy heat outside didn't stop anyone from having a great time!

For Kalen, I made an X-Games cupcake tower themed with the FOX racing logo, Hurley skateboards, and Vans skateboards. The flavors were Classic Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting and Orange Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. Each cupcake was topped with a white chocolate skateboard! So cool!

Beach-Theme Anniversary Cake

2010-07-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

For their wedding anniversary, Susan wanted something special. She wanted a cake that reminded them of her wedding cake and reflected their love of the beach.

I think this little cake turned out so cute, and was made up of the most delicious flavor combination! I think it is great when people step outside of the box and try new flavors. The cake is Fresh Banana Cake with a mixture of Peanut Butter Filling and Chocolate Fudge Filling. It is frosted in White Chocolate Buttercream and topped with White Chocolate Seashells.

Pink Zebras

2010-07-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I made these zebra-themed cakes and cupcakes for a sweet little girl's first birthday party. I love the bright pink color in contrast with the black stripes... so cute!

The main, two-tier cake was made up of Fresh Strawberry Cake Layers with Strawberry Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream. For Lila's smash cake, her mommy requested the same Strawberry Cake Flavor. And my favorite, of course, I made Moist Banana Cupcakes with pink Cream Cheese Frosting. Yum!

Graduation Celebration

2010-06-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

Kelley recently graduated from high school and I have a feeling she has a very bright future ahead of her. She is one of the most polite and respectful young ladies that I have ever met! I was so happy when Jill requested a cake for the special graduation celebration.

Kelley wanted Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Whipped Vanilla Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream. She knew exactly how she wanted the cake to look and described it to me in perfect detail. Kelley, I hope the cake was everything you wanted and more!

Maternity Leave Cake Orders: Just a quick note... I am taking cupcake/cake orders for September 13 - November 6 to help offset some of our bills while I am out on maternity leave. If you have any special celebrations during that time, please let me know and I will save the date for you! I appreciate your support!

Princess Party

2010-06-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Isn't it every little girl's dream to be a princess? I really loved the theme that Jaennae picked out for her daughter's third birthday party, a pink & purple princess theme!

For the party, I made a small Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream. It was decorated in pink fondant and topped with a purple fondant princess crown. To go along with the cake, I made Chocolate Cupcakes and Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes with an assortment of Chocolate Frosting and White Chocolate Buttercream.

Butterfly Baby Shower

2010-06-15T16:04:00.001-07:00

A little baby girl was on the way, and this butterfly baby shower cake was the perfect way to celebrate! The oversized bottom tier and two-layer top tier are made up of Vanilla Buttermilk Cake layers and Pink Lemonade Frosting. The butterflies are made with white chocolate and cocoa candy melts. Yum!

There Goes the Neighborhood

2010-06-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

Growing up, I never knew what it was like to have neighbors. Now that my hubby and I purchased our first home in a small neighborhood, I am absolutely LOVING it! One of the biggest reasons why I love our street is that some of our old high school friends are just a few houses down. Robert and Kari are so much fun and their kids are ADORABLE.

Speaking of adorable, Ava's first birthday was a few weeks ago and I was really excited to finally be able to make a cake for Kari and her family.

For Ava, I made a Banana "smash" cake with White Chocolate Buttercream, Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting, and Vanilla Cupcakes with Pink Lemonade Frosting. The cakes were a hit and the party wasn't complete until Robert put the frosting in Ava's hair!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2010-06-03T12:42:00.001-07:00

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks! I absolutely adore the way this baseball field cake turned out. Perfect for a little boy's birthday party.

Brock wanted Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Filling, and that is exactly what he got! The 3-layer square cake was decorated in Chocolate Frosting and homemade marshmallow fondant. Delicious!

Destined to be a Cowboy

2010-05-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

A little cowboy is on his way! I had so much fun planning this baby shower cake with Chevis. She is due to have a sweet baby boy on August 23rd... which is my sweet little girl's same exact due date!

Chevis and her hubby love all things rodeo, so it was only fitting to throw a western-themed shower for their new addition. For Chevis, I made a Chocolate Cake topper with Strawberry Filling and Chocolate Buttercream. The little cake was decorated with a Marshmallow fondant belt, belt buckle, and bandana as well as two white chocolate horseshoes. She also requested Orange Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting and Pina Colada Cupcakes with Coconut. Wow!

Basketball Birthday

2010-05-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know the Magic aren't doing so well against Boston, but it never hurts to root for the home team!

I made this birthday cake last week for Heidi's brothers on the night of an Orlando Magic game. It was Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Vanilla Pastry Cream Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Heidi claims her brother has "plain Jane" taste, but I think vanilla is just FABULOUS!

Kentucky Derby Shower

2010-05-15T10:53:00.001-07:00

The Kentucky Derby is such a classy, upscale event filled with traditions and adorable hats. What a perfect theme for a May Bridal Shower! My best friend Julie is getting married in September and we showered her with gifts at this adorable shower.

For Julie, I made a small "S'more" cake with layers of Graham Cracker Cake and Chocolate Cake filled and frosted with Marshmallow Frosting. I also made Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting. Everything was decorated with marshmallow fondant roses and white chocolate horseshoes!

I also made these favors... cellophane bags filled with white chocolate horseshoes and homemade candied pecans. Yum!

Bring on the Bling

2010-05-10T17:59:00.000-07:00

I made this adorable bachelorette cake and cupcakes last weekend for a "Bring on the Bling" party. I love all of the fun pink and black party favors... especially the faux engagement rings and festive beads!

The cake was three layers of homemade Vanilla Buttermilk Cake with Cookies 'n Cream filling and White Chocolate frosting. I also made fresh Banana Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting. Yum!

Little Ladybugs

2010-05-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the ladybugs, I have to tell you about a frog. The other night when Brian walked through the door in the garage, a big green frog leaped its way into the house! We were both laughing hysterically because everytime he tried to catch it, the frog would leap even farther into the house. Now, I'm definitely not anti-frog, but when you have one bouncing through your kitchen and hiding in the crack between your dishwasher and your cabinet I draw the line. Brian finally caught the little guy in a large tupperware and returned him to his grassy home.

Enough about frogs... this little ladybug cake turned out adorable and I was thrilled to hear that everyone at the party couldn't stop eating it!

The cake is made up of Chocolate Cake layers and Cookies n' Cream Filling with White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. All of the decorations are made by hand with homemade marshmallow fondant. So cute!

Something Blue: Bridal Shower

2010-04-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love the way this cake turned out... simple and sophisticated, perfect for a bridal shower! The theme was a black damask pattern with hints of turquoise, which is very modern. It makes me happy when people step outside of the box when planning parties... it makes the cakes even more fabulous!

The bottom tier is Vanilla Cake with Andes Mint Filling and the top tier is Lemon Cake with Strawberry Filling. The entire cake was frosted in White Chocolate Buttercream and the flowers were made with homemade marshmallow fondant. Yumm!

Next weekend is my BEST friend Julie's Kentucky Derby Themed bridal shower, so I can't wait to share the cake pictures on my blog! Thanks for looking!

New Orleans Baby Shower

2010-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Bright colors, festive theme, yummy cake... what a fun baby shower! I was definitely excited when Shanna asked me to create a Mardi Gras cake for an upcoming baby shower. I just love the combination of the purple, yellow and green!

She decided on Chocolate and Vanilla Cake layers filled with Cookies n' Cream filling and frosted with White Chocolate Buttercream. The festive decorations are all made out of fondant.

Bugs n' Cupcakes

2010-03-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Renee knew exactly what she wanted for her sweet little Peyton's first birthday party... bugs, bugs, and more bugs! She had great ideas and here is what we came up with!

Banana smash cake with Whipped Banana Filling and Cream Cheese frosting topped with fondant BUGS! I also made Chocolate Cupcakes and Banana Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream. Yumm!

Baby Shower Fun

2010-03-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

I am so happy with the way this little baby shower cake turned out. I love the design of the pregnant woman holding the umbrella with all of the colorful dots and butterflies. I designed the cake to match the adorable napkins that were being used at the shower.

The cake has three layers of Chocolate Cake with Cookies 'n Cream Filling and White Chocolate Buttercream. All of the designs are made out of homemade marshmallow fondant. Yummy!

Sweet Little Cupcake Party

2010-02-25T05:25:00.000-08:00

"I love fondant, so don't be afraid to use it," said Sarah, mommy of the oh-so-adorable Makenna when talking about her first birthday party. I LOVE the cupcake theme that Sarah picked out and the very girly colors. How sweet!

For Makenna, I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream. Topping off the cupcake tower was a small Banana Cake with Whipped Banana Filling, White Chocolate Frosting, and covered in homemade Marshmallow Fondant. We also had a small "smash cake" for Makenna to dig into! This cake was Banana with Whipped Banana Filling as well.

Honestly, these are some of my favorite cupcakes EVER! Just look how cute the colors and little fondant flowers turned out!

Cornhole Cake!

2010-02-23T05:20:00.000-08:00

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Vance's birthday than with a cornhole tournament! On Saturday, Brian and I had so much fun and we both won a round of cornhole... so I guess we're even.

For Vance, I made this really fun cornhole-board cake with Vanilla Cake, Whipped Banana filling, and White Chocolate Buttercream. The beanbags are made out of homemade marshmallow fondant. Yumm! Happy birthday!!

She's Gone Country

2010-02-18T05:33:00.001-08:00

One of my best friends is getting married! Woo hoo! Can you tell I am excited? A few weeks ago, we celebrated her engagement with a country-western shindig that included yummy BBQ, line dancing, and lots of cowboy boots. It was such a fun night and I can't wait for all of the other wedding festivities to come.

For Julie & Weston, I made these adorable western-themed sugar cookies that were used as party favors. I just love those little cowboy boots!!

Here is the lovely bride-to-be showing off these adorable cookies...

John Deere Green

2010-02-14T16:24:00.001-08:00

I was really excited when Christin told me about the John Deere cake that she needed for an upcoming birthday party. I am a Leesburg girl at heart, so tractors are not exactly foreign territory to me. I love bright and cheery colors on a cake, and the John Deere Green and bright Yellow are just that!

This cake is made up of three chocolate cake layers with cookies n' cream filling and white chocolate buttercream. I hand-piped the tracor on top and tried to make it as authentic as possible. I hope the birthday boy loved it!

Cookie Love

2010-02-09T05:47:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so get out your heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and fuzzy teddy bears! I've had many fun Valentine's Days with Brian over the past 10 years... one year I even sent him on a scavenger hunt with clues written by the "unibomber of love." I probably should not admit that! I think we are going to keep it simple this year and just celebrate the many wonderful things that are happening in our life right now.

Check out these adorable Valentine's Day sugar cookies that are made with love. They were so soft and chewy and the royal icing added the perfect amount of sweetness to the cookie. Definately one of my favorites!

Peanut Butter & Chocolate

2010-02-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know I have pronounced my obsession with peanut butter & chocolate on this blog before, but it certainly can't hurt to say it again! These chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting are unbelievably yummy, and they got even better when I added the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Pieces on top! WOW!

I made the cupcakes for a fun office party and everyone loved them!

Blogging Break - I'm Back!

2010-02-01T08:51:00.000-08:00

January flew by so quickly, but what a fantastic start to the new year! Over the past month, Brian and I took a week-long vacation to Chicago and spent time with our adorable nephews, celebrated Brian's 29th birthday with family, and closed on our first home! I'm so excited about the hustle and bustle of moving into our new house over the next few weeks, but I will definately need to get adjusted to my new oven!

I have lots of yummy cakes and sweet treats to share with you, but I couldn't wait for this one... sweet little Harrison turned one last week and we celebrated his birthday in style! The party decor matched his bedroom, pine trees and moose! So cute!

The bottom tier was chocolate cake and vanilla cake layers with whipped banana filling and chocolate fudge frosting. The top tier was banana cake with whipped banana filling and white chocolate frosting. Yummy!

Doodles

2009-12-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

Cookies should be sweet and simple... and these snickerdoodles are just that! This holiday season has been very busy and wonderful, which unfortunately did not give me much time to bake Christmas cookies. I have a feeling that next year I will be baking enough to feed a small army just to make up for the lack thereof this year!

My Christmas present to you (sorry it's a day late!) is the recipe for these classic snickerdoodle cookies. Be sure to write this one down and save it for your Christmas baking next year! Yummy.

In a large bowl, sift together 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour with 2 tsp. cream of tartar, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, cream together 2 sticks of room temperature unsalted butter with 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, and 1 tsp. of vanilla extract.

Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture until combined. Cover dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and combine 3 Tbsp. of sugar with 1 Tbsp. of cinnamon in a small bowl.

Scoop 1-inch balls of dough and roll in the sugar-cinnamon mixture to coat. Place on a chilled cookies sheet about 2 inches apart and bake for 10 minutes.

Look how cute these cookies are in gift bags!

Celebrate

2009-12-15T12:07:00.000-08:00

Tis' the season to celebrate! Here are a few things I am celebrating right now:

My new blog design (isn't it FABULOUS!?)

My BFF Julie has a big rock on her finger!
I get to visit my nephews in Chicago in just 2 WEEKS!
My Cousin Harmony is having a baby boy in February
My FAVORITE Uncle is coming to visit on Saturday
I finally got my wedding album and it was worth the wait!
We actually purchased furniture... woo hoo!

... so much to celebrate!

To keep this party going, I want to celebrate 2009 by picking my absolute favorite cakes from the year. These cakes were so much fun to make and I can't wait to see what comes out of my oven in 2010!

Number 5 - Jenny's Black & White Birthday Cake

Number 4 - Handy Manny Cupcakes

Number 3 - Mason's Pumpkin Patch

Number 2 - Leanne & Reed's Wedding Cupcake Tower

Number 1 - Hailey's Under-the-Sea Birthday Cake

Gone Fishin'

2009-12-01T17:12:00.000-08:00

What is it about a fishing trip that makes men so happy? Is it the thrill of the catch... the freedom of the open water... or the boyish desire to play with worms? Or, is it the excitement over a weekend with just the guys. Yep, that must be it!

I am not much of a fisherwoman, but I did earn some major bragging rights when Brian took me deep sea fishing 8 years ago and I caught more fish that he did. I will never let him forget it! Now that I think about it, he hasn't invited me fishing since!

This is a fun little cake I made over the Thanksgiving holiday. The cake is Red Velvet covered in Cream Cheese Frosting. I made the boat and cat-tails out of homemade marshmallow fondant and borrowed some of Brian's fishing line for the pole. Such a fun cake!

Go Nolan Go!

2009-11-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

I love the fact that so many of our friends have kids... being around them just makes me feel so happy! And, Nolan is no exception. He is a super-cute blondie surrounded by a family that loves him more than anything. Remember his Curious George party last year?

For Nolan's 2nd birthday party, his mommy created an adorable jungle room complete with vines hanging from the ceiling for the big DIEGO birthday bash. I know I mention themed parties all the time on this blog... because I ADORE them! I made a small chocolate cake with raspberry filling decorated with Diego himself! Then I made chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and vanilla cupcakes with fudge frosting. Wowsa!

Holly, this one is for you! I promised you a spot on the blog and here you go... LOVE you girls!

Pink Princess Party

2009-11-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

Three year ago, our best friends welcomed their sweet baby girl, Raigan, into the world. Those days of diapers and cribs are long gone... now it's jewelry and power wheels for her!

For Raigan, I made a Vanilla Cake with Lemon Curd Filling to top off the tower. There were also vanilla cupcakes with caramel filling and chocolate frosting, lemon shortbread squares, cocoa cookies, and handmade chocolate truffles. YUM!

I can't believe she's 3 already! I'll be baking her wedding cupcakes before I can blink!

Pumpkin Patch Birthday

2009-11-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

I have often wondered what it would be like to have a birthday on a major holiday… all the celebration and excitement just for you! Although I don’t really consider Halloween a “holiday,” the candy companies sure do!

This year, I made a special cake for Mason’s first birthday… on Halloween. His mommy dressed him as a pumpkin and decided to theme the party around that… how cute!

The cake was chocolate with caramel filling and white chocolate frosting. I sculpted the pumpkins and fence out of homemade marshmallow fondant. I am so glad that Heather trusted me with her sweet boy's first birthday cake!

Country-Western Couples Shower

2009-11-02T12:35:00.000-08:00

Nothing says "FUN" quite like a backyard BBQ with good country music and great friends. In fact, Brian and I selected this no-fuss theme for our own rehearsal dinner... although some of you may want to avoid baked beans the night before your wedding :)

I love the way this cake turned out... it resembles red bandanas and yellow mums, the decorations used at the party. Both tiers of the cake were chocolate with whipped banana filling. I made the decorations with homemade marshmallow fondant and frosted it with white chocolate buttercream.

Punkins and Ghosts

2009-10-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to love about Fall… football games, pumpkin bread, holiday excitement and cold weather… oh wait, I live in Florida. Forget that last thing I just said.

Punkins (that’s gibberish for "pumpkins") are indicative of the season. For my first Halloween, my parents dressed me as a punkin. A little, round, orange-cheek punkin. Since I don’t have any little ones to torture with punkin costumes yet, I figured I would dress my favorite sugar cookie as a punkin!

Check out these adorable Punkin & Ghost sugar cookies. Perfect for a not-so-scary Halloween! Happy trick-or-treating!

Shhh, My Oven is Sleeping

2009-10-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

My oven is getting a well-deserved rest this week after several months of constant baking. Don't worry... it will be preheating for next weekend!

Audrey over at The [Artful] Abode recommended that I partake in the "Honest Scrap" post that is going around the blog world... and I have a problem saying no to really nice people. I'm not going to follow all of the rules because I like to be the person who deletes chain emails/forwards. Yep, that's me... a rebel rule-breaker. I'm simply going to tell you how much I adore Audrey's blog and proceed to torture you with 10 honest facts about yours truly...

10. When I was little, I ate the feet off of my Barbie dolls.I actually ingested their tiny, rubber, non-edible feet. There is something seriously wrong with that.

9. I label all of my photos with the date, location and names of those pictured before putting them into albums. Hello, my name is Andrea and I have OCD.

8. I have never eaten at Taco Bell. Never. Ever.

7. The Office is my all-time favorite TV show. Sometimes I wish Michael was my boss... afterall, he is the "World's Best Boss"

6. My brother and I have a secret handshake that takes 1.5 minutes to complete. If I showed you, I'd have to kill you.

5. I had a pet pig named Jimmydean for 8 years. He now resides at Uncle Donald's Farm.

4. I have a fear of carbonated beverages and going bald.

3. I can wiggle my ears.

2. I love to read anything that motivates me. Right now i'm reading "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day" by Mark Batterson... I highly recommend it!

1. Baking makes me happy...

Inspiring Creativity

2009-10-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

I know you all think i'm so cool and not-at-all nerdy. Well, think again. When I was younger I was part of an Odyssey of the Mind team... not just any team, but a two-time state champion team. I know you are jealous.

We spent our evenings problem solving, writing skits, designing props and letting our imaginations run wild. Oh to be 13 again. My team's coach, Gillian, inspired me to think outside of the box and taught me that no goal is too far out of reach.

Gillian's daughter, Leigh, planned the most amazing 50th birthday surprise party for her mom... and asked me to make the cake! I had so much fun making this zebra-print two tier cake for Gillian. I really think it reflects her anything-goes personality.

The cake was chocolate with mint filling on the bottom layer and vanilla with raspberry filling on the top. The brown zebra stripes were made with homemade marshmallow fondant. Yum!

Mission Accomplished!

2009-10-14T08:17:00.000-07:00

I couldn't ask for a more perfect couple to give me the opportunity to accomplish this goal that I set for myself so long ago... thanks to Leanne & Reed, I finally did it... I made my first wedding "cake!"

I made a variety of cupcake flavors, including Chocolate with Caramel Filling, Vanilla with Strawberry Filling and Banana with Cream Cheese Frosting. For the top of the cupcake tower, I made a small Vanilla Cake with Strawberry filling for the bride & groom to save for their anniversary.

Brian designed the stand for me and had it custom built and I was so impressed with how amazing it turned out. Hopefully, it will grace the receptions of many upcoming weddings!

During the reception, I looked around the room and watched as guests enjoyed their cupcakes. I felt an overwhelming sense of joy and accomplishment. Leanne, thank you for your confidence in me, I know that your marriage will be blessed with so much happiness!

Best Sheet Cake In The World

2009-10-02T12:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I haven't tasted every sheet cake in the world, but I am sure this would still be at the top of my list! You HAVE to try this... you just have to.

The simple peanut butter cake base is fluffy and moist while the topping adds so much flavor and crunch. Trust me, it will rock your world.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter, 4 Tbsp. room temp butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 and line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper. Combine the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. With an electric mixer, combine the peanut butter, butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs and mix until combined. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until combined. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

To make the topping, stir together 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup peanut butter, and 2 Tbsp. melted butter. When the mixture is crumbly, stir in 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter chips. Sprinkle topping evenly over the cake and bake 30-35 minutes. Cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Buy bigger jeans, you will need them.

Shower for a Baby Girl

2009-09-27T13:48:00.001-07:00

Pink and brown. Can you think of a sweeter color combination for a little girl baby shower? I was so excited when Niki enlisted my help for a family baby shower, especially after I received the adorable invitation with a monogram "K" for the new baby's name, Kennedy.

For the shower, I made these adorable onsie sugar cookies packaged in celophane bags and tied with pink & brown bows. The cake was made up of chocolate and vanilla layers with chocolate fudge filling. Handmade fondant was used for the scallop details and baby carriage on top. Yum!

Under the Sea Whimsy

2009-09-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

I love baking. It not only brings me personal joy because I love it so much, but it also brings happiness to others' parties and celebrations. My cakes and cupcakes become a sort of celebration centerpiece which makes me indirectly a part of each and every celebration.

When I delivered Hailey's Under the Sea-themed birthday cake, her mommy, Christin, asked me to be in a photo with her sweet baby girl for the scrapbook. In a little way, I feel like I am part of the celebrations where my cakes go. For that, I am grateful.

The two-tier cake was made up of scratch-baked vanilla cake and chocolate cake layers filled with whipped cookies n' cream filling. Hailey's "smash" cake was made up of fresh banana cake, banana pudding filling and cream cheese frosting.

Engagement Celebration

2009-09-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

Celebrations just aren't complete without cake... or cupcakes... or cookies... or, okay you get the point. I made this 2-tier cake for an engagement party last weekend. The couple wanted their initials on the cake and wanted it to feature the wedding colors of orange and brown. I love these two colors together!

The cake is made up of chocolate cake layers, raspberry filling and chocolate fudge filling all covered in white chocolate buttercream... yumm!!

Nine Eleven

2009-09-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Sixth Sense was a scary movie, but I don’t remember much about the plot. It was September 11, 1999… I was sixteen years old and all I could think about was the cute boy holding my hand. It was our first date, and the beginning of our love story.

Our story isn’t perfect, but that is what makes love so beautiful. God brings two completely different people together and makes them one. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know he will be there… making me laugh, encouraging my dreams, strengthening my faith, and leaving the toilet seat up. Over the past decade, Brian and I have created a life together… a life of excitement and passion. I can’t wait to see where God’s plan will take us, I can’t wait to raise a family together and watch my husband become an amazing father, and I can’t wait to wake up next to him every morning for the rest of my life.

September 11th is a bittersweet day for me. I remember the nervous butterflies when he picked me up for our date in 1999 and I remember holding his hand silently watching the news coverage in 2001. Although our story means the world to me, there is a more important story for the world. Life can change in an instant. Be happy, love more, and focus on the gifts that God has given you!

Luscious Lemon

2009-08-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

I spent last Saturday in the kitchen, testing and tasting my way through several new recipes. I love days like that, so relaxing and peaceful. The end result was a freezer full of homecooked meals and a batch of delicious lemon cupcakes on my counter... staring at me... teasing me...

I brought the Luscious Lemon Cupcakes to our friends Eric & Jenn later that evening. Whew! Was I ever glad to get those out of my house... I was going to need elastic waitband pants if I continued on that path. Too yummy!

Who took that big bite? Oh yeah, it was me. Definately me.

Lions, Tigers & Bears

2009-08-24T05:28:00.001-07:00

I am a big fan of first birthdays... babies and toddlers everywhere, families coming together, and kids covering themselves in frosting and cake. Wouldn't it be great if we could dive into our cake every year and get coated from head to toe in buttercream? I guess that is why the first birthday is so special.

Peyton's mommy planned such a fun jungle-themed party for her little birthday boy. She found the most adorable napkins, plates and decorative animal picks for the cupcakes. I made a Chocolate "smash" cake for Peyton and a mixture of Chocolate, Vanilla and Banana Cupcakes for his friends. Yum!

Bananas & Brownies

2009-08-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

Last week I celebrated my 26th birthday surrounded by people that I love, playing with my two nephews, and soaking up the sun at the beach... what more could a girl wish for? Here's a quick post to catch you up on some yummy goodies that have been coming out of my kitchen...

I made this Roasted Banana Sheet Cake on a lazy Sunday afternoon and brought it to my in-laws for an after dinner treat. This has to be one of the most delicious and simple sheet cakes I have ever made! Just look at that vanilla glaze on top... yum!

I made these Homemade Double-Chocolate Brownies for a dinner party with some friends from church. I topped the brownies with a dollop of peanut butter frosting. Can't beat that sweet and salty taste!

Coming Soon - I have several cute cupcakes & cookies on the books. Stay tuned to see pictures of my Jungle-Theme Cupcakes, Baby Shower Cookies, and even an Armadillo Groom's cake!

Mint-Chocolate Cupcakes

2009-08-05T04:51:00.001-07:00

I am a girl who knows what she likes. Some people prefer the frosting, some people prefer the cake. I prefer to taste a little of both! This cupcake is proof of why mint and chocolate make a great team.

I was asked to bring in something yummy for a birthday in the office, and these were a big hit! The frosting was filled with minty-goodness and the chocolate cake below was moist and flavorful. WOW!

Eleven Layers of Love

2009-07-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

How can I even begin to explain how amazing my mom is? She encourages me, supports me, challenges me and loves me. Yesterday was her birthday, and I wanted to make something special. I didn't want to just throw together another cake. This cake took time. It took love. For mom, I made an 11-layer Chocolate Stripe Cake... and boy was it yummy!

In honor of her birthday (and the 11 layers of goodness pictured below), I decided to recap 11 of my favorites memories with my mom...

11. When she made the turkey "dance" each Thanksgiving
10. Our trip to NYC two summers ago - Legally Blonde!
9. When her front tooth fell out in Panera Bread. Still laughing...
8. Her first glimse of me in my wedding dress
7. When her snow tube came unhooked from the lift. She gracefully slid down the mountain, laughing all the way down.

6. Baking large batches of chocolate chip cookies at Christmas
5. "Momma Schell's Crew" - No decription needed.
4. Watching her spray my childhood bedroom with "monster spray"
3. When she put on my rollerblades and took a trip down the driveway... laughing as she bit the dust.
2. When she acted in my 10th Grade English project video about Edgar Allen Poe
1. When she left a pot of boiling eggs on the stove all day.

Cookies & A Cookie Baker

2009-07-14T04:20:00.001-07:00

Just the word "cookie" makes my heart skip a beat. I have never met a cookie that I didn't like, but Chocolate Chip cookies have to be my ultimate top-of-the-list favorite. Take a look at these beautiful thick and chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies and enjoy some fun facts that you may not know about me...

Ten Things About ME...

# 10 - I take 2 Finstones chewable vitamins every day, but I refuse to take 2 of the same color.

# 9 - I can wiggle my ears on command

# 8 - When I am home alone, I pretend to host my own cooking show.

# 7 - I don't eat condiments - NO ketchup, mustard, cream cheese...

# 6 - I absolutely love my in-laws, which I hear is pretty rare.

# 5 - I am scared to death of getting my wisdom teeth removed.

# 4 - In college, I ate quesadillas from Moe's four times a week

# 3 - I was once stuck in an elevator with 12 Hungarian people.

# 2 - I have kept every card that Brian gave me while we were dating. Three birthday cards in a row were identical. When asked why he bought the same card three times, he said "it must be a good card."

# 1 - I love breakfast for dinner (especially pancakes)

Moose Pie

2009-07-10T05:23:00.000-07:00

What can you make with half of a container of Cool Whip and some chocolate? Try this yummy Moose Pie (also known as "mousse" but I prefer the latter). It is super simple and tastes really yummy on a hot summer day. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/8 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tub Cool Whip, thawed
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups whole milk
Graham cracker pie crust

Directions:
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl until smooth. Stir in 1/8 cup milk and let the chocolate mixture cool to room temperature. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and then fold in the Cool Whip until combined. Spread the chocolate mixture into the bottom of the graham cracker pie crust.

In a separate bowl, combine the instant pudding mix with 1 1/2 cups cold milk and whisk until the lumps are gone. Pour on top of the chocolate mousse and refrigerate the pie at least 4 hours before serving. Top with shaved chocolate and enjoy!

Let Freedom Ring!

2009-07-06T06:07:00.001-07:00

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. What could be better than fireworks, family and summertime!? For the past 4 years, Brian and I have gone to Anna Maria Island for the weekend to watch fireworks on the beach and spend time with people that we love! It is such a fun tradition and I look forward to going every summer.

I wanted to bake something special in honor of the holiday, so I decided to bake something red, white and blue... homemade Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting topped with appropriately colored sprinkles, of course.

A Naked Cupcake...

Cookies N' Cream Dream

2009-07-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

I love first birthday parties... friends, grilled hot dogs, adorable kids, and of course CAKE! Last week, Brody turned the big 1 and his mom and dad celebrated with a traditional summertime gathering. Although he napped through the first half of the party, I think Brody really had fun opening presents and eating cake!

For the party, I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookies & Cream Frosting and Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

I love this picture of the birthday boy... he was digging into the mini cake that Jenny made for him and quickly began to fade. He ate more frosting than I have ever seen a child consume. It was like watching a sugar coma take place. So FUNNY! Stacy and Neal, your little one is just too cute words. I love you guys!

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Pink Polka Dot Bikini

2009-06-23T09:04:00.001-07:00

I love planning events and parties... I love it so much, I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Recreational Event Planning! After this weekend, I think I have met my match...Shelby's mom, Heather is a NATURAL! For her daughter's 4th birthday, she planned a super-fun polka dot pool party. There were chicken fingers and french fries, adorable polka dot serving dishes, and even colorful paper plates attached to the pool's cabana to look like polka dots! Heather is amazing with details, so I wanted to make sure the cake was no exception.

For Shelby's cake, I made a two-tier Chocolate Cake with Fudge Filling and Lemon Cake with Lemon Curd Filling. The entire cake was frosted with White Chocolate Buttercream and decorated with colorful fondant dots.

For Shelby's party favors, I made these adorable polka-dot Bikini Sugar Cookies. They are decorated with royal icing and packaged in cellophane gift bags tied with wire ribbon. Shelby wore a pink polka dot swimsuit of her own... so CUTE!

Finally, here is a picture of Mandi and I with the cookies. Remember Mandi's birthday cake? I just love this girl (and her family too!). Heather, thanks for trusting me with such a fun birthday cake... oh yeah, and tell Eric I mentioned him on the Blog as promised!

My Friend The Marshmallow

2009-06-20T04:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Marshmallow Frosting,
Thank you for being the most amazing thing in the world. You can turn any bad day into a great day. I hope to see you again soon.
Sincerely,
Andrea

hahaha! Seriously, this frosting is my FAVORITE. It tastes perfect with chocolate cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, and just about any cupcake you put below it. For Kierstyn's 2nd Birthday party, her mommy asked me to make Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes topped with Fudge Frosting and Marshmallow Frosting. I finally got to use those green polka-dot cupcake papers... look how cute!

For her cake, I made a mini Vanilla Butter Cake with Pink Lemonade Frosting & Filling. I added a monogram "K" at the top for her name. I hope the birthday girl loved it!

Be there, or be square.

2009-06-16T15:36:00.001-07:00

I adore square-shaped cakes. They look so modern and fresh. A few months ago, my mom and I stopped in a HomeGoods store during my quest to find a square cake platter, and there it was, sitting on the clearance shelf surrounded by broken picture frames and dust-covered vases. This ceramic beauty was in perfect condition and I couldn't wait to use it. Best of all, it cost less than 10 items from the $1 menu at McDonalds!

Remember the Handy Manny cake I made for Brock? Well, it was his big sister's turn to get a special cake of her own this past weekend. I made a four-layer Vanilla Butter Cake with White Chocolate frosting for Bethany's 9th birthday. I topped the cake with tropical yellow flowers made out of fondant.

Bethany came with her dad to pick up the cake... and I am so happy she did because I was able to see the excitement on her face when she first saw it! Priceless!

I Have A Package For You

2009-06-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

I love that line from Legally Blonde when the UPS man brings a package into the nail salon and says, "I have a package for you," and Elle repeats exactly what he just said... CLASSIC. Well, I didn't get to see the UPS man, but he did leave a package on my doorstep today. I ordered these fabulous cupcake papers for some upcoming parties and showers.

Lime green polka-dot cupcake papers... yeah, that just happened.

Stay tuned to see pictures of the yummy cupcakes that I am going to make with these little jewels. Happy Friday!

She's got jalapeno hands!

2009-06-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

It's not very often that you meet a friend with whom you share so many common passions and goals. I met Jenny while I was in college and we have been getting closer ever since. She loves baking, cooking and watching the food network just as much as I do... if you can believe that. In fact, I think it would be great to own our own cake shop together some day!

Jenny is so much fun and has the rare ability to go-with-the-flow. For her big 25th Birthday Bash, I wanted to make her a unique cake that tasted delicious too. Since Jenny is a cake connoisseur, I figured I couldnt go wrong with a giant S'more-flavored cake! That is why I made this stacked cake with a layer of moist chocolate cake, a layer of graham cracker cake and topped it all off with marshmallow frosting.

In keeping with our tradition that started back in 2006, Jenny and I took this picture doing what we do best... eating CAKE! We have marked every special occasion (friends weddings, baby showers, football games, and even trips to Savannah) by taking a picture with cake (or whatever food we can get our hands on). Jenny, I hope you had the BEST birthday ever... aside from digging out the jalapeno seeds with your hands... thanks for being AMAZING!

Vanilla Ice-Ice-Baby

2009-06-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

I never imagined that finding a great vanilla cupcake recipe would actually be difficult. A few weeks ago, I set out on a recipe testing journey (that's sounds pretty exciting, doesnt it?) to find the yummiest vanilla cupcake possible. This wasn't the winner, but it was a really close stop on the road to vanilla perfection. I used Billy's Vanilla Cupcake recipe (you can find it on Google) and topped it with buttercream frosting.

The cupcakes were light and airy,and had a nice texture. I did find that the next day, the cupcakes were already losing that moist texture... not good for my late Friday night baking sessions for Saturday parties! I guess I will have to keep tasting new cupcakes for now :)

One Fish, Two Fish, Pink & Blue Starfish

2009-05-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

I love bridal showers. They are a great excuse to get together with your best girlfriends and close family members and just spend time with each other. I will never forget the amazing cupcakes that Mrs. Wiggins made for my bridal shower, and I hope that Monica won't forget these! For Monica's shower, I made Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. I topped with cupcakes with Tiffany blue and salmon pink white-chocolate starfish. Yum!

Congratulations Monica and Greg... I wish you guys a long and SWEET marriage! Thanks again to Lauren for trusting me with this opportunity. Here is a photo of the cupcakes ready to be picked up. Enjoy!

Perfect Pineapple Wedding Cake

2009-05-23T08:27:00.001-07:00

There was a lot of love and do-it-yourself projects that went into our wedding day. We painted wooden table numbers, hand-sewed the ring pillow, made the veil, dug holes for the 10-ft bamboo poles around the dancefloor, and selected each song to be played by our cousin and brother-in-law on the guitar during our ceremony. The entire planning process itself is a wonderful memory.

One of my absolute favorite elements of the day was - of course - our cake. A few people asked me if I made it... and I probably just looked at them with one of those "are you crazy" kind of looks. We selected an island pineapple cake from Cakes by Carie in Eustis. It was simple, elegant and delicious.

My uncle Bill spent hours in his workshop making the special wooden box that our cake was displayed on. I now use the box for wedding keepsakes such as invitations, pressed flowers, etc. I know this sounds cheesy, but I hope my daughter will want to use this cake stand for her wedding one day.

Now, if only our one year anniversary would get here ASAP... I am having trouble staying away from the cake in our freezer!!

PB&Yay!

2009-05-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

Alright, I know what you are thinking... what is it with me & peanut butter? Well... taste one of these cupcakes and you will find out!! I was testing recipes a few weeks ago and found this oh-my-goodness-rock-your-world recipe for Peanut Butter Cupcakes. So yummy!

I shared these cupcakes with my mother-in-law and she loved them just as much as I did!

He sure is a handy man...

2009-05-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I was asked to make "Handy Manny" themed cupcakes and a cake for a little boy named Brock on his 4th birthday. For the party, I made Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla-Marshmallow Frosting. I topped the cupcakes with handmade fondant "tools," which were characters from the Handy Manny cartoon. So cute!

I also made a Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream frosting...

Here are the cakes ready to be picked up. I wasn't there to see his reaction when he first laid eyes on the cake... but I was so happy to get a phone call from Brock's mom later that day expressing how yummy everything was. Brock even got on the phone to say thank you!

Fight for the cure!

2009-05-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer that every little bit helps. I joined a Relay for Life team at work this year... and we raised almost $2,000 to help find a cure for cancer! To raise money, we had a bake sale (of course!), yard sale, and sold candy bars at the hospital for Doctor's Day.

For the evening of Relay, I made these Strawberry Cake Pops and Chocolate Cake Pops. They turned out really yummy... the strawberry was my favorite! Take a look...

MMMMM... the Strawberry pops were coated in crunchy white candy coating.

The chocolate cake pops were good too... covered in red candy coating.

Did you really make these?

2009-05-04T05:54:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, we invited my mom and Mimi over for an evening of dinner and browsing through wedding pictures online. My Mimi is 84 and adores chocolate even more than I do... now that is a true love affair! She is always saying something funny and typically mentions Johnny Depp at least twice a day.

To prepare my house for Mimi's visit, I knew I needed CHOCOLATE. I decided to make these Homemade Peanut Butter Cups... and boy was she happy I did!

After she ate peanut butter cup # 1, she said to me, "Did you really make these?" After she ate peanut butter cup # 2, she told my mom "chocolate is healthy, Shannon." After she ate peanut butter cup # 3, she asked for a ziplock bag to pack a few for the road. Are you inspired? You should be... she still weighs 120 lbs! CRAZY!

They go together like peas & carrots.

2009-04-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Brian and Phil have been attached at the hip for longer than I can remember. They are obsessed with grilling rib-eye steaks, target practice with their bow & arrows and reminiscing about the years-gone-by when they were roommates. They both stood by each others’ side on their wedding days and they share common goals in life.

This year on Phil’s 28th birthday, we celebrated with friends at a local restaurant. I made Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting for dessert. The cakes were light and fluffy, not like a typical carrot cake, which can be very dense.

As with any gathering that includes the Egner family, there was not a crumb left in sight. Here is a picture of the birthday boy with Brian and Kenny. (notice my lovely cupcakes on the table in front of them!)

You've got to know when to hold em'

2009-04-21T14:45:00.001-07:00

Have you ever woken up on a lazy Saturday morning and felt the desire to bake? If you answered "yes," then welcome to my world. Some days, all I want to do is stand in my kitchen and whisk things. The word "obsession" doesn't even begin to describe it.

On Saturday, my husband invited the guys over for a game of poker. Always looking for an opportunity to test a new recipe, I wandered out of bed into the kitchen to try my hand at Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies... and I knew the guys would help me eat them. These cookies are moist and flavorful. Best of all, you don't have to jump off the healthy train to enjoy them.

I set out a platter of the cookies and went to spend the evening with Lauren, Raigan and Harrison. When I got home later that night, the pile of cookies had disappeared, leaving only a trace of crumbs in its place. Well, in my world an empty cookie platter only means one thing... SUCCESS!

May I borrow your can opener?

2009-04-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Being a newlywed is exciting. You learn that a dining room table isn't a necessity, borrowing a couch from friends makes a house feel like a home, and that Wusthof Blackwood Knife set from Williams Sonoma isn't the key to happiness.

One of the first dinners that I made for Brian after the wedding was chicken tortilla soup, which called for a can of tomatoes. The soup was on the stove and almost done... and that's when I realized we didn't own a can opener! Luckily, Aunt Nancy down the street let us borrow hers. Well, the same thing happened the other day while I was making Classic Banana Bread. Realizing that we don't own a loaf pan, I decided to bake the bread in a bundt pan!

The bread turned out delicious and the bundt pan worked great. My recipe has brown sugar and sour cream, two ingredients not typically found in banana bread. Next time I make it, I will try adding pecans or walnuts to add some crunch.

I guess it is time that we use all of those Williams Sonoma gift cards we got at the wedding to buy a loaf pan and a can opener!

The Easter Bunny Likes Carrots.

2009-04-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. And not for the obvious reasons of sugar consumption and chocolate bunnies. I love what the day represents and the time that we get to spend with family.

Brian and I had Easter dinner at Grandma & Grandpa Sellers' house and I made a fresh Carrot Cake to complete the traditional meal. This cake has a full pound of grated carrots, chopped pecans, and lots of homemade cream cheese frosting on top. Eating vegetables should always taste this yummy!

While I was baking, Brian asked me why I decided to make carrot cake. [He always asks me weird questions.] So I told him that the Easter bunny likes to eat carrots. He responded by saying "You're wrong. The Easter bunny likes Easter eggs." Yes, my husband is twisted. At least the cake had eggs in it... that made him happy.

Pretty In Pink

2009-04-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

Birthdays are momentous. I think they are so important, they deserve an entire week of celebration. To put it lightly, I LOVE birthdays.

Today is Mandi's 26th birthday and we are all a little tired from the super-fun-filled weekend we just had! Mandi is more than amazing. She has such a good heart and understands the true meaning of friendship. She has an obsession with Gatorade, loves watching re-runs of Newlyweds, has more white shirts than anyone I know, adores her niece & nephew, and believes in the power of prayer. Best of all, she has a contagious laugh that I always catch. My husband says when I am with Mandi I act like a "goofball." Need I say more?

What is a birthday celebration without cake? For Mandi, I made a 4-layer Fluffy Lemon Cake with lemon curd filling and pink lemonade frosting. She was so surprised when we brought out the cake and all of the colors came together so perfectly... it looked like a celebrity birthday bash!

This Cake is Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

2009-04-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

Brian and I eat alot of bananas. In fact, my grocery cart seems to magnetically attract bananas everytime I am in the store. I guess I'm afraid there will be a banana shortage or something.

I rejoice on those rare occasions when several bananas don't get eaten and begin to turn brown. Over-ripe bananas don't last long in my kitchen... they quickly turn into quickbread or these amazingly wonderful cupcakes.

One of my best friends, Lauren, just celebrated her 29th birthday and I wanted to make her a sweet treat. I took the same recipe that I used to make her daughter's first birthday cake back in 2007 and made these delicious Banana Cupcakes. The cakes are light and fluffy with intense banana flavor. I topped them off with cream cheese-peanut butter frosting to satisfy her sweet tooth.

When I delivered them to Lauren's house, Raigan (her daughter) instantly licked the frosting off of one and wouldn't even share with mommy! That is a good sign...

I Love You Blue

2009-04-02T08:05:00.000-07:00

Will Farrell said it best in the movie Old School when he expressed his love for the old man named Blue. Well, I am in love with Blue too... blue-berries, that is. Earlier this week, Brian and I joined the Moser family for dinner and I made a fresh Blueberry Streusel Cake for dessert. I feel so blessed to have many different families that love us and make us feel at home. The Moser's are no exception. I have always been inspired by Cheryl's passion for baking. In fact, everytime we visit their house, I catch up on several months' of Taste of Home magazine!

The term "streusel" is a German word that means something scattered or sprinkled. The crumb topping on this cake has cinnamon and nutmeg, two of my favorite baking spices. The topping becomes crisp after the cake cools and adds a nice contrast to the lemony cake underneath.

While eating his second slice, Blake asked me if chocolate would be good in this cake. I am a firm believer that chocolate makes everything taste better, so I will definately try adding a drizzle of chocolate on top next time I make this cake!

Every teenage girl needs a pink party cake!

2009-02-21T08:29:00.000-08:00

I remember turning 13... I drove my mom crazy about finally being a teenager. This is a milestone birthday for every little girl because it marks the beginning of such a fun part of life.

I recently made this two-layer stacked cake for Morgan, my best friend Lauren's little sister. She had a 60's themed party and the black & pink colors blended so well with all of their soda shop decorations.

Shower her with lingerie...

2009-01-24T11:56:00.001-08:00

When I got the call from Tiffany asking me to make a creative cake for Krisie's lingerie shower, I must admit... I was a little nervous! Don't get me wrong, I love a good challenge. But baking for people you went to high school with can be intimidating. There's the desire to impress, the feelings of insecurity, and the passion to do your best.

Krisie is getting married one week before me and we have both dated our husbands-to-be for nearly 10 years! She is a beautiful person, inside and out. I made her a Red Velvet cake with classic cream cheese frosting. I love this traditional southern recipe!

When I delivered the cake, all of my nerves and insecurities went away immidiately. I was greeted by several old friends that I haven't seen in years. Best of all... they each said the nicest things about my cakes! I truly felt honored to bake this cake for such a special occasion in Krisie's life.

Baby Harrison is almost here!

2008-12-16T18:27:00.001-08:00

Life becomes so much more fun and exciting when your friends start having children... at least for me it did! Growing up, I was never really around babies. When Brian's sister had Jason, I was hooked. His contagious giggles and addiction to the word "what?" made me fall in love with children. Then our best friends Phil & Lauren had Raigain and Eric & Jennifer had Nolan. I just love all of these kids!

Phil & Lauren are having another baby... a little boy who is going to be named Harrison. He is going to be a lean, mean hunting machine! And if he is anything like him mom and dad, he is going to love CAKE! For Lauren's baby shower, I made a 2-layer Fluffy Lemon Cake with lemon curd filling and lemonade frosting. Delicious!

He's a Curious Little Monkey

2008-11-23T06:19:00.000-08:00

I remember the night we had dinner with Eric & Jenn and they told us they were having a baby. I remember hearing the news while we were in Arkansas that Nolan was born. I remember the first time I held that sweet baby boy. Where does the time go?

Nolan's first birthday is already here. I know that he is such a blessing for our friends Eric & Jennifer. They threw him a special "Curious George" birthday party with their closest friends and family. I was so excited when Jenn told me the theme... I quickly began researching photos of that silly little monkey and the man with the yellow hat.

For Nolan, I made a special Banana Cake with banana pudding filling and homemade buttercream frosting. He had only eaten a few tastes of desserts in his first year, so this was his first real cake to dig into. I also made two Chocolate Chip Cookie Cakes for the grown ups.

At first, he wasn't sure... but once he warmed up to the idea of consuming massive quantities of sugar without mommy stopping him, he enjoyed himself! I can't wait to make his second birthday cake!

Blues Clues Birthday Girl

2008-11-17T19:48:00.001-08:00

Brian has a silly nickname for me... he likes to poke fun at my small "cup size" by calling me "Boobs." When our best friends, Phil & Lauren had their beautiful baby girl we tried to come up with a nickname that she could use for me while growing up. We felt that "Boobs" would be a little inappropriate for a 2 year old to call me in the middle of Wal-Mart, so we decided on "Aunt TaTa."

To this day, I still laugh everytime I walk in the room and she runs at me yelling "TaTa! TaTa!" I wonder how old she will be when that stops...

For Raigan's Blues Clues birthday party, I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream frosting and blue doggie paws. I also made two Chocolate Chip Cookie Cakes decorated with "birthday Blue."

It amazes me how much I love her. I am having so much fun watching her grow up... I can't wait to bake her 3rd birthday cake, 4th birthday cake, 5th birthday cake...

Baptisms & Baby Showers

2008-09-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

I feel so honored that people invite me into their lives for such special occasions. A friend of mine recently baptised her baby girl, Hannah. She asked if I would bake a cake and cupcakes for the affair. I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting and a Vanilla Butter Cake with Raspberry Filling.

I was also asked to bake for a Noah's Ark-themed baby shower. I made Chocolate Cupcakes and Cake with homemade buttercream frosting. I wasn't there to see the mom-to-be's reaction to the cakes, but I truly hope she loved them!

Blueberry Cupcake Recipe - Cooking Light Magazine

2008-08-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

Every month I can't wait for my next issue of Cooking Light Magazine. I have subscribed for almost 4 years now and I love all of their recipes. I found this recipe and fell in love. Lemon and Blueberry is one of my all-time favorite combos. Just thought I would share...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups + 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

10 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. baking soda

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 large egg

1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 cup fresh blueberries

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Sift together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter and egg. Whisk in the buttermilk, milk and lemon zest. Add the buttermilk mixture to flour mixture in three additions, scraping the bowl after each. Fold the blueberries into the batter and pour into a lined cupcake tin. Bake for 25 minutes. Top with cream cheese frosting and fresh blueberries. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Join the Mickey Mouse Club!

2008-08-14T17:50:00.001-07:00

Recently, a friend from work asked me to make cupcakes and a special cake for her daughter's Mickey Mouse themed birthday party. Her daughter, Jordan is just an adorable little thing, so I wanted to make some of my favorite recipes for her!

I made Banana Cupcakes with Fudge Frosting, Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting, and a Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Everything turned out delicious and I just loved the red & black color scheme. So cute!

Sugar is sweet and so are you...

2008-05-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Roses are red, violets are blue. I love cupcakes and so do you. Here are some fun cupcakes and cakes that I have made recently. Enjoy!

Fist, the spring daisy cupcakes were made for a local women's organization dinner party. They were Lemon Cupcakes with Lemonade frosting. I made little fondant daisies to top them off.

Next, I made Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes with Buttercream frosting. I made the frosting two-toned using half pink and half white, then I topped the cakes with colorful sprinkles!

I was so happy to make these treats for an adorable little girl named Brylee. They were Vanilla Cupcakes with Pink Lemonade Frosting. I molded white chocolate butterflies to top the little cakes and hand-tied bows for a girly finish.

Finally, I made this Pink Lemonade birthday cake for my friend Lena. I used white chocolate to create the circle in the middle and piped her name with the pink lemonade frosting.

Strawberries & shortcake... what's not to love?

2008-05-14T19:11:00.001-07:00

When I was growing up, I had Strawberry Shortcake wallpaper. She was my favorite character in whole world. Call me crazy, but I used to think I looked like her! Short... freckles... you get the picture. I guess it goes without saying that I was more than happy to make this cake for a 5th birthday party.

The actual cake is Strawberry (it's only fitting) and the frosting is cream cheese. I was shopping at Michael's Craft store one day and came accross this adorable little candle... which is now sitting atop the cake. I can't wait to create more fun cakes like this one!

Here comes baby J!

2008-05-04T14:14:00.000-07:00

I am so excited because one of my college roomates is having a baby boy! She is such a sweet person and I know she is going to be an amazing mom. For her baby shower, I made Martha Stewart's Coconut Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. I topped them with sweetened flaked coconut and piped little blue "Js" on top for Baby Joyner.

I had so much fun hanging out with my favorite girls at the baby shower. I miss seeing them everyday! Cant wait for more bridal showers, baby showers and weddings in the near future!

Greatest Combination on Earth

2008-04-22T18:03:00.001-07:00

Peanut butter and chocolate. This is my ultimate, hands-down, favorite flavor combination known to mankind. Okay, so maybe I am getting a little dramatic... but if I am ever stranded on a deserted island and had to choose three things to take with me, I would want peanut butter, chocolate and milk.

I made these yummy Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting for the ladies at my office and the breakroom looked like a swarm of bees on a honeycomb. They went crazy for these little cakes! And I completely understand why.

Showers for a new baby girl

2008-04-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I got the call about Lena's baby shower... and then even more excited when I got the call about her next baby shower a few weeks later! She is having a baby girl, and I have always loved decorating girly cakes.

For the first shower, I made this Vanilla Cake with Raspberry Filling and decorated it with a basketweave design and rockinghorse drawing. I also made Pink Lemonade Cupcakes and Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting. Yumm!

For her next baby shower, I made a two-tier Fresh Strawberry Cake decorated in pink and brown. The cake was topped with a baby carriage drawing and the date of the shower. Also, check out those adorable cupcake favor boxes that the hostess found! We filled the favor boxes with Banana Cupcakes topped with Cream Cheese frosting or Chocolate Fudge Frosting.

Spring Fling

2008-04-06T12:48:00.000-07:00

I love the first days of Spring... everything is so crisp and fresh, the colors are bright and cheery, and the urge to bake gets even stronger! To welcome Spring, I made this little Dragonfly Vanilla Cake with Buttercream Frosting.

Spring is also a great season for showers... lingerie showers, in fact! For my college friend, Lauren, I made this Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake with a margarita theme to go along with her "fiesta" Lingerie Shower. Everyone loved the cake and I had so much fun catching up with the girls! Congrats Lauren & Scott!

Gimmie S'more

2008-03-23T10:19:00.001-07:00

My friend Lauren and I share one major thing in common... our LOVE for chocolate! We have spent many weekends and nights together feasting on sweets while our men were off hunting, fishing, or just being weird together. You see, Phil and Brian are best friends... that leaves plenty of quality time for me and Lauren!

For her 28th birthday, I made Lauren these AMAZING S'mores cupcakes... Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting topped with Hershey's Bars and Graham Crackers. I can't think of anything more delicious!