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Baby Cakes: Crazy Creepy or Crazy Cute?

babysugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:05:35 -0700

"What's my baby doing on the cake platter taking a nap?" Oh snap! That's a cake! Every baby shower deserves a special dessert but these er... take the cake? Forget the diaper cakes or the diabetic friendly flower pastry. Shower hosts can serve up a frosted newborn on a silver platter.

On the hilarious and ubercreative blog spot Cake Wrecks, we found some unsettling baby confections. What could be creepy about a baby cake? Well for starters, some of them have a doll buried under icing making it look more like a deathbed than a bassinet. And what happens when it comes time to eat the dessert? No guest wants to see the sugary lil toes sliced off for their nibbling pleasure. The bakers are certainly skilled in the decorating department, but maybe a crib full of stuffed toys would have done the trick.

What do you think about these babylicious cakes?

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Freaky Deaky Baby Shower Cakes

babysugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:00:27 -0700

If you thought those sleeping baby cakes were creepy, check out some of the other delicious gems we gathered from Cake Wrecks. Those hard working ladies have come across some pastries that will make you gag, laugh or order the crafty er... dessert. Pay attention so you can cast your vote on the creepiest cake!

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Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun With Twin Diaper Cakes!

babysugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:00:36 -0700

It's multiple mania here at Sugar! After sending queen Sugar on her way to deliver a healthy baby girl, we showered our own LilSugar in bright floral style. The only thing that could outdo those diaper cakes would be TWO of them. More babies mean more festivities and that includes the decorations. Instead of making one grand centerpiece, I opted to make a couple of smaller ones to send our ShopStyle girl off in, well, style!

To see more photos and a detailed explanation on how to make the pair of "pastries," read more.

The party hostess chose the theme and ribbons of pink and black as the mother-to-be is expecting twin daughters and works for our fab group, ShopStyle. Instead of stuffing the base full of diapers, I chose to build around two sparkling bottles of pink champagne that will give the mom some extra incentive to push through labor. Folding each diaper in half, I packed them in a circle and tied them with a thick black grosgrain ribbon. Next, I began to make the second layer and wrapped it with the fleur de lis ribbon. For the top of the cake, I took one diaper and wrapped it tightly around the neck of the bottle and cinched it with the last piece of pink grosgrain ribbon. Instead of a regular cake platter, we placed the cakes on basket weaved platters. To finish the look, take two yards of tulle and tie it up top with a bow. Mommy will be delighted that the twins are already keeping their own identities separate and she'll have twice as many diapers!

* If you do not have a cake plate, you can use a cardboard box as the base. To make it more attractive, wrap it in tissue or adorned paper for an adorable and eco-friendly platter.

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A Sugar Shower to Send LilSugar Off in Style!

babysugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:00:55 -0700

Before LilSugar welcomes her third bebe, we decided to throw a fete in her honor. Not wanting to mess with pale pinks and blues, we went for brighter hues to celebrate the sweet mommy. Orange and green were the colors of choice, which proved to be a fan favorite amongst the baby shower revelers. Also a big hit? Rice Krispie Treats on a stick and Arnold Palmers for everyone!

To see how I made the diaper cake and to see the rest of the fun photos, read more.

Like previously assembled diaper cakes, I started out with a large base of folded disposable nappies and held it together with a large navy grosgrain ribbon. I did the same for the second layer and tied a green ribbon. For the top layer, I used a vase for the centerpiece instead of the more common candy-filled bottle. I encircled it with the remaining diapers and tied the orange bow around it. Not wanting to get water all over the diapers, I filled the container by ladling cups of water until it was three-quarters full. Then I cut a bunch of peachy roses short and popped them in the vase. With the layers and flowers complete, I placed faux orange and yellow flowers sporadically around the cake anchoring them under the ribbons. A fan of the bubbly, I placed a toy popping champagne bottle front and center. Surely the docs will allow her to open this champers in the maternity ward.

One of our ah-mazing teammates took the time to whip up 80 Rice Krispie Treats and wrapped them with coordinating streamers. We draped the room with crepe paper and handed out "Wishes For Baby" that every guest filled out and stuffed into the diaper cake for safe keeping. (You can download a similar version we created for free here!) Though it was a fabulous affair, it has us missing our LilSugar already!

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Come Party With Me: Baby Shower - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 06:59:51 -0700

While a baby shower is generally held to celebrate the upcoming birth of an unborn child, they are also thrown to shower gifts on the baby. I consider a baby shower to be the child's "first" birthday. Much like a wedding, guests are asked to bring essential gifts that will aid the parents in their new life with baby. Diapers, bottles, blankets, clothes, and toys can all be incorporated into the look of the baby shower. The theme colors, pale pink and sky blue in my case, should be used as inspiration for the party decor. Although I included the colors in the invitations, I did not work them into the food or drinks, so I definitely want to use lots of pretty pinks and soft blues in the decorations. To see how I'll do it, and to get some cute baby shower ideas, read more

The baby shower I am planning for Naomi Watts is a sit down luncheon, so tables and chairs are a must. Usually you can rent them for the day cheaply at a local party supply store. I like round tables rather than square tables because you get to sit really close together. Make sure you have seating for all of your guests. For example if you have 25 girls coming get 5 five person round tables.
Dress the tables in blue table cloths or simple white ones with pink and blue details. Make centerpieces with vases filled with an arrangement of fresh pink flowers.

Make a diaper cake and place it festively on a table next to the hors d'oeurves. Or make several and use them as the centerpieces on the tables. Likewise make several baby sock bouquetsusing pink and blue socks and place on small tables around the party space.
Instead of using votive holders, place small candles in baby food jars.
Give a baby bath tub as a gift for the mommy-to-be and fill with the punch or with water and floating candles or blown up balloons.

Hang long strands of pink and blue ribbons, or streamers to curtains, mantles, banquets, or trees (if the party is outdoors).
Hang a clothesline across the room and with the pink/blue clothespins, pin baby clothes along the line.

Use pacifiers as napkin rings.
Use inexpensive baby bottles instead of glasses. Cut the tip off of the nipple and place a pink straw inside. Tape a piece of blue paper to the bottom of one bottle and give the guest who chooses this bottle a prize (Starbuck's card, Mac eye shadows, etc).

Tie pretty pink and blue bows using satin ribbon around the space.
Since you asked guests to wrap presents in either pink or blue paper, arrange them in a visible location decoratively to add to the look.
Fill bowls with pink and blue candies, m&m's, and jelly beans.
Don't forget a special throne/rocking chair for the pregnant guest of honor.

How would you decorate a baby shower for Naomi Watts? Share your awesome ideas below!

Come Party With Me: Baby Shower - Menu (Dessert)

partysugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:28:31 -0700

A decadent dessert is a must for any all girl party and my baby shower definitely falls into that category. After a soup, salad, and sandwich lunch, I want a light yet delectable sweet treat. Anything that involves a lot of chocolate feels too rich and heavy, I prefer a dessert that screams spring. A lemon cake with raspberry filling and smooth white frosting sounds divinely heavenly. The cake can be sliced up after the presents have been opened allowing the mother-to-be time to meet, greet, and thank each of her guests. For the recipe, read more

Raspberry-Lemon Cake
From Food Network

Cake:
3 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/4 cups sour cream
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 1/2 lemons)
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into small pieces
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
5 large eggs, room temperature
Icing and Filling:
1 1/4 cups sugar
5 large egg whites
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Pinch fine salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup seedless red raspberry jam
candied almonds, pastel sanding sugars, optional for garnish

For the cakes: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening or butter. Line bottoms with buttered parchment paper and dust with flour.
Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt into a medium bowl; whisk to combine evenly.
Stir the sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla together in a liquid measuring cup, and set aside.
Beat the butter in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment on high until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Stop and scrape butter off the sides of the bowl.
Continue beating while gradually adding the sugar-- it should take a couple minutes to add all the sugar.
Continue beating until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes more.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in the lemon zest. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
At low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the sour cream in 2 parts, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the top with a knife. (Lightly tap the pan on the counter so the batter settles evenly.)
Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 20 minutes; then turn cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.
For the Icing: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a mixer's bowl above the water.
Whisk the sugar, the egg whites, lemon juice, cream of tartar, and salt in the bowl by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and continue whisking until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar dissolves, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Transfer the bowl to a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat the whites at medium-high speed until they almost holds a stiff peak and are cool, about 10 minutes.
Beat in the butter, a little at a time, until the icing is smooth and spreadable. (If the icing separates, just keep beating and it will come back together.)
To assemble the cake: Slice each cake in half horizontally with a serrated knife, to make 4 even layers, taking care that they are as flat and straight as possible.
Set a large flat plate on a large inverted bowl or bottom of a salad spinner (of course, if you have a cake stand, use that), dabbing a little frosting on the bottom of the plate to secure it. Place a cake layer top side up on the plate.
Using an offset spatula spread about half of the jam in a thin layer over the first cake layer, leaving about 1/4-inch border along the outside. Lay the second cake layer on top, stacking it as straight as possible. Using an offset spatula spread about 1 cup of the icing on the top layer. Place a third cake layer on top. Spread remaining red raspberry jam over the cake layer and place the final layer on top, pressing down lightly to secure all 4 layers together.
Spread about 3/4 of the remaining icing around the sides with a knife or offset spatula, then ice the top of the cake. Use an offset spatula to smooth icing as much as possible.
If desired, garnish with candied almonds and sprinkle the top of the cake with pastel colored sanding sugars.

Serve immediately or set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours before serving. If refrigerating the cake, bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

Serves 8-10.

Make ahead: double wrap the cake in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Print recipe with images | without images

Have a baby shower friendly dessert recipe? Tell me your ideas below! Stay tuned there is more on this party plan to come.

Yummy Links: From Edible Gardens to Cakes

partysugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:50:23 -0700

Following in the footsteps of Michelle Obama, California's first lady, Maria Shriver, plans her own edible garden. - Serious Eats
Hop on the garden bandwagon by growing your own herbs indoors. - Chow
Instead of hosting a baby shower, wait until the baby is born and host a sip and see. - Hostess With the Mostess
The best novels with recipes. - The Epi-Log
What do you think of the Bobby Flay promo for The Next Food Network Star? - Eat Me Daily
When cooking poultry, don't forget to season underneath the skin. - The Kitchn
Hosting a birthday party? Here are 20 delicious cake recipes. - Bon Appétit

Source

Baby Shower for a Sugar Girl

babysugar — Sat, 31 May 2008 05:00:06 -0700

One of our beloved Sugar gals went on leave yesterday to rest up and wait for her water to break. Due in the coming days, we sent cakes7873 off in lilsugar style with a baby shower complete with Sugar decor and sass.

In the last few months, our friend affectionately nicknamed her baby–to–be "Meatball." Instead of busing in a truckload of meatballs, we opted for a breakfast menu with meatball shaped donut holes as a centerpiece. Bagels, donuts, coffee and orange juice were also up for grabs.

For ambiance, we whipped up a diaper cake with ribbons the color of her nursery and rubber fish poking out, as she is a surfer girl. In addition to the diaper cake, we took plain white burp clothes with Sugar stickers adorning them and hung each one from our left over Cinco de Mayo flags. Clipped on with old school diaper pins, orange and blue baby socks dangled from the burp clothes.

And since every expectant girl deserves a gift, we gave the mother–to–be a few of our favorite things.

To see more snapshots from the Sugar soirée, read more.

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Yummy Link: Baby Sock Cupcakes

YumSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:03:18 -0700

I was pretty sure little chocolate pea pods were the cutest baby shower gift ever. However, these baby socks in the shape of cupcakes might just - wait for it - take the cake. - Moochie Moo via Cupcakes Take The Cake

Stripper at a Baby Shower: Ga Ga or Gag?

babysugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:00:49 -0800

It seems everyone is going for broke when it comes to throwing the most original baby shower for their expectant friends. Baby shaped cakes, Gucci crib shoes and champagne fountains are just a few eccentric touches that puzzle me but the one that shocks me most? Strippers. A mother of two with her third on the way was recently feted by her close friends with an unusual soiree. Instead of playing baby games, a group of randy moms decided it would be more fun for the soon-to-be mother-of-three to open layette and booties if a stripper were involved. Dressed up like a mailman, he said he had a special package to deliver for the pregnant mama. When she let him in, he dropped his trousers leaving many of the shower attendees gasping for air. Some ladies egged him on with uproarious laughter and chanting while a few guests took to the kitchen to avoid the striptease. The mother was a good sport and took the surprise in stride.

What do you think about the idea of a stripper at a baby shower?