All posts by Melissa

Frozen Icicle Birthday Cake

Celebration Cakes

Frozen Icicle Cake | Lil Miss Cakes

My niece told me that she wanted a Frozen (as in Disney’s Frozen) birthday cake for at least 6 months.  The movie came out just around her 4th birthday so there wasn’t enough time for the obsession to begin.  Last year she asked for a Pirate and Princess Cake, and the year before that I can’t remember what I made her.  For her 2 year old party she was too tiny to decide so her mom requested a Dora and Diego Cake for her to share with her cousin.

Frozen Figures | Lil Miss Cakes

Now I did use a shortcut on this cake just like the last Frozen Cake I made.  I bought figures, little toys, made by Disney to attach to the cake.  This saved me tons of time and the kids get to keep the toys after the party is all over.  I see it as a win-win!

Crystal Sugar Letters | Lil Miss Cakes

I drew the letters of “Abby” on a piece of paper in a Frozen-esque  fashion and then attached crystal sugar to the letters.  I used tylose glue (tylose poweder mixed with water) painted on each letter and then dumped a whole bunch of sugar on the letters before attaching them to the cake.

Olaf Figurine | Lil Miss Cakes

Here’s an obligatory close up of Olaf, since I know he is everybody’s favorite!

Anna and Elsa Figurines | Lil Miss Cakes

I put Anna and Elsa as the cake toppers.  They are surrounded by gum paste snowflakes that I glittered with some crystal sugar.  I added a big number “5” beside them that was also glittered with crystal sugar.  Abby couldn’t wait to snatch them off the cake, but we made her wait to blow out her candles first.

Fondant Icicles | Lil Miss CakesCan I just talk about these fondant icicles for a minute?  I am obsessed with them!  I had the idea of an icicle cake and found one with a tutorial on cake central.  But I kind of made up my own method anyway.  I rolled each icicle by hand and attached them to the cake, one-by-one.  The icicles were able to hang down off the bottom tier because I placed a smaller and short cake as the base cake layer.  The bottom tier is a 7 inch cake covered in white fondant and sugar crystals.  Then I placed an 8 inch tall tier to that base and covered it in ice blue fondant.  I love this effect; it gives the cake an illusion of lightness.

Frozen Fondant Icicles | Lil Miss Cakes

Here is another look at the hanging fondant icicles, just because I’m basically obsessed with them!  Happy 5th Birthday Abby!

Secret Restaurant Recipes Cookbook {review and giveaway}

Cookbook Review

Secret Restaurant Recipes

I’m sure by now you have heard of this exciting new cookbook!  Leah Schapira and Victoria Dwek, authors of the “Made Easy” cookbooks are back with an exciting new cookbook concept!  Leah and Victoria go into the kitchens of more than 70 top kosher restaurants for all over the world to share the recipes behind the dishes that keep us coming back for more. Not only does this book share secret recipes, but these famous chefs share tips, tricks, and techniques that every home cook would love to learn!

What really draws me to cookbooks these days, are the photos included, and this cookbook does not disappoint.  There is  huge color photo for every recipe in this book!  I have already made a few dishes from this book, and they came out exactly as pictured!

I was expecting this gorgeous book to be filled with complicated recipes, but there is a nice range of recipes from simpler to slightly more complex.  A beginner cook will find plenty of recipes to try and can work up to more complicated recipes and techniques.  Some of the recipes require a bit of ingredient sourcing, but as a foodie, this is not a drawback!  I love learning about new ingredients and given a great recipe, I learn how to use these ingredients.  With kosher supermarkets really catering towards kosher foodies, it is not too hard to find new and interesting ingredients.

I love to cook, but as a pastry chef, I am always drawn to the dessert section of cookbooks.  While this book does not offer a huge selection of desserts, the recipes that Leah and Victoria do share look incredible.  Artscroll/Mesorah Publications has given me permission to share this decadent dairy dessert recipe for Praline Brownies from Bagels ‘N Greens.

Praline brownies

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Praline Brownies
Author: 
Serves: 24-30 bars
 
Ingredients
Brownie
  • 8 oz bittersweet chocolate
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
  • 4 eggs
  • 1⅓ cups (11 oz) sugar
  • 1 cup (5 oz) flour
  • ½ cup (2 oz) cocoa
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp nut extract (optional)
  • 2 tsp praline extract (optional)
  • 7 oz white chocolate, coarsely chopped
Chocolate Frosting
  • 10 oz milk chocolate
  • 4 Tbsp praline paste
Garnishes
  • 4 oz mixed crunchy nuts
  • chocolate and white chocolate curls
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a rimmed 9 x 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Melt chocolate with the butter.
  3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whip eggs and sugar at high speed for 5-6 minutes.
  4. Carefully pour in melted chocolate mixture. Sift in flour, cocoa, and salt. Mix until mixture is smooth and shiny, about 4 minutes. Add in extracts, if using. Fold in white chocolate.
  5. Pour batter into prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes (the edges should be hard, top cracked, and middle soft).
  6. Prepare the frosting: Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Add praline paste and mix until combined. Gently pour over the top of the cake. Tilt the pan sideways until entire cake is fully covered. Sprinkle nuts or chocolate curls on top. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, until frosting is set. Let cool before slicing into bars.

Now for the giveway sponsored by Artscroll/Mesorah Publications!  One lucky reader will win a free copy of Secret Restaurant Recipes.  Contest open to US mailing addresses only.  One winner will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends  at 10AM EST on Wednesday, January 15, 2015 Please provide a valid email address; winner will be notified via email. Winner has 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Giveaway is over! Congrats to Manda!
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Tiaras and Stars Birthday Cookies

Cookies

Tiara and Star Sugar Cookies | Lil Miss Cakes

I was asked to make some birthday cookies for a first birthday.  The colors of the party were pink and gold.  Talya’s mom asked for pink tiaras with gold accents and gold stars with pink accents.  When she received the cookies, she was even more excited about the cookies than she expected!

Pink and Gold Tiara Cookies | Lil Miss Cakes

I baked some tiara cookies using my favorite sugar cookie recipe that you can find here and here.  I used my favorite tiara shaped cutter that I once got as a birthday gift!  Once baked, I piped the tiara cookies with pink royal icing.  Once dry, I used yellow royal icing for the details.  Once the yellow was dry, I painted over all the yellow with gold pearl dust mixed with some vodka.

Stenciled Star Sugar Cookies | Lil Miss Cakes

I had a clear vision of what I wanted these cookies to look like and they look just as I imagined!  I baked a simple star shape and then iced them with yellow royal icing.  Once dry, I airbrushed the star cookies with gold airbrush color.  Then I used a star stencil that I designed and 3D printed.  Working one cookie at a time, I placed the stencil over the star cookie and airbrushed it with bronze airbrush color.  I carefully lifted the stencil off and had an amazing starry effect!  I didn’t want to cover it up, but the cookies needed a number 1! So I piped the 1’s on in pink and they looked perfect!  Happy birthday Talya!