Sunday, November 1, 2009

Happy Birthday!

This past weekend we celebrated our youngest's 7th birthday. Shamefully, her birthday was earlier this month, but this was the first opportunity we have had to host a party for her. She was very excited to celebrate her birthday on Halloween afternoon and the possibilities that that offered for her party theme. Her only request for her cake was that it not be "spooky". Cuz "Mommy, spooky is no fun and it's my birthday. So it should be a happy cake with all the colors but no ghosts or spooky stuff." Her simple request made my heart swell and gave me even more determination to make her a beautiful and fun, Halloween themed birthday cake.

The bottom layer of her cake was chocolate fudge with buttercream filling. Very simple flavors, but we're talking about young girls taste pallats here. I didn't think they would appreciate some extravagent flavored cake with a fruit or fanciful filling. Simple is often times better, especially with youngins'. We decided that this layer would be wrapped with purple fondant and decorated with moons, pumpkins and witch's hats. This year Lauren chose an adorable little witch costume and when I told her that the hats on the cake represented her costume she thought that was pretty cool! :)

The top layer was milk chocolate with buttercream filling. One of Lauren's favorite Fall candy is Candy Corn. So I wrapped the layer with orange fondant and draped it with yellow and white "ribbons" of fondant and then rolled the ribbons to make a large bow for the top. She LOVED it!!
The birthday girl with her cake.
Another view of Lauren's cake



We also wanted to have special party favors for all of her friends and Lauren asked if I could make Halloween cookies for everyone. Well, when I bake cookies for everyone else who asks, and my husband and kids always come first, this was a no brainer....I geared up and baked and decorated 5 dozen cookies. The birthday cake cookies are inspired by, and a direct copy of, cookies I saw on Bridget's blog. If you enjoy decorating sugar cookies, you MUST check out her amazing blog!! She is so inspirational and offers so many "how-to's" for decorating. Thanks Bridget for sharing your talent and inspiration with all of us!! The birthday cookie was Lauren's favorite and she thought it was so cool that each one had 7 candles on them. :)

I think this little bucket of goodies turned out to be my favorite treat for all the girls! Why? Well, as I was rolling fondant and decorating the cake Lauren came to me and asked if she could do anything to help. One of the best advise I've ever received  has been to embrace and accept help from my children as often as possible. To learn to let go of my desire to have things perfect and cherish the opporunities of working alongside my kids. So..I melted the chocolates for the pretzals, stood Lauren on a chair at the stovetop, showed her how to cover half the pretzals with the chocolate and sprinkles and......stepped away. I wish I had taken a picture of her as she worked diligently at her task. She was so precious to watch with her serious little face as she worked on her task and I loved watching her tiny fingers twirl the pretzals in the colorful chocolate. But the best moment was when she turned to me with a HUGE smile of success after filling two baking sheets with cooling chocolate covered pretzals and said, "Mommy, I'm all done with my job. Is there anything else I can do?" Priceless!!!

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial of our precious daughter's birthday celebration. I know she'll be beyond excited when she sees her pictures on the blog and any responses that you may write.  :)

From the heart of my kitchen to yours, may your experience be fun and the food always flavorful. Enjoy!

17 comments:

Coleens Recipes said...

You are SUCH a good mom!!! Your daughters cake is awesome!! You did an excellent job and the colors couldn't be more perfect. I love the photo of the birthday girl and her cake...just precious. I am very impressed. HAPPY BIRTHDAY little one!!

Emmy said...

What an amazing cake!! Love it. So perfect. Sounds like she had a wonderful birthday.

bridget {bake at 350} said...

Gosh, I wish I could have come to that party!

First...that birthday girl is darling!!!

Second...that CAKE! Wow...gorgeous!

Third...the cookies are just precious! I love your assortment and the posies cake cookies! Love the purple!

Thanks so much for letting me know about your post! I'll be looking for my invitation next year. LOL! ;)

Melanie said...

Wow! That cake is amazing and so are the sugar cookies. I am so impressed!

Barbara Bakes said...

What a beautiful cake for a beautiful daughter!

House Queen said...

Wow!
Stopping by from SITS...
You rock in the kitchen!
Amazing cake!
Have a great week!

http://housequeen.blogspot.com

Cindy said...

Lauren is the cutest little gal! Her cake is so fun, and I love the cookies. So many inspiring bakers--I love finding new blogs! My girls are grown and cooking with their own daughters now. But, I always keep a stick of butter out so I am always ready to roll! Enjoy your little ones.

teresa said...

wow wow wow! the cake is just lovely! my daughter would flip for a cake like this, well done!

cookies and cups said...

very cute cake! I love purple with the orange and white! very cute!

Reeni said...

Your daughter is just precious! The cake is adorable - and so are the cookies. Love the birthday cake cookie - that's my fave too.

CaSaundraLeigh said...

Your creations are so inspiring--never cease to amaze me!

Btw, I love your Thanksgiving layout!

theUngourmet said...

Such a darling cake. Nice job! I've never worked with fondant. I want to try it sometime!

Your daughter is really cute! :D

Thanks for stopping over today! Have a great weekend!

Natalie said...

What a great sounding and looking cake! I would have loved a cake and matching goodies as a kid :D

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Aw, she's a doll! And what a wonderful Mom you are!

Everything looked terrific, Christy.
~ingrid

Jaime said...

what a beautiful cake!! great job. I also love the decorated sugar cookies!

Krista said...

This cake is so cool! Excellent work!

I love working with my daughters in the kitchen. I'm not the most patient woman, I often have to take a deep breath and a step back before I let go of "perfect". Sometimes easier said than done, but so worth the lessons learned and the time spent together.

You are a wonderful mommy!

Leslie said...

K..you get the Mom of the year award!! What a cute cake!!! And your daughter is precious. Shes gonna be a little heartbreaker!
Thanks for you well wellwishes on my blog. We are all still sick sick sick! So very frustrating!