My Great Grandmother's Birthday

For my great grandmother's birthday, I wanted a cake that would be cute and festive, but we also wanted something nicer than a sheet cake with "Happy Birthday" written across it. You only turn 102 once, you know!

So, I adapted Wilton's "Quiet Violets" cake and came up with this. The top messed up just a little before I could take the picture, but I think it is still a good representation.

Cupcakes!

Don't get me wrong; full sized cakes are great and the decorating possibilities are limitless, but sometimes, a cupcake is just what hits the spot. They're conveniently pre-portioned and have made quite the comeback within the last few years. So much so that entire blogs and cookbooks are dedicated the the glory of a cupcake.

I must confess that this particular cupcake was not made from scratch (although I am working on a scratch version); it is a recipe from Anne Byrn's Cupcakes! From the Cake Mix Doctor. This indispensable little cookbook features creative and delicious cupcake recipes and decoration ideas for all occasions and tastes.

The flavor of these little cakes was unexpectedly a hit with everyone. They're Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Mocha Buttercream. Even those who aren't so hot on coffee loved these! So, if you want me to bake something fabulous for you, don't forget these little cakes. I can do many flavors and can also adapt these same flavors to layer cakes. If you so desire, I will work to get it right from scratch.

So, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a cupcake!

When Nesiya, fellow Gardner-Webb alumna and new bride, contacted me about a groom's cake for her new husband, she envisioned a cake made of red velvet and something showing his love of the Dallas Cowboys. I suggested a cake shaped like a helmet, and she liked that idea. Below are the fruits of my labor. The cake is traditional red velvet, but instead of the traditional cream cheese frosting, I used white chocolate buttercream. We found it complemented the cake really well, and it fit the request of buttercream from Nesiya.

Thanks for viewing my cakes!

Lauren

Welcome!

As Marie Antoinette said, "let them eat cake!" I've made it my mission to carry that out. Welcome to my cake blog, which I hope will be a good introduction of my work to you.


After becoming addicted to the Food Network, planning my wedding, and taking a cake decorating class for fun, I decided that cake decorating is fun- so much fun that I want to do more it more often. I love the fact that I can help others with their special events while finding a creative outlet.


I am based in Shelby, NC and currently run a small operation. All posts following will be the cakes I have decorated. If you are in the area and want a cake, please feel free to contact me by leaving a comment or e-mailing laurenmgivens@gmail.com.

Some background information:


All cakes are homemade by me, so you are automatically buying a gift made with a lot more personalization and care than a frozen, factory made cake from a supermarket bakery.


I am willing to travel, so if you are not right in the Shelby area, that is OK!

I will make just about any flavor cake you want, but some that I make include:

• Yellow Butter Cake


• White Butter Cake


• Chocolate


• Devils Food


• White Chocolate Cake


• Red Velvet

If you don't see the cake of your choice on the list, don't worry! I will work with you to create the cake you want.

Currently I do not have a price list but a quote can be worked up after we establish what you want.

Valorie's Wedding Cake

My roommate from my freshman year, Valorie, was married to her long time boyfriend and fiance, Kris on August 16, 2008. Deciding to move up her wedding date and wanting to be economical, she asked yours truly to make and decorate her cake. While she wanted a cake to cut and save, her main wish was for decorated cupcakes. She wanted flowers on each cupcake, and, since her colors were light and dark pink, we alternated colors on the cupcakes as well. Below are pictures of my work.

This first picture is of the whole cake/cupcake combination presentation.
Below is one of the cupcakes. I apologize for the less than professional photography. In my worry over my first big cake project I forgot to take a camera so all these are taken with a cell phone. The cupcake is a white chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting. The flowers are colored fondant. We alternated lighter and darker pinks. The centers of the flowers are the frosting as well.

Here are two pictures of the cake itself; a sort of overview and a side view. Wanting to allow the cupcakes to shine for their own decorative merit, we opted to keep the decoration of the cake simple. Valorie chose dots with a beaded border and we stuck some of her gerbera daisies on top. The cake was a different variety of white chocolate and the icing is also white chocolate icing. The coordinator of the reception said it was the best wedding cake she'd ever had.