A Very Hungry Caterpillar

Last year I did my first birthday cake, modeled after Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar.  The body is made from individual cakes baked in a special caterpillar pan and then frosted and covered in fondant.  For a fun touch, I threw Oreos in the food processor to create the dirt that the caterpillar is crawling around on. 

A Baby Shower Cake

If you're just logging on to this blog to see pictures of my cakes, my apologies for not updating!  I have done cakes since 2008.  This blog is to serve as a way to let anyone who may be considering me to see what I've done thus far. 

With the apology out of the way, on to the cake!  This cake is a white cake with a light lemon flavor.  It is decorated in buttercream with fondant dots. 

A Christmas Present

Debra, the stepmother of the friend for whom I made the wedding cake in August, asked me to make a cake like that one for a Christmas gathering. I once again whipped out the white chocolate cake recipe, which seems to be my new signature cake, and set to work. I had originally thought about decorating with (fake) poinsettias and/or cranberries, but I couldn't find any decent fake poinsettias and I couldn't figure out what to do with just cranberries. Dilemmas! So, I bought some pretty ribbon and packaged it up like a Christmas present. Here's what came out.

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.