Monday, January 24, 2011

400th Post!

Today is my 400th post and I have a special cake for you today! I made this for the boys I nanny. They both have birthdays one week apart so for the last couple years they've shared a birthday party and cake. The oldest turned 4 years old and the youngest turned 2. Last year I made them a Wonder Pets Cake and this year they wanted to go with a dinosaur theme. raaar!

When I'm trying to design a cake, I google what I'm looking for then gather ideas I like or I sketch it out and let my imagination run wild. I was more concerned with the cake and how it tasted than the actual dinosaurs so I used toy dinosaurs the boys already had for decoration. The client requested vanilla buttermilk cake with instant fudge icing (from Sky High Cakes) for one tier and I chose chocolate cake with vanilla cream cheese icing for the other. The vanilla cake had a nice tight crumb and was firm but tender and the chocolate is my favorite go-to recipe. These are both of my favorite frostings too.

I didn't slice the cake so it's a little sloppy, but I wanted you to see the insides.

I made the palm trees by trial and error. I hope I never have to make them again. ha! I made the leaves out of fondant and for the trunks I used pretzel rods. Royal icing held it all together. I made enough leaves for 5 palm trees, many broke so I only had enough to make 4. Then as they dried overnight, I had 2 catastrophes and only 2 survived. I was hoping for 3, but I think it turned out fine. The border around the cake was done with chocolate rocks. They're chocolate chunks that are textured and colored to look like rocks. Fun stuff and the kids loved them!

The bottom tier is fudge frosting and the top tier was tinted with green coloring. It's also the same icing I used to pipe the "grass" border and the lettering on the bottom layer. And lastly the cake board was wrapped in white cake board paper, then I painted it with white royal icing and dusted it with a mixture of graham cracker crumbs and brown sugar to create the appearance of sandy soil. I wanted to wrap the edge of the cake board with ribbon but I didn't have enough to wrap all the sides and I ran out of time to go out and get some. Oh well, I'm pretty sure it would have wound up in the trash anyway :-) Hope you enjoy it and thank you for being here through all 400 posts!

Front of cake

I'm too lazy to type out the recipes, so here are the links:

Back of cake

56 comments:

corinne said...

Hopefully as they get older they realize how lucky they are to have a mom that makes such excellent cakes for them!

Katie said...

WOW Monica the cake is fantastic!!! I'm sure both boys were delighted with it. You've done so muich attention to detail - even little rocks around the edge - amazing!

Anonymous said...

Amazing Cake ;)

Coleens Recipes said...

400 posts!?!? I am VERY impressed. I absolutely love the idea for the palm treess (I'm stealing that idea).

Mglòria said...

Congratulations!!!
Gourmenderies

Please Do Not Feed The Animals. said...

The cake is amazing! I have two little boys here who would LOVE it!

Everyday mom said...

Congrats on your 400th post and great cake. I tried the palm trees once and they are really tricky, I also had a lot of casualties. Love the use of the candy rocks, everything is simple and beautiful, nice work!

From the Kitchen said...

Happy delicious 400th post!! My boys would have been over the moon with that cake. They adored dinosaurs!

Best,
Bonnie

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

First of all, wow - great cake, Monica. I love all the special little touches and attention to detail.

Second, congratulations on your 400th post. I just love your blog, and I'm glad to call you friend.

:)
Patricia

Anonymous said...

I don't even know where to begin....this is so freaking creative!! My boyfriend would go nuts for this cake. NUTS! I'm going a bit crazy myself. You have a true talent. Not only is the design awesome, but the cake itself looks tasty (and that's the most important part)! Well done.

Joy Tilton said...

Monica, the dinosaur cake turned out super! I know the boys loved it and the cakes sound delicious. Making a specialty cake scares me, I would be too afraid to even attempt such a feat! Of course I did make many cakes through the years for our daughter birthdays but nothing like the ones you make! Congrats on your 400th post, WOW! I'm approaching 2 years of blogging now and still love it...

Julie said...

Congrats on your 400th post! And the cake is out of this world!! I bought some of those chocolate rocks to put in my dtr's stocking for Christmas (ha!) but forgot to do it.

Keeley said...

Happy 400th post!

That cake is amazing... much better than anything I've seen come out of a bakery.

You sound like an awesome nanny! They are lucky to have such a creative lady and I bet you keep them well-fed!

Cassie said...

What a beautiful cake! They are so lucky to have you, Monica!

And congratulations on 400 posts!

Lindsay said...

What a neat cake! Great job!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Four hundred posts that is quite an accomplishment Monica!!!Your blog is timeless like the dinasaurs on this cake:D

Rosemary Washington said...

Congratulations on your 400th post! I love reading your blog. Thanks for all you inspiration.

Jean Badgley said...

the cake is just absolutely adorable!!

Becky @ Becky's Place said...

Those are some lucky little boys - your cake's wonderful fun to look at!

Mmmm! for the love of food said...

Wow that's a cake - it looks fantastic!

Congratulations on the 400th post! An achievement you should be proud of - great effort! I love your site! x

Unknown said...

Perfection, happy 400th post

Melissa said...

What a great cake! I found your link through a comment you left on Mybakingadventures.com. Super blog. I'll def be returning. :)

Holly said...

Congrats on your 400th posts!!
Super cute cake-bet those boys loved it!:)

Heather at Kitchen Concoctions said...

WOW 400 posts! That's awesome! Keep 'em coming!

As for the cake it is too cute! My nephew's 1st birthday is coming up and I am making the cake. Your dinosaur cake has given me lots of inspiration!

Emily said...

Happy 400th Post! Glad to have found you and am amazed by your talent in every visit!

Cheers to another 400 posts!

Lucky boys!

Lemondrops Simple Stuff said...

Happy 400th post!!!!
And what a darling cake! Those are two lucky little boys!

Robin said...

Wow congrats on 400 posts. That is great! The cake is adorable and the palm trees are perfect and I can see how they would be tricky. I enjoy your blog and look forward to more!
Robin Sue

Foodiewife said...

Your bakery opens when? Monica, you are so artistic. I could have NEVER pulled off a cake like that. The boys must've been so delighted...and I hope you got paid what you deserve...a LOT!

All That's Left Are The Crumbs said...

Congratulations on your 400th post! Your cake is really amazing.

Leana said...

Awesome cake!! I am always inspired by your blog!! Congrats on your 400th post!

Debbie said...

Congratulations on your 400th post Monica!!! Wow!!! The cake is adorable too!

Unknown said...

HAPPY 400TH POST : ) The cake is adorable!!

Avril said...

Your talent is never ending Monica! I just love this fabulous DINO cake! :-)

Unknown said...

That cake is absolutely amazing!!! Great job! Happy birthday to the boys.

And congrats on 400 posts!!! I can't wait to see what happens in the next 400!!!

Tatiyana said...

Congrats on the 400th post! And this cake is astonishingly (is that a word?) beautiful! Will you make my birthday cake this year??????

Hennifer said...

Congratulations and OMG!!! you are just SO amazing. Really, I hope you realize. Fantastic. and I LOVE those chocolate rocks, it makes me feel like a kid eating them

beauty be told said...

You did it again! Wow! Those boys are sooo lucky to have you as their nanny.....I'm sure you made their day extra special. It shows how much you care to have put so much love into that cake...amazing!

Kerstin said...

SO adorable Monica - what lucky little ones to get such a fabulous cake!! Happy 400th post!

Shal said...

This is hands down the best little boy birthday cake EVER - am going to practice this until my kid's 4th! Excellent...

cookies and cups said...

I am definitely going to have to try that cake recipe! Such a cute cake..lucky boy!

Unknown said...

Congrats on your 400th post!
Thanks for commenting on Calamity Kate's Kitchen. Your awesomeness has been noticed! Check it out at Friendly Friday!
http://www.calamitykitchen.com/2011/01/friendly-fridays-week-january-21st-to.html

The Food Librarian said...

Looks just lovely! So cute!

Heather S-G said...

It's amazing, Monica. I'm am, as ever, in awe of your cake-ing abilities :D

Mathilde said...

Beautiful cake!
And congratulations for your blog, it is perfect, don't change ;D

Kristen said...

So gorgeous!

Desi said...

Wow, you MADE that cake!?! I am in awe of you, seriously! You are the best nanny ever!

Memória said...

I'm so proud and happy for you! Your photos look amazing, and I love the header. The cake looks AWESOME!! I bet your boys loved it. I'm glad you're still there for them.

BTW, I showed my mom your blog (again), and she thought every thing looked yummy. I was so proud to say that I knew you personally. (I also reminded her that you bought me the coveted-by-me micrograter and that I cried upon receiving it. She then proceeded to get angry because I cried for your gift but not for the many gifts she has given me LOL!)

Anyway, felicitaciones, chica. Take care.

P.S. Don't bother stopping by my blog. You're going to be greeted by those same ol' white chocolate muffins that have been sitting there for months haha.

Natasha @ Saved by the Egg Timer said...

Best Nanny Award! Aww I miss my nanny kids :( I used to do Bday stuff for them too and take them to their fave place, they are teens now. Your cake decorating skills are awesome! I bet they just loved it!

Anonymous said...

Wow , excellent job for those little boys. It is great with two
palms, the small details make it so adorable. Now about the 400th post!!! it is always a treat to read and make; then read and dream (calorie wise that way) truly enjoy your blog .Thank you for your time and fantastic works!! Sharon

Souffle Bombay said...

Congrats on 400 amazing posts Monica!!! This cake is beautiful! I especiall love the extra touch of the edible rocks around the cakes - smart thinking!
Cheers to your next 400 posts!!

Sophie said...

Monica,

This is so beautiful, just like your sweet heart. What a cute, cute cake! I'd pay big bucks for this.

I have been thinking about you. Hope you're well :).

Rachel (rachescakes) said...

The cake is awesome Monica! Congrats on reaching 400 posts.

OvenDelights said...

LOVE it!!!! I'm going to have to steal this idea if I ever make a Dino cake!

Healthy and Homemade said...

Wow this is fantastic!! You are truly skilled =)

Unknown said...

just a quick question (sorry if i missed it!) - what size cakes are these?

Sarah*G* said...

What a fabulous cake! I found it on Pintrest after searching for dinosaur cake. Yours stuck out as one my son would love! It is his birthday in a little over a week and I am going to try to make this for him. What size pan did you use for the bottom layer and what size did you use for the top layer? Thanks.

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