Half Baked is thrilled to announce another great addition to our growing list of sponsors.  This online boutique is all about my my favorite things…. parties and cake!  My Little Love offers all of the charming party supplies and oh-so-cute details you see in today’s best parties!  From mini glass bottles, to fancy cupcake liners, wrappers and vintage paper straws, you’ll find all everything you need to bring your party to life.  Plus yummy packaging supplies and baker’s twine for your homemade goodies!

Today only, My Little Love is offering our readers 40% off all Divine Twine™ purchases!! This eco-luxe, soft bakers twine is perfect finishing touch for gifts and favors.  And a charming addition to any homemade holiday gift!  Just use promo code CAKE.

So hop on over and shop until your heart’s content on the My Little Love website and follow along on their Facebook Page.  A special thanks to My Little Love for partnering with us! Welcome to Half Baked!

Quick Reference Links:
Website:  MyLittleLove.com
Be a Fan: Facebook Page
Follow: Twitter Page

It’s going to be a big day here tomorrow…  my sweet little Sadie is turning one next week!  I can hardly believe she is almost a year old.  This year has just flown by at whirlwind speed!   I almost didn’t  plan a party (gasp!) due to everything we have going on right now.  We’re moving to Miami in two weeks!!  But I just couldn’t imagine letting her first birthday go by without a little celebration.

Today will be a crazy day full of last minute preparations and baking.  On deck is a smash cake for the birthday girl, cinnamon swirl cupcakes, caramel apples and some sort of apple cake.  So if you’ll please excuse my slow response to comments and emails this week, I’d like to share a little sneak peek of Sadie’s big day…

Like always, I had more ideas than time when it came to Sadie’s party.  So I enlisted the help of some very talented ladies, friends new and old, to help me.  They might tell you I went a little crazy with the emails, photos and physical design boards…. but it was so worth it!  Their creations have been arriving all week and I am in awe!  I cannot wait to show you everything!  Inspired by Sadie’s favorite stuffed animal (a gift from her Aunt Ashley), this party is going to be soft, furry and oh-so-sweet!

While I look forward to spending time with my family this weekend, I hope you have an exciting weekend planned too!  See you back here next week!

Happy Friday everyone!

Over the weekend, we took my daughter to the local orchard for her first apple picking experience!  She absolutely loved it and even picked several apples herself!  All apples were placed into our basket via her little hands.  Talk about a.dor.able!  She sure does know how to melt mommy’s heart.  Daddy’s too!  But now, mommy has a large bushel of apples sitting on the counter waiting for the perfect recipe….

Which brought me back to this Apple Fest post from last year.  Such clever ways to enjoy our apple harvest!  I might even include caramel covered apples on the dessert table for Sadie’s 1st birthday party (which is in two days!!  More on that soon!)  So as I try my hand at some caramel covered apples today, I hope you’re inspired to try one of these Fall Apple Fest Ideas as well!

Half Baked is excited to announce the newest addition to our Top Tier Cake Directory!  This cake shop is seriously all about the fun!  From the talented team of bakers and cake designers to their mascot!  (Yes, you read that right… the shop mascot is known as Dr. Fresh.)  Most importantly, the fun comes to life in whimsical cake creations that are just downright delightful.  With big smiles, we are thrilled to welcome Amanda Oakleaf Cakes to our cake directory!

With a passion for art and a love of sugar, Amanda Oakleaf started her business in her one room apartment. Fast forward three years and now Amanda Oakleaf Cakes has a gorgeous storefront just outside of Boston.  Amanda and her insanely talented and dedicated team create cakes for every occasion.  From intricately sculpted designs to elegant displays, each creation is made entirely from scratch.  Every morsel of buttercream, fondant and gumpaste is made by hand.   From scratch!   With a hefty dose of hard work and talent, they’re creating cakes that both look and taste above the rest.

How incredibly adorable is this 3D golden retriever cake?!?  Sporting a Red Sox jersey, this little guy was actually the size of a real puppy.  As if he wasn’t charming enough, Amanda and her crew named him Frosting.  I think I’m in love with Frosting!  And check out the crazy details in this mammoth elephant cake…

On top of the stellar 3D designs, Amanda and her team create some lovely wedding cakes as well.  Now for some pretties…

You know I’m a huge fan of ombre cakes!  And I absolutely adore those ruffled flowers!  And this next cake makes such a dramatic statement with its black and white stripes and bold pop of red…

Ok… so I can’t mention the shop mascot and leave you wondering.  Here’s a little peek at the team and Dr. Fresh!  His hat reads “Vanilla Ice-ing”.  Ha!

I could not be more thrilled to have Amanda and her team as part of our Top Tier Directory! Show them a little love and check out their full listing in Top Tier.   See even more delightful designs on Amanda Oakleaf Cakes website, blog and Facebook Page.

Special thanks to Amanda and her team for joining us. We can’t wait to feature more of your spectacular work!

Quick Reference Links:
Website:  OakleafCakes.com
Be Inspired:  Oakleaf Cakes Blog
Be a Fan: Facebook Page
Top Tier Directory: Full Listing

Our cupcake contributor, Lauren of Crave. Indulge. Satisfy, is baking up something sweet today…

I must admit, I was a little stumped with a cupcake recipe for the month of September!  It’s the time of year where summer is coming to a close so you are no longer in the mood for fresh and fruity recipes, but it’s not quite time to whip out the pumpkin and start fall baking either.  So this month, with the help of some feedback from my Facebook fans, I hope I’ve come up with a recipe that you all will enjoy!  It seemed most everyone was looking for something that included chocolate.  One person suggested a turtle cupcake, which I thought was brilliant since those little turtle candies are one of my absolute favorites!  So in an attempt to appeal to most of your wishes, we have chocolate, we have turtle and we even have a little something extra special in the center… cheesecake!  So go grab some caramels, chocolate and pecans and get ready to whip up a batch of these Chocolate Cheesecake Turtle Cupcakes!

I can’t think of better way to satisfy both a cupcake and cheesecake craving than with these mini cakes.  The base of the recipe is a chocolate cake batter, with a dollop of cream cheese mixture on top.  Pop these babies into the oven and about 20 minutes later you have a delicious chocolate cake with a creamy cheesecake center…yum!

The topping on these is as simple as melting some caramels and chocolate and drizzling on top!  Sprinkle with a few chopped pecans and you have yourself the ultimate turtle cupcake in no time!

This recipe is really so versatile and can be switched up in a number of ways.  Why not add some chocolate chips to the cheesecake batter before baking and create a Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Cupcake…now that’s a mouthfull!  But I know it would be delicious!  Or sprinkle the top of the cupcakes with some of your favorite candy bars instead of the pecans…Snicker’s would be fabulous!  You could even throw a little strawberry jam in to the cheesecake mixture and create a Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake.  You get the idea…get creative and have fun with toppings that you enjoy if Turtles aren’t your thing!

Chocolate Cheesecake Turtle Cupcakes
(makes 18 cupcakes)

For the cake:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp vanilla

For the cheesecake:

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.
2. In large bowl combine dry cake ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda. Mix until well combined.
3. In small bowl combine wet cake ingredients: vegetable oil, water, vinegar and vanilla.
4. Make a well in the bowl of dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Stir mixture until combined.
5. Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full with chocolate batter.
6. In a small bowl combine cheesecake ingredients: cream cheese, sugar and egg. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
7. Use a small cookie scoop to evenly distribute the cream cheese mixture on top of the chocolate batter.
8. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until cream cheese center is firm.
9. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.
10. Once cupcakes are completely cool add the turtle toppings.

For the Turtle Topping:

14 caramels
6 Tbsp half & half, divided
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans

1. Unwrap caramels and place in microwave safe bowl with 3 Tbsp half & half. Microwave for 1 1/2 -2 minutes until melted. Stir until smooth and let cool for a few minutes.
2. Place chocolate chips and 3 Tbsp half & half in microwave safe. Microwave for 1 1/2-2 minutes until melted. Stir until smooth.
3. Use a spoon and drizzle caramel and chocolate on top of each cupcake.
4. Sprinkle cupcakes with pecans.

Hope you enjoy!

	Lauren Kapeluck Lauren is a monthly contributor for The Cake Blog. She is a self-taught baker and lover of all things sugar. Read more about Lauren on her bio page.

Over the years, I’ve seen a few cakes.  And just when I think I’ve seen everything, I realize that creative minds are always working to push new boundaries.   That’s why I love introducing you to new ideas and trends.  And oh my, today is going to be a very trendy day!!  When I first saw today’s cake,  I was curious, confused and amazed all at once!  Is it real?  What’s it made of… concrete?  Fascinated, I had to find out more!

Marcella Robin, the talented artist behind these cakes, can confirm that they are indeed real AND… completely edible.  Marcella is the owner, baker, designer and chief mastermind at MRobin Cakes in Portland.  Her entremet cakes are made of sponge cake, layered with a variety of creams, custards, and mousses.  It is then wrapped in a thin exterior layer of sponge cake known as jaconde.  Unlike a traditional cake, the design is not created from frosting or fondant but baked into the exterior sponge for an ultra smooth finish.  Coupled with Marcella’s graphic designs, the result are bold and daring!

Marcella was first introduced to decorative sponges in pastry school.  After graduating, she decided to start experimenting with jaconde and truly explore the possibilities of this medium.  After years of cake making and designing, her main focus now is entremet wedding cakes.

A few thoughts from Marcella of MRobin Cakes:

“I am in love with entremets.  The graphic quality of the jaconde coupled with the traditional form of the stacked cakes is gorgeous to me.  They are, traditional, modern, androgynous, and have an air of inevitability about them that I find perfectly mysterious.  As a designer and baker, I find the play between technique and taste so interesting — the flavor profiles and textures are unlimited.”

A peek at the inside reveals strawberry bavarois, vanilla sponge, almond dacquoise and strawberry conserve layered and then wrapped in a poppy seed and almond sponge cake.  It looks simply decadent!  And I’m really loving the bold yellow and strong lines on this next one…

You’re intrigued aren’t you?  I just keep looking at these designs, slightly mesmerized, envisioning the possibilities.  A huge thank you to Marcella Robin for sharing her cutting edge cakes with us!  We love your concept and creativity.  You can see more of Marcella’s stunning entrement cake creations on her website, MRobin Cakes.

Vendors & Credits:
Cake:  MRobin Cakes

It’s like someone flipped a switch and suddenly fall has arrived in Central Illinois… the weather here has cooled off like crazy in the last week!  Our dinners out on the patio have quickly come to a halt and I found myself shopping yesterday for long sleeve tops for my daughter!  She’s been wearing sun dresses all summer and well… little bare arms get cold when the high temp is 68!  So I’m finally, just now, mentally saying goodbye to Summer.  It’s about time I catch up with the retailers and usher in Autumn!

And there’s no better way to welcome the new season than lovely wedding inspiration and a gorgeous cake!!  I love the traditional fall wedding colors of chocolate brown, orange and golden yellow.  But what if you want to spice it up a bit and give one last shout out to the fleeting days of Summer?  When you throw in a touch of lime green, this traditional color palette becomes fresh, modern and chic.  Just look at what a splash of green can do.  And don’t even get me started on the favors… tiny burlap bundles filled with ready-to-plant bulbs!  Such a charming idea that could be used not only for a wedding but any fall event!

{clockwise, starting at top left:}

• Give a favor that is beautiful both now and later.  Tiny burlap bundles are filled with ready-to-plant flower bulbs.  Display favors on a backdrop of bright moss.  Get the simple instructions to make your own here.  This charming favor would be perfect for a wedding or any fall event.  I can totally envision these as a Thanksgiving table setting!!
• Define your entrance by lining the aisle with these gorgeous pumpkin hanging bouquets by Martha Andrews.
• Make a first impression on your guest with hanging monograms on the ceremony doors.  Learn how to make your own here on Martha Stewart.
• Carry this breathtaking bouquet, a unique mix of textures and colors perfectly suited for the modern bride.
• Create a warm glow by placing these gorgeous lanterns all around your reception site.
• Treat your guests to a wedding cake that doubles as a work of art.  This stunning creation by I Dream of Cake (sadly, no longer in business) is a perfect combination of fall colors and modern design.  Love it!

I hope this inspires some fall brides to include lime as an accent color.  If you’ve had a chocolate brown, orange and lime green wedding or party, or are in the midst of planning one, be sure to tell us about it!

Half Baked is excited to announce the newest addition to our Top Tier Cake Directory!  If you’re a regular reader, you’re probably already familiar with this charming cake shop in Daytona Beach.  We’ve had the privilege to feature some of their cakes in the past…. like this adorable candy buttons cake, this vibrant sea side wedding and this retro lollipop cake.  Based on your responses, I gather that you love these cakes as much as I do!  Which is why I’m thrilled to welcome The Pastry Studio to our cake directory!

Sherri Meyers and her team at The Pastry Studio have been whipping up fantastic cake creations for years!  I became smitten with The Pastry Studio back in 2004 when my obsession with cake first began.  From that moment on, I’ve been a huge fan of Sherri’s style and have loved watching it evolve and progress with current trends.  But one thing has remained constant over time…. these designs are flawless!  The Pastry Studio is known for their impeccable attention to detail and artistic expression.  From outrageous and trendy to classic and chic, the design possibilities are endless.  Made from fresh, high quality ingredients, these swoon worthy sweets will delight all of your senses!

I absolutely adore this eye-catching yellow and brown wedding cake.  With so many different textures and design elements, I notice something new each time I look at it!  I love the contrast created by the mod geometric circle pattern and the flirty ruffled flowers.  And even though we’re mainly talking about cakes here, I had to include a few pictures of the other goodies offered at The Pastry Studio, like their lovely cookie favors and cupcakes….

Now back to the cakes!  Honestly, it was quite a challenge choosing the cakes for today’s post.  There’s far too many great designs in The Pastry Studio’s portfolio to show them all in a single post!  But here’s a few more of my current favorites…

Special thanks to Sherri and her team for joining us. We can’t wait to feature more of your spectacular work!

Quick Reference Links:
Website:  ThePastryStudio.com
Be Inspired:  The Pastry Studio Blog
Be a Fan:  Facebook Page
Top Tier Directory:  Full Listing

Our contributor, Miso of Miso Bakes, is sharing some helpful tips to put extra buttercream to good use.  Enjoy….

Don’t you hate it when you have awkward amounts of tinted buttercream left over?  Most always it’s a tad too much to toss, but not enough to store in a tub.

So, what do I do?  I plop the buttercream onto a piece of plastic wrap, tightly fold the saran wrap into a small purse, date it, and place it in one huge freezer zip bag along with the other ‘awkwards’ until ready to use.

Or, sometimes, I pipe the flowers out, freeze them on a tray, and carefully place them in an air tight container in the freezer until ready to use. I ice the cake as I normally would and place the frozen flowers right onto the cake.  Because the flowers are small I have never had problems with condensation, but if you do, gently blot the flowers with a paper towel.

The small blocks of tinted buttercream or the flowers come in great use when you have to whip up a cake or dessert last minute for an unexpected guest, or if you just want to throw a cake together for your family on a lazy weekend. This is also a great way to use up a few random cake layers or scraps you have sitting around.

The same applies for sugarpaste flowers. I like to freshly make them for important cakes, but I when have one or two extra sugarpaste flowers left over, I cut the stem off and keep them in an air-tight container and carefully place them onto the ‘scrap’ cake along with the buttercream flowers.

Cute, right? : ) The sugarpaste flowers add a nice touch to the cake, don’t you think?  Just because a cake is iced in buttercream, it does not mean you have to only use buttercream to decorate your cake. The same applies for fondant cakes as well! Play around with the mediums and you’ll end up with a product that will make your heart smile!

Happy Caking!

	Miso Bakes Miso is a monthly contributor for The Cake Blog. She is a talented pastry chef with a big passion for cakes. Read more about Miso on her bio page.

A barbershop for a man is like a salon for a woman.  It’s a place to relax, socialize and be pampered (in a very manly way).  A place where a man can get a haircut,  a close shave and a good dose of guy talk.  Best of all, it can be a meaningful experience shared between father and son creating memories to last a lifetime.  What little boy doesn’t love spending special guy time with his dad?

Dawn Menon of Bee*s Knees Parties drew upon this concept to create the most charming third birthday party for her son.  Inspired by Reese’s love of the barbershop, Dawn incorporated everything from the classic red and white stripes to barber poles, scissors and swirly mustaches.  Featuring an adorable cake by The Hudson Cakery, this delightfully vintage Barbershop Birthday Party is a modern throwback to the golden age of barbershops.

A few thoughts from Dawn about the inspiration for this charming party:

“The theme was based on my son Reese’s love of the barbershop. It is always an outing where it is just he and my husband, and always ends with a lollipop. They go to a vintage style barbershop, which was a wonderland of inspiration. My party design aesthetic always consists of mixing vintage and modern. To help bring a vintage feel to the party, I was able to score some fantastic vintage barbershop decor items on Ebay. The talented Kellie of Two Pooch Paperie designed all of the paper goods, which added that clean, modern feel to the decorations.”

A few thoughts from Dawn about the adorable cake:

“When it came time to choose a cake design, I was excited to give Jennifer of The Hudson Cakery complete autonomy of concept and design. One of my client’s had The Hudson Cakery create a cake for their daughter’s Communion, and the cake was talked about for days after, so I knew my guests were in for a treat.

“When I first saw that cake, I honestly teared up. It exceeded all expectations, which, as a children’s event planner, can be quite high. The detail was amazing from the tiny mustchaces to the barbershop pole. And to bring it all together, Jennifer thoughtfully added little lollipops, which are my son’s favorite. Reese was a bit under the weather the day of his party, however when that cake came out, he was all smiles.”

We are all smiles too!  Love the concept, love the decor, love the cake!!  A very special thank you to Dawn of Bee*s Knees Parties for sharing her delightful Barbershop Birthday Party with us!

Vendors & Credits:
Party Design:  Bee*s Knees Parties
Cake:  The Hudson Cakery
Photography:  Two Girl Phototique
Cupcake Toppers:  Parker’s Flour Patch
Old fashioned Lollies:  Vintage Confections
All Printed Paper Goods:  Two Pooch Paperie