The 12 Cakes of Christmas is off to a fabulous start!  Twelve days of beautifully festive cakes, created especially to inspire you to holiday greatness!  Twelve talented bakers were asked to create innovative and elegant designs appropriate for both Christmas parties and winter weddings.  And along the way, we get an up close look at what inspires this talented group.  It’s 12 bakers baking…. it’s The 12 Cakes of Christmas! 

The third cake in our series comes to us from Yeni Monroy and her team at Dream Day Cakes®, located in Gainesville, Florida.  You probably remember Yeni from previous features on our site (like this Thing 1 & Thing 2 cake or this robot cake).  And I know you you remember her incredible Halloween cake!  If there is one thing all of Yeni’s cakes have in common… it’s a whimsical style that is nothing less than magical!  And magic is exactly what she has in store for us today!  Let’s take a peek at Yeni’s inspiration and then let the swooning begin.  It’s The 3rd Cake of Christmas!

And the magic begins!  Inspired by one of the most magical events at the most magical place on earth, Yeni certainly works her magic on this cake!  Before we jump right into the cake, let’s take a better look at the inspiration picture above.  It’s Disney’s Magic Kingdom during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  Now pay close attention to the Christmas tree.  The fluffy white garland.  The gingerbread men and stocking ornaments.  Even the lights.  Okay, now we’re ready to see the cake!  The whimsical, magical, oh-so-charming cake!

Yes!  I completely agree!  This cake could not be more incredible!  5 tiers of real cake shaped into an enchanting Christmas tree cake that would have Mickey himself giggling with joy.  Layers upon layers of flirty fondant ruffles perfectly flared, providing a cozy resting spot for teeny-tiny ornaments.  Cheerful gingerbread men are smiling gleefully while stockings and candy canes add to the merriment.  Not to mention the gorgeous star topper… or the lights!  The real lights!

Fred from Dream Day Cakes tells us more about the inspiration for this design:

“Yeni loves Christmas.  When they wrote “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” they must have had Yeni in mind.  From the second the Thanksgiving meal ends, a smile forms on Yeni’s face.  From the lights to the decorations, she embodies the spirit of the season like no other.

There are old traditions (like the Christmas Tree), and new traditions… take for example Gingerbread men. Growing up in Colombia, Yeni never had seen an actual Gingerbread man until she came on over the United States.   It was love at first sight. She can’t get enough of them. She loves everything about them.

Our family tradition involves a little trip to Walt Disney World to enjoy the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It’s a magical time where we in Florida can enjoy snow, Santa, and a Winter Wonderland.”

Fred from Dream Day Cakes tells us all about the cake itself:

“This Christmas Tree is made from 5 tiers of cake.  The cake is elevated using a technique we learned from Chef Courtney Clark of Cake Nouveau (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Underneath the cake are cake truffle gift boxes.

The cake is covered in fondant, colored apple green, and formed (using several techniques) to resemble a tree. The tree was then decorated with edible ornaments in the shape of gingerbread men, stockings, candy canes, and more.   The top of the cake features a beautiful edible gold star, accented with scrolls.”

And if this tree wasn’t incredible enough, Fred and Yeni decided it needed an exciting element.  A little Christmas to the extreme!  50 feet of cool (yet bright) LED lights surround the cake giving it a true and literal glow….

Oh my glowing gorgeousness!  This is one seriously sweet tree that will have you feeling merry and bright!  And inspired by the magic of Christmas.  I’m with Yeni… there’s nothing like the holiday season.  And her cake embodies all of the wonder and glee that Christmas holds.  OH MY Christmas tree!

A huge thanks to Yeni and Fred at Dream Day Cakes® for inspiring us with this very merry Christmas Tree Cake!

VENDORS & CREDITS
Cake : Dream Day Cakes®
Inspiration : Disney Christmas Tree

Yesterday, The 12 Cakes of Christmas officially began!  I’m thrilled to say that this is the second year for this cake series.  And it is bigger and better than ever!  Twelve days of beautifully festive cakes, created especially to inspire you to holiday greatness!  Twelve talented bakers were asked to create innovative and elegant designs appropriate for both Christmas parties and winter weddings.  And along the way, we get an up close look at what inspires this talented group.  It’s 12 bakers baking…. it’s The 12 Cakes of Christmas! 

The second cake in our series comes to us from Allison Kelleher, owner of AK Cake Design in Portland.  You may remember Allison from previous features on our site (like this one and this one).  She stole your hearts last year in The 12 Cakes of Christmas with her snowy white cake.  And this year she’ll have you swooning again!  Allison combines her refined sense of style with her love of patterns to create something truly spectacular!  It’s time to put your coffee down and have a seat because today’s cake may simply take your breath away!  It’s time for The 2nd Cake of Christmas!

In this lovely paper, Allison saw ornaments.  Rows upon rows of interlocking, entwined ornaments.  Gold, silvery, and bronze ornaments!  And she was inspired to create her own brilliant ornaments!  Each hand-painted with a soft metallic shimmer and precisely placed on a tall slender cake.  The result is simply striking!

Allison of AK Cake Design shares the inspiration behind her design:

“My inspiration for this project was a beautiful holiday card I found in Paper Source.  I fell in love with the pattern (of course!).  Its subtle allusion to Christmas ornaments, and the rich gold and silver color palette.”

Allison of AK Cake Design talks about her technique:

“The entire cake is covered in the pattern, giving it a very formal look, but I’ve created a soft, organic feel within that formality. Each piece is hand-painted in a kind of watercolor technique using lush gold, silver, and bronze shimmer dusts. The pink roses are very slightly edged with gold and were added at the end, just to break up the pattern a bit.”

Somehow Allison hits on several hot trends for 2012, metallics and watercolor, while creating an eye-catching design that remains sophisticated and timeless. It’s a perfect combination of today, tomorrow and forever.  Because while trends may come and go… gorgeousness is always in style.  And this cake could not be more gorgeous!

Thank you to Allison of AK Cake Design for inspiring us with her stunning golden ornaments design.  And to Lara Ferroni for the incredibly beautiful photography!

Up tomorrow… The 3rd Cake of Christmas!  Stay tuned!

VENDORS & CREDITS:
Cake : AK Cake Design
Photography : Lara Ferroni
Inspiration Card : Paper Source

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s nice to slow down for a moment and do something special for your friends and loved ones.  One of the most classic ways to show we care is to give the gift of baked goods!  Because really, who doesn’t appreciate a sweet homemade treat?  So today some of my blogging and baking friends are swapping cookies… virtually!  And can you guess the best part?  You’ll enjoy six new recipes to add to your holiday baking list.  Plus some creative packaging ideas for gifting!  It’s a Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange!!

My recipe is sort of a cookie, but more like a mini tart.  I know, I know.  It’s a cookie exchange!!  {I almost made a cake but figured that was one step too far… I’m not a rule breaker!}  But trust me, these are delicious.  I wanted to do something that was both beautiful and impressive, but most importantly quick.  We are all so short on time, especially during the month of December!  Me included!  These little minis are like a chocolate truffle but with less steps.  The crispy tart-like shell is made of pure dark chocolate and provides the snap you normally get from the outside of a truffle.  The filling is a creamy and smooth chocolate ganache, just like a traditional truffle center.  Topped with pistachios, peppermints or any crunch topping of your choosing!  It’s a super simple, no bake, decadently delicious Chocolate Truffle Mini Tart!

Seriously!  If you love chocolate, this one’s for you!  Although it’s ‘mini’ in terms of a traditional tart, it is equivalent to two (maybe three) regular truffles.  But hey, it’s Christmas.  And nothing spreads joy like chocolate.  Lots and lots of chocolate!

Top with chopped pistachios to give them a festive green shade and a nice salty crunch.  Or top with chopped peppermints for a traditional holiday combo.  I like the soft mint kind.  Really, any crunchy topping would work.  During my officially taste testing, I personally liked the pretzel topping best.  Chopped toffee bars or fleur de sel would be excellent as well.

To package them up, I found this adorable wooden crate in the clearance section at Target.  Since it’s not intended for food use, I lined each section with unbleached parchement paper to protect my ‘cookies’.  Then I wrapped the box with red baker’s twine (from The TomKat Studio) and tied with a kraft tag.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE MINI TARTS
a recipe by Carrie Sellman
(makes 24)

Ingredients:

• 12 oz Dark Chocolate
• 12 oz Semisweet Chocolate
• 12 oz Milk Chocolate
• 12 oz Heavy Cream
• 2 Tablespoons prepared coffee, cooled (or liquor of choice)
• Assorted toppings (chopped peppermints, pistachios, pretzels, etc)

STEP 1 : In a microwavable bowl, melt dark chocolate.  Heat for 30 seconds on 50% power.  Stir.  Repeat until chocolate is melted, smooth and shiny.

STEP 2 :  Using a flexible silicon cupcake pan, scoop 1 tablespoon of melted chocolate into each cavity.  Using a brush, paint the entire cavity with melted chocolate.  Pop into refrigerator for 10 minutes while making ganache.

STEP 3 : In another microwaveable bowl, combine semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate and cream.  Heat for 30 seconds on 50% power.  Stir.  Repeat until chocolate is completely melted and mixed with cream.  Stir in coffee.  This chocolate ganache will be smooth and shiny.

STEP 4 : Pull chocolate cups out of the fridge.  Pour enough ganache into each cavity to almost fill the entire cup.  Top with chopped peppermints, pistachios, pretzels, etc.

STEP 5 : Refrigerate 2 hours or until the entire cup is solid.  Gently remove from baking mold.  Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

BAKERS NOTES : This process goes much faster if you happen to have two silicon baking molds.  You’ll be finished with all 24 tarts before you know it!  If you don’t have a silicon mold, you can also use a regular muffin tin lined with candy wrappers.   This will give you a slightly different final appearance but will taste equally as delicious.  And while this recipe was written for a holiday cookie exchange, it is an easy go-to recipe any time of year.  Simply swap out the toppings to customize it for the occasion.  Anytime of year is a good time for chocolate!  Enjoy!

Thank you to the wonderful ladies participating in this Virtual Holiday Cookie Exchange!!  Be sure to hop over and check out the incredible recipes they are sharing today as well!

• Jenn at Hostess with the Mostess
• Glory at Glorious Treats
• Marian at Sweetopia
• Kim at The TomKat Studio
• Jessica at Pen N’ Paperflowers

Wishing you oodles of holiday baking and memory making!  Remember… The 12 Cakes of Christmas continues on today and throughout the month of December!  Don’t miss today’s cake.  The 2nd Cake of Christmas goes up soon!

	Carrie Sellman is the Founder & Editor of The Cake Blog. Her work has been published in BRIDES Magazine, The Bride and Bloom, on DIYnetwork.com, TLC’s Parentables and more. Read more about Carrie on her bio page.