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 ... Continue Reading
Search Results for: cupcake
Barbershop Birthday Party
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 ... Continue Reading
Bakery Tour: Peggy Porschen Cakes
Do you ever wish you could stop in and smell the sweetness at the cake shops we feature? If you only lived closer. Well, our new Field Trip Series is bringing your favorite cake shops right to your door. Or well, at least to your computer screen! Last week we started off in Canada and now we've hopped over the pond to London! And let me tell you, the pink exterior isn't the only thing irresistible at this shop! Today we're headed to London's prettiest cake shop... The Peggy Porschen ... Continue Reading
My Lil Sunshine 1st Birthday Party
With kids heading back to school, it’s starting to feel like summer is almost over. I’m not sure if I’m quite ready for that! So I thought we’d bask in the sun just a little bit longer with a party that is all about sunshine! From the sun streaming down on a gorgeous day in Hollywood Hills to the vibrant color scheme of hot pink and golden yellow. Not to mention the sweetest little sunshine of all, Madison, the birthday girl! Sent over to us by Auntie Monica, this party is both cheerful ... Continue Reading
Field Trip: Cake Opera Co.
Don't you ever wish you could stop in and smell the sweetness at the cake shops we feature? If you only lived closer... or could plan a cake crawl across the country. Well, our new Field Trip Series is going to bring your favorite cake shops right to your door. Or well, at least to your computer screen! And we're starting today with an amazing cake boutique located in Toronto. The perfect marriage between an artist and a pastry chef, Cake Opera Co. is the baby of Alexandria Pellegrino ... Continue Reading
Patriotic Puff Pastry Stars
This weekend is the 4th of July and here at Half Baked, we're ready to go! You may have spotted our Stars & Stripes Cheesecake Shots over at Hostess with the Mostess. (Yay! Thanks for the feature Jenn!) I created this cheesecake shot recipe for the Milkaholic Baby Shower that I hosted a few months ago and was thrilled to recreate these treats with a patriotic twist. Cold shot glasses filled with creamy cheesecake filling, graham cracker crumbs and topped with berries. To give it an extra ... Continue Reading
Ballerina Inspired Sweets
What little girl doesn't love to dance? And as big girls, we all look back fondly on our first dance class... the tutus, the tights, our hair swept back into a neat little bun. Maybe it's because of the movie Black Swan. Maybe it's because dancers are the ultimate image of elegance and grace. But girls of all ages are enamored with ballerinas and we see this theme spreading into events everywhere. From bridal fashion to birthday parties, ballet inspires. So today we're oohing and awing ... Continue Reading
Love Is Sweet
Today we're showcasing a lovely dessert table that just screams summer! It's cheery, bright and makes me smile with its vibrant, lemon yellow details. This brilliant display, featuring an amazing cake and cupcake stand by Jan Kish, was created for a wedding filled with burlap, succulents and personality. Yellow Billy Balls with their long, spindly stems add such a dramatic touch to both the centerpieces and the cake. With images like these, I think we can all agree that Love is Sweet! I ... Continue Reading
Welcome Our New Contributors
Today we have some exciting news! As The Cake Blog continues to grow, I wanted to find some new ways to bring you fresh and original content. So... over the next few months we'll be adding several new contributing writers! They will be sharing new ideas, designs and recipes from their respective specialty, whether that be cake, cupcakes or baking in general. Today, we're announcing our first two contributors! Please join me in welcoming Miso of Miso Bakes and Lauren of ... Continue Reading
Lauren Kapeluck: Contributor
Lauren has had a sweet tooth as long as she can remember and became fascinated with cupcakes at an early age during weekend trips to a local bakery. She was always drawn to the traditional yellow cupcake with buttercream frosting and of course the one with the most rainbow sprinkles! She often eats cupcakes for breakfast! A collector of cake decorating books and pretty cake pedestals, her husband jokes she is slowly taking over the kitchen with her baking tools one shelf at a time. She ... Continue Reading
Ombre Cakes
Over the weekend my husband and I did a little shopping and I picked up the cutest ombre t-shirt from Banana. I'm really loving the ombre trend right now. I started thinking about all of the lovely gradient cakes I've seen lately. So today we're showcasing some our favorite ombre cakes! Enjoy these stunning creations by Maggie Austin Cake, Whipped Bakeshop and Cake Coquette! Love the purple. Love the ruffles. Love everything about this cake! But that's not surprising.... I love Maggie ... Continue Reading
Real Party: Beach Side Wedding
I love the beach. I love weddings. So it doesn't get much better than a beach side wedding! Especially when it has a stunning dessert bar created by The Pastry Studio! This pink and orange sweets table is bright, cheerful and perfect for summer. Starfish and lush flowers set the scene for this lovely beach side wedding! How lovely are those starfish cookies? What a charming wedding favor they make. And check out these chocolate covered strawberries, nestled between mini ... Continue Reading
Retro Candy Week: Rock Candy
I have officially declared this to be Retro Candy Week! I thought we'd continue on with some unique ways to include Rock Candy at your next event. It seems like rock candy has become a staple on so many dessert tables. Here are some creative ways to take Rock Candy to the next level! Rock Candy Sticks are the focal point of this cake, created by The Sweet Boutique. Not only is the cake a gorgeous display but it creates a lovely presentation when plated with a rock candy stick on the ... Continue Reading
Retro Candy Week: Candy Buttons
I love all of the retro candy dessert tables we're seeing lately. Today I thought we'd focus in on one particular childhood favorite, Candy Buttons. Remember those? A paper strip full of little dots of sweetness. The bright colors are perfect for spring and summer and would add a whimsical touch to any party. Whether you roll up them up, throw them in a glass bowl or put them on a cake, Candy Buttons are just plain fun! Here are some charming ways to add Candy Buttons to your next ... Continue Reading
Real Party: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
With the world's eyes fixed on London and all of the Royal Wedding talk, I thought this party would be fitting for today. This adorable tea party was created by Daria Bishop, a talented Vermont photographer, for her daughter's 12th birthday. This party has it all... cheerful colors, whimsical details, mad hats and amazing cupcakes. Oh, and tea of course! Inspired by an inherited tea set, this Mad Hatter's Tea Party is perfectly charming. A few thoughts from Daria about this lovely tea ... Continue Reading
More Royal Wedding Fun
We had so much fun with our Royal Wedding Sweets post yesterday that I thought we'd continue on today. It seems as though the whole world is excited about this wedding! So here are a few more dessert ideas to enjoy during your Royal Wedding watching party. {clockwise, starting at top left:} Royal Wedding Party Printables, free from The Tomkat Studio. Download your free printables HERE. Lemon and Currant Scones from Sweet Sally's. Buttermilk scones filled with plump currants and ... Continue Reading
Royal Wedding Sweets
The big day is almost here... only 5 days until the Royal Wedding. Prince William and Kate Middleton will have us all swooning over their enchanting nuptials. I'm bummed because my invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. I'm sure yours did too! Since we'll have to settle for watching the royal festivities on TV, maybe we should celebrate with some Royal Wedding inspired sweets. So gather your girlfriends, a royal dessert and enjoy! {clockwise, starting at top left:} Royal ... Continue Reading
Inspiring Easter Sweets
Yesterday we shared some Spring inspired sweets that would be perfect for Easter. And today we have a few more adorable treat ideas for you. Whether you fancy cupcakes or cookies, these charming desserts would be the hit at any Easter celebration. Classic yellow cupcakes with milk chocolate frosting, topped with ducky sugar cookies. Find the recipe from Food Network, HERE. Polka dot Easter egg cookies by Glorious Treats. Learn how to make them yourself, HERE. Robin's egg Easter ... Continue Reading
Hollywood Glamour Dessert Table
A few weeks ago we introduced you to a talented and upcoming cake designer, Stella of Miso Bakes. We showcased her Summer Lemonade Cake and from the response we received, it was obvious that you loved it! (if you missed this cake, you must check it out HERE). Stella is building her portfolio by designing stunning cakes and showcasing them in elegant displays. Today, I am thrilled to share another one of her incredible creations with you. Stella wanted to showcase the work of her friend, ... Continue Reading
Black & White Graduation Party
I can hardly believe it's April already! Before you know it, the end of the school year will be here and the Class of 2011 will graduate. The Class of 2011!!! Doesn't that make you feel incredibly old? For those of you with a graduate in the family, I thought we'd share some party inspiration from Kim of The Celebration Shoppe. Check out this fabulous black and white Graduation Party Collection... I am really loving black and white right now and this party is a great example of ... Continue Reading
Sweet Treat: Peeps Cookies
Today is our first Easter related post for 2011 and we're starting things off with an adorably sweet treat. I recently discovered a cookie genius, a mastermind of creative cookies. Some of you may already know her. She goes by the name Sweet SugarBelle and I'm just thrilled to share one of her latest cookie creations! These darling Peeps Cookies would be the star of any Easter basket! I've always thought Peeps were cute but I'm not really a fan of how they taste. But a Peeps ... Continue Reading
St. Patrick Day Desserts
Top 'o the morning to you! I hope you have your green on because you won't find any here today. Crazy, I know! Instead of featuring traditional green St. Patrick's Day recipes, I thought we'd take a look at a few new ways to celebrate. These Guinness inspired recipes from Chow.com are a fun way to get your Irish fix for the day. Pairing the traditional Irish stout, Guinness, with chocolate is a great combination. So why not try cooking with these two ingredients? Whether it's in the form ... Continue Reading
Real Party: Fire Truck Birthday
I was thrilled to find today's Real Party in my Inbox because it is a red hot classic! Kristin Mika from Hampton Paper Designs hosted this adorable Fire Truck Party for her son Jackson's 4th birthday. It's simple and stylish yet playful at the same time. Charming water color illustrations are used throughout this party on everything from the invitations to the cupcake toppers, cookies, candy, favors and thank you notes. With fire trucks, hats and Dalmatian puppies, this party has it all for ... Continue Reading
Inspiration Board: St. Patrick’s Day
Growing up with a red-headed Irish grandmother, we knew that green was required on March 17th! With St. Patrick's Day coming up on Thursday, I thought we'd take a look at some delightfully green sweets and treats. From shamrocks to cupcakes and tutus, these charming ideas will help make your St. Paddy's Day special. {clockwise, starting at top left:} Free St. Patrick's Day Printables from TomKat Studio. Lucky you is right! Learn how to make these hanging Felt Shamrocks on Skip To ... Continue Reading
Real Party: Sock Monkey Shower
It's been almost a year since my love affair with sock monkeys first began. Do you remember the KIA commercial from last year’s Super Bowl – the one that featured life size versions of the Yo Gabba Gabba gang and a sock monkey? Well, my husband was infatuated with that commercial! My favorite part was the sock monkey. The rest is history. Over the past year I've seen many sock monkey parties.... but this one is truly exceptional. Today's Real Party is an adorable Sock Monkey Baby ... Continue Reading
Sweet Tweet Valentines
Oh my, how is it almost February already?! I've been busy working on an exciting project and January is just flying by! I can't wait to tell you about my 'little project' but it will have to wait for now. Instead we need to focus on Valentine's Day, which is quickly approaching! Today's Fab Find will definitely help you get ready for cupid's holiday. Showcasing the talents of Rebecca of Fresh Chick Designs along with Nancy of A to Zebra Celebrations and Adrian of Canyon Photography, this ... Continue Reading
Real Party: Birthday Fiesta
Well, the holidays are officially over. Visitors have returned home, decorations are coming down and everyone is back to work. My husband will attest that I tend to get a little mopey this time of year. I love the holiday season and just get a little blue when it's all over. So today I thought I would share a party that definitely makes me smile. This Fiesta Birthday Party, comes to us from Jeanine Linder, a talented Swiss photographer. It's so sunny and bright, you can't help but feel ... Continue Reading