White Chocolate Christmas...

There is this white chocolate cake recipe, that I would call it white velvet instead. The result is a very soft and velvety cake, although very little of the white chocolate flavour remains... Nevertheless, this cake is a winner!

White Chocolate Velvet Cake

175 gr. white chocolate
1 whole egg
3 egg whites
1 cup of milk
1 1/2 ts vanilla extract
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 cup + 3 tb. sugar
1 tb. + 1 1/2 ts baking powder
1/4 ts. salt
1/2 vegetable oil


1. In double boiler, melt white chocolate, stirring frequently. Remove from water.

2. In medium bowl, combine egg whites, 1/4 cup of milk, and vanilla.

3. Combine dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 30 seconds. Add the oil and remaining 3/4 cup of milk. Mix on low speed until dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed and beat for 1 1/2 minutes to develop the cake structure.

4. Scrape down the sides. Gradually add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition. Scrape down the sides.

5. Add the melted chocolate and beat to incorporate.

6. Scrape the batter into prepared pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

* This recipe comes from "The Cake Bible" by Rose Levy Beranbaum. I changed some of the ingredients to suit my own taste.

What students are doing for Christmas...

The first picture shows the Christmas Choir, by Praveena, as her final project for the Fondant and Gum Paste Course. The second picture corresponds to Martin's final project for Course III. The house and tree are made out of cake. The amount of detail both students put in their work is really amazing! Congratulations again!

Heartbroken...

My heart is broken... While I was away at the Wilton seminar, somebody ate all my Christmas cookies I had done for the cookie display... So sad...
Anyhow, if you are looking for the Sugar Cookie recipe, you will find it in the Blog Archive for the month of August ...
So sad...

Wilton Seminar...

We had a very busy weekend at the Wilton Training Seminar here in Vancouver. But we had a lot of fun, too. You can see in this picture the charming Eugenia showing us the fondant rose... Thank you, Eugenia, and thanks to Susan Brisbois, too, for all your hard work...

Snow white...

The beauty of winter snow.... Photo by Liz Soergel

Lovestruck...

Why do I love Lovestruck? There is something kind of magical about it, the location, and the people behind it...But above all, it's all that great effort on the part of Angela Girard from Reflection Events.

This year we were located at the beautiful conservatory which is full of light, a great place to be. Next to us, the Lazy Gourmet. They were so busy feeding everybody... decadent food! You should have a look at their website... On the other side, we had Erin Gilmore, with her very refreshing style. I also heard that her photography workshop was very interesting...

Other interesting vendors there? The Photobooth... a lot of fun! Just check their blog! Also, two of the best magazines in Vancouver, Real Weddings, and Perfect Weddings were there...

Also, worth mentioning, the people from Ivory Bridal, the stationary from i said yes, and Casbah ...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

After a very successful Lovestruck, I came home decided to relax and take it easy, just to realise I had this gingerbread village to finish for tomorrow... So here I am in the middle of all these houses, with all this royal icing and candy... it sure looks a lot like Christmas.

Anyway, Lovestruck people really rock... it was a very nice show thanks to all those fabulous vendors, the great effort of Angela Girard and all her team, and the people from the Vancouver Club, too. Way to go!

Now, to all those people that are already writing to me, I would ask you, please, be patient. I will answer all your emails as soon as the last little house of the village is finished (plus a couple of Christmas trees, too)...

Lovestruck...Don't miss it!

This coming Sunday! Be there! You will LOVE it!

Christmas Red...

How do we make red fondant? The easiest way is usually using Christmas Red until your fondant looks quite pink, and then add Red no taste or Red Red (both Wilton colours). You need to add quite a bit of colour, but don't get discouraged. Keep on adding colour until fondant looks close to the shade you are looking for. The let the fondant to rest for some time before using it. It will darken eventually...

Flanders Fields...

Lovestruck... is coming!

This beautiful picture was taken by Melissa Nguyen during the bridal show last year... This year Lovestruck will be even better! Don't miss it!

How to make a Lego Cake?

This Lego Cake was covered in Buttercream, but I used Fondant for the Lego blocks, people, flowers, and border...

Thank You, Cake Boss!

Thank you very much! I know many of you are watching the Cake Boss, and that is the reason you are taking the courses...


But some students still prefer the Ace of Cakes. What do you prefer?

Let's start November in the right way...

I think this is the best advice I can give you... Relax and have fun!

Boo Hoo...

I can't believe Halloween is over... It is always so much fun...

Anyhow, I just need to get over it... but before that, I just want to share some pictures of some Halloween cakes done by students as their graduation projects... "The Witch" by Patti, and "The Dark Forest" by Georgia...

I hope you all had a great time...!