Cake – Page 2 – The Ocelots' Den

Any Way You Slice It: Fascinating Cake Cutting Traditions

By Julia on 28 April, 2021

The cake is one of the most iconic parts of the wedding reception. The newly weds make their first entrance as a married couple. The first dance, dancing with parents, bouquet toss, garter toss, and cake cutting are some of the most key elements of the modern wedding reception.

When a couple cuts their wedding cake, it is a symbol of the first thing they do as a married couple. In my opinion, this alleviates a lot of the pressure. (What’s the first thing you did as a couple?) There’s no awkward pause. You just know that it’s cutting the cake.

How to cut the cake

A general theme I fully believe in, is do whatever feels right between you and your partner. Everything doesn’t have to be the conventional, traditional, or historical approach. However, sometimes this knowledge can make things sweeter.

It is a common practice for the groom to place his hand over the bride’s when cutting the cake. This symbolizes his promise to support her and her promise to take care of him and their family.

Where to cut the cake

Couples are often encouraged to cut from the bottom tier of the cake. This is to symbolize the longevity and continuity in their marriage. (I see many couples cut the top tier. It is often simpler, and a more logical choice for serving.

Cake Cutting No Nos!

Caution, DON’T cut your top tier if you are planning on saving it for your first anniversary. This isn’t as common of a practice, but, don’t cut the cake you intend on saving.

Don’t try to slice through the entire cake!!! I cannot repeat this enough. There are cake boards and possibly other structures within the cake so it doesn’t collapse. (You would be surprised how heavy most cakes are). As you are cutting, if you feel resistance, stop. If this happens just as you begin to slice, you may have inadvertently attempted to slice where there is a dowel supporting the tier above.

Anyway you slice it!

The couple will cut a slice of the cake. (Posing for photos along the way). This is where most modern cake cutting ends (for the couple). They feed each other some cake, and often a caterer or a loving family member will come to slice the remainder of the cake.

Some older traditions include the couple cutting and serving the cake to their guests, but this has mostly gone out of fashion as weddings have many more guests.

When to cut the cake

You can schedule it whenever you think is best. My suggestion is first thing. Then it can continue to be sliced while your guests are having their meal. (And it truly is your first activity as a married couple).

This also frees up guests to leave when they are ready. People generally stay through the cake cutting, but your grandparents may be accustomed to earlier bed times. Additionally, it means, once your band (or DJ) starts playing, the party portion of the evening doesn’t have to stop to cut the cake. (Win! Win!)

Serving Size Slices

Paralysis often sets in when it comes to cutting the cake into equal slices. Larger cakes (especially over 6″ diameter) can be cut into squares instead of slicing the cake like a pie. A slice of wedding cake is 1W” x 2D” x 4H” (Width, Depth, Height).

If you would like a cake cutting guide, I am happy to supply options along with your cake order!

Baked Goods | Cake | Wedding | Weddings

We’re Thrilled Wedding Season is in Full Swing!

By Julia on 21 April, 2021

I had my first wedding order completed over the weekend, and I’m looking forward to sharing more answers, questions, and the behind-the-scenes of Wedding Season! My garden is in full bloom, and so are all these budding marriages!

Cake Philosophy

I am in love with love. I have always been a dreamy-eyed romantic. I have an overabundance of love and take the greatest pleasure when I can infuse it into my baking. I only bake ONE wedding cake a week. I am a solo shop, and I want my full attention on one couple at a time.

When I bake (or create anything that will be a gift). I think of the couple or recipient. I make an effort to capture their essence. I think of the happiness they will share for a lifetime. I also pray for them. I believe that this positive and loving energy is baked in and is part of the experience. I am a person full of emotions, and I don’t bake for others when I’m unsettled. (I take time to play piano, sing, take a walk through my gardens, pray, and/or call friends and family before beginning to work on projects). As important I feel it is to include all the Love + Joy when I bake, I am cautious to not let any of my negative emotions infuse into my work.

2020 was a Wet Blanket

By February of 2020, just a month after I launched my website publicly. (I had been toying with it for a few years). I had THREE weddings booked. I was thrilled. I began dreaming bigger goals! (One wedding per month!) Then as we all know, 2020 didn’t go as planned. Unfortunately, only one of my three weddings took place.

I know how hard this has been for all the brides and grooms. They are ready to get married, plus newly engaged couples are struggling to secure plans because of the backlog of 2020 weddings. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Weddings are stressful enough without the additional challenges.

My other two weddings have been rescheduled (one is this weekend!!! I’m in the midst of making now!!) and another has been added!

I am looking forward to making spectacular memories for my joyous couples.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you can look forward to EVERY Wednesday through at least September!

Wedding Cake Alternatives
Wedding Cake Prices and Budgeting for your cakes
How to cut cakes
The history and traditions that go along with wedding cakes
DIY Tips
Cake design trends and designs I’m obsessed with
Cake Flavors
Gauging the amount of cake for your event
Cake Tastings
Cake-tastrophes
Groom’s Cakes
Themed & Character Cakes
Secret Ingredients
Cake Delivery
Cake Flavors
Gauging the amount of cake for your event
Cake Tasting Questions

Baked Goods | Birthdays | Cake | Cookies | Holiday

A Magical Birthday

By Julia on 20 January, 2020

One of my sweet nephews turned seven recently. He has just started reading “Harry Potter” and was able to watch “The Chamber of Secrets” this week! I have been waiting on pins and needles for one of my nieces and/ or nephews to get hooked so that I can share the magic with them.

I asked him before Christmas what kind of cake he would like. I had planned on making fun sorting hat cupcakes. He was precise with his request, and it quickly changed my course. ‘I’d like a vanilla cake, I guess, with strawberries. So it tastes fresh. Sometimes (I think) cake is just so sweet.’

While I had my heart initially set on the sorting hat cupcakes, it was much better to prepare something exactly as he wanted it. I would find something else to create a magical element. (Besides, he’s only seven, he isn’t old enough to be sorted yet. #hufflepuffforlife). I even practiced by attempting to mold a tootsie roll into a sorting hat at lunch one day. Some of my friends and family immediately knew it was the sorting hat. Not everyone was convinced. They may or may not have thought it looked like Poo. So I made a poop Emoji out of another tootsie roll.

When I recovered from the fixation on the cupcakes, I realized I needed to make this as a whole cake instead. I wanted to bake my nephew some custom cookies in a wizard-like font to top his extraordinary cake.

I designed five cookie-cutters to spell out his name and capture his new age! There were some trials and errors in the designs. I cursed myself several times because I kept forgetting that you have to mirror numbers and letters to have them cut properly. It doesn’t matter for symmetrical letters, but in strange fonts, even a capital “A” is noticeable when printed backward. (Oops!)

Next came the cake itself. When I think of Vanilla cake and strawberries, I immediately imagine strawberry shortcakes. Especially the shortcakes in the grocery store that look like little fruit cups. (I have a basket weave shortcake pan, but I wasn’t sure that was the right call for a seventh birthday party). Instead, I baked a cake that would taste similar, and I planned to layer in the strawberries like a giant shortcake.

I baked the cake in two layers. (I should have baked it in three-layers instead of cutting the cake, it would have baked faster, but I only have two pans 10-inch pans). Due to the birthday boy’s aversion to overly sweet cake, I opted to use a thick whipped cream in lieu of a traditional frosting. I sliced and macerated the strawberries with some fresh lemon juice and a light dusting of sugar. I let the berries hang out while I sliced the cake and whipped the cream. Waiting allowed the juices to come out of the fruit and make a lovely light syrup for the cake.

With a cool cake, sliced and ready, I piped a dam of whipped cream around the edge of the cake. Next, I used a silicone basting brush and spread some of the excess strawberry syrup on the cake, followed by filling in the whipped cream and topping it with the sliced strawberries. I repeated this X3.

At the top of the cake, I used a large star tip to pipe the thick cream over the whole surface. I reserved 7 of the most beautiful strawberries to adorn the top of the cake. I hulled them and filled the void with some more whipped cream.

Earlier in the morning, I baked the sugar cookies for the cake. When they were cool, I sprayed them with edible gold paint and inserted some toothpicks in their base.

The birthday boy was coming over for a seafood feast (at his request), so I made a few other treats to compliment the cake and bring more magic into the day. I used a frog mold to make some fruit gummies and some chocolate frogs. The gummy frogs turned out great. (They felt like frogs). The chocolate frogs had very delicate front legs. Only one survived, but they were still tasty, and everyone enjoyed them.

We also had some divination butterbeer. (Add a drop of food color in the bottom of a glass under some ice and pour over your beverage for a colorful surprise).

I also sent them home with a dozen cookies I stamped with some cookies presses I got for Christmas. The impressions weren’t as crisp as I had anticipated (because of the fine details). It was a completely magical afternoon!

Hogwarts
Gryffindor
Ravenclaw
Slytherin
Hufflepuff

Baked Goods | Cake | Holiday | Wedding | Weddings

An Unconventional Wedding Cake

By Julia on 21 August, 2018

My oldest brother got married this month! My wedding present to him and his bride was to help plan the wedding and to make the wedding cake. I know how stressful weddings can be, and I thought it was an excellent opportunity for me to get to know my SIL. I live 700 miles from where we grew up, and I have limited vacation days, so I try to maximize whatever time I have at home.

I knew the wedding would be a significant commitment, but it’s my big brother, and he asked me to be his “best man.” There is no way I could imagine refusing such a kind gesture and the loving inclusion on their special day.

The cake flavors were a simple choice. The couple quickly agreed on Red Velvet Cake with Buttercream Frosting. All that remained was to come up with the design. They both had their hearts set on having a Deadpool cake. I was a bit confused at first, but then they explained their love story and the significance of Deadpool.

My initial thought when I heard “Deadpool cake” was a Deadpool cartoon face round cake, with loads of red and black frosting. I try to be pretty open with design ideas, but I wanted to steer them towards something a little more traditional, with the fun and significant element of Deadpool. They had already chosen flowers and wedding colors. Gerbera daisies, and Orange, Purple, and Green.

I made the bouquets and boutonnieres. The mini bouquets were for my nieces. With flowers that represent their names and a few were mimicked in the bridal bouquet.

I couldn’t wrap my brain around how to fit this comic-book character into this romantic theme. Also, I know my brother, I hadn’t seen him with my SIL yet, but I could see him lovingly smashing the cake in her face. Red and black frosting stain my hands when I bake with them. I can’t imagine the damage they would inflict on a wedding dress.

So, as I like to do, I did more research. I watched the movies because I hadn’t seen them yet. I hoped that something in them would inspire me so their wedding cake would succinctly represent them as a couple AND look beautiful amidst the flowers and other decorations for the wedding.

I am so glad I watched the movies because the thing about Deadpool is, he can’t die. (I’m sure that’s obvious to any hardcore comic fans. He wasn’t a character I was exposed to until this month). So, I had the idea to have the cake drop on top of him and squish him! Then I was off to the races!

The bloody version was just for a dramatic effect. I didn’t intend on making a bloody wedding cake. *(But I would if they wanted it)*

I drew some mock-ups and sent them to my SIL for approval and got to baking. I wanted to do a test run of the cake and see how long it would take me to bake, frost, and decorate because I would be flying to Michigan from Virginia. I made a test cake for my BIL’s birthday because he also loves comic book characters.

I molded Deadpool, an “L” and some Gerbera Daisies out of modeling chocolate. For the real cake we were thinking about a cake topper that was M <3 S. (I typically put the woman’s initial first, but I didn’t want it to read S&M and give any mixed messages) I dusted some of the elements with luster dust for dimension and sheen. I piped all of the details, and I was incredibly proud of my effort.

My least favorite part of baking is cake delivery. It is terrifying. It makes me anxious. There are so many things that can go wrong after putting so much effort into the delicious artwork. More often than not, I have someone drive with me, and I hold the cakes. Or I drive and have someone hold the cakes.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t an option on this day. So I packed my car up to drive 8 miles. I made it the whole way there. I am sure I annoyed all of those around me because I was driving so slowly, taking corners like a little old lady and accelerating at a painstakingly slow pace. Then, because I lost my mind, I decided to pull into the driveway. HUGE mistake. I heard the cake topple right on over, and I cried.

For the wedding, I knew I wouldn’t be traveling with the cake. I would bake and decorate it at my sister’s house where the reception was held, but still, I felt defeated and embarrassed.

Fortunately, because Deadpool is the anti-hero, he survived the debacle. Also, my in-laws are the greatest and still devoured the cake.

I did some research and decided with my tight timeline flying in the night before the wedding; it was best if I brought the cake, frosting, and modeling chocolate to assemble on site. I looked at the TSA regulations and packed it up in my cooler as my carry on. It was the perfect solution, especially since after delays we didn’t get into town until well after midnight.

The cake traveled really well in it’s cooler along with the buttercream and candy clay. There were a lot of tasks to accomplish to prepare for the festivities as soon as the day began. I took a trip to the store for some last-minute charcuterie items. (I was obsessed with finding fresh figs). I tried my hardest to coordinate the fruits and veggies with the wedding colors. We sliced, chopped, and prepared everything while other helpers set up the flowers and other decorations and drink stations outside.

My sister spent a lot of time before my arrival, setting up lights and arranging her gardens to have space for a dance floor and the DJ. Everything was happening in whirlwind succession.

I crumb-coated the cake and gave it it’s polished finish before adding the other details. At this point, my brother liked the cake simple. So I stopped. Why spend more time on it if the groom is happy. We still had a lot of other tasks to accomplish, and the ceremony was 30 minutes from the reception.

I wish I would have gotten better photos of the cake. The ceremony was at sunset, and the reception was in the evening, so it was too dark, plus, at that point I had shifted my mindset into my Best Man role, and I was focused on my speech and spending time with my nieces and nephew (and the bride and groom).

My best man’s speech was a hit! Look at the applause!

Baked Goods | Birthdays | Cake

How to bake a Cake for a Lover of Macabre

By Julia on 14 April, 2018

Nevermore

It’s my Sister-in-Law’s birthday this month! She loves Crows and Ravens (and birds in general). I wanted to make her a special petite cake to honor her.

I rolled out some black fondant and went to town cutting out feathers. I embossed and shaped each one by hand. After I applied them to the cake I gave them a simple paint job using black shimmery luster dust.

I also dusted the white buttercream once it had crusted. I liked that it gave the appearance of birch bark.

Everyone Enjoyed the Tasty Surprise! Also, the Birthday Girl LOVES Frosting.

Baked Goods | Cake | Easter | Holiday | Spring

Sweet Bunnies and an Even Sweeter Cake

By Julia on 29 March, 2018

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Everything around me is starting the gain new life. Flowers, trees, baby animals! It’s also when we get to celebrate Resurrection Day.

I typically shy away from the adorable bunnies in my baking for Easter. I generally try to focus on the Lamb (and sheep) instead. Last year I baked a precious Carrot Cake with and decorated it like it was a little Lamb.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

This year, I was enamored with bunny ears and flowers. I wanted to practice my buttercream flower piping skills, so I used cookies as a nice base, and then I also added some bunny ears piped in white chocolate on a non-floral version. I love taking treats into the office to test them out!

Baked Goods | Cake

Bake Yourself Happy: Is it Cake or Bread?

By Julia on 25 February, 2018

Oftentimes, when my bananas are past their prime, I make banana muffins or banana bread. This week, I made my Great Grams’ Banana Cake! Though, I like it plain without frosting, so I made it in Bread loaf pans and a cake pan that is shaped like sliced bread!

This is a short post, but I just want to encourage everyone to bake yourself happy! If you want to eat cake like bread? Do it! If you want to skip the frosting on cake and enjoy your sweet treat; do it! I like fancy desserts and spending time decorating my treats, but I also enjoy very simple treats too!

Baked Goods | Birthdays | Cake | Cookies | Holiday

Young, Wild, and Three!

By Julia on 12 August, 2017

This week was my youngest nephew’s third birthday! He asked me to make him a chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting! He is a little man after my own heart. I LOVE chocolate.

This week was my youngest nephew’s third birthday! He asked me to make him a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! He is a little man after my own heart. I LOVE chocolate.

His birthday is also a few days before his dad, my brother-in-law Charles, so sometimes I like to add a nod to him as well. In years past, I heard about this cake they order for Charles. A chocolate cake, with chocolate ganache filling, the middle layer of the cake is a chocolate chip cookie, topped with a chocolate ganache frosting. I thought the little man would love his daddy’s favorite cake too!

So I set out to work. I baked my favorite chocolate cake recipe that has a little coffee in it to deepen the chocolate flavor. Then I used the same 9-inch springform pan to bake my chocolate chip cookie recipe. I molded it into the greased pan and baked it at 325 F for 20 minutes, and then I checked it every 5 minutes.

There are TWO essential keys to baking wonderful chocolate chip cookies. First, use high-quality chocolate. I like Ghirardelli because I can find them at most of the local grocery stores, and I can buy them in bulk at Sam’s Club. Second, when the recipe says to cream the butter and sugar, don’t just mix until it is combined. Use your stand mixer or hand mixer and truly whip it. The color will change! It makes a dramatic difference in the cookie!

For my filling, I made a lovely ganache. It is a simple 2-ingredient recipe. Warm the cream, pour it over the chocolate chips. Mix and whip until fluffy. (It can take some time because it needs to cool).

I stack and fill the cake, and as I was doing this, I realized I would leave it “naked,” and I didn’t frost the sides of the cake.

To top the cake, I made some more ganache, but I didn’t whip it. When it isn’t whipped, there isn’t as much air incorporated, which makes it less fluffy, and it is a darker color. I also made an adorable cake topper out of melted chocolate.

To make the topper, print out an image you want to pipe and tape it down. Lay a piece of wax paper over it and tape it down. Pipe the chocolate over the image and voila! A custom cake topper. I filled my topper because I wanted to place it on the cake in once piece. I probably could have gone over the white chocolate layer a second time after filling to bring out the lettering, but I ran out of white chocolate.

I added a #3 candle, and some fun chopped colorful candy melts around the edge as a more playful garnish. My youngest nephew is a wild-spirit. He is full of adventure and completely fearless! I think this cake sincerely captures his personality.

Update: Since making this cake, it has a new name. This cake will forever be known as “The Charles” in our family.