Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Flowerpot Cakes

Feeling a bit bored today? Why not try my new game...'Spot the Cake'...what do you mean it's not that difficult!?!
These little flowerpot cakes are really cute and can be scaled up to a full size cake...maybe for your Aunty's birthday or Mother's Day perhaps! Rather appropriately the cake inside is a mud cake, so when you cut into them you get to see the earth.
The mud cake was made as a large square cake which I cut into layers and then used a cutter to give several large circles which were stacked on top of each other and sandwiched with buttercream. I then carved into the cake to give the tapered flowerpot effect. Next the whole thing was coated in buttercream before covering with paste (teddy bear brown with a little orange paste and some red colour to give the terracotta colour).

The pots were covered upside down and then turned upright, to cover the top a large circle of dark brown paste was stuck on and finally a strip of the terracotta to give the flowerpot effect.
These flower pots are my entry into this month's Tea Time Treats as the theme is 'Floral'...perfect! However, I apologise to all the horticulturalists out there...I'm not sure my flowers are entirely identifiable...the cutter for the purple flowers simply says 'blossom' and the paste colour is African Violet. Although, I'm sure Alan Titchmarsh wouldn't mind! Tea Time Treats is hosted by Karen at Lavender and Lovage and Kate at What Kate Baked, check out their blogs to find out more.
I decided to make two different types of flowers. The first one, the rolled roses is the simpler option and doesn't require any specialist equipment. You just need to take some of the pink sugarpaste and add some CMC about an hour before you want to use it, this will strenthen it up. Then roll out a length of paste in a strip, then fold this in half lengthways. Some people like to put glue down the length too, to stick the ends together. To roll the flower, simply tuck over the first corner (see picture) to form the bud and then just roll. If there is any excess at the back when you've finished you can simply cut it off.

For the leaves I just cut out circles of green paste and pinched each end into a point...simples!

To make the purple blossoms, I used a blossom cutter and impression mould to add detail and then dusted with African Violet to add depth. The leaves were made using a PME plunge cutter and veiner...and the finishing touch, three dots of yellow royal icing piped into the centre of each flower.
Following the crown cake on the postbox, I thought I could take my flower pots to the Chelsea Flower Show this week for a spot of #caking...they'd fit right in! :-)

31 comments:

  1. these are the most adorable things I've ever seen... ever!... I love them so much!... I would NEVER be able to do work like this, mine would come out looking like bricks i'm sure!... fab work Mrs!

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  2. OMG! Laura! These are amazing!!! I love it! They absolutely look like the real thing! Do you mind if I pin these on Pinterest? xoxo

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  3. Laura - you have mad sugar paste skills! these are completely awesome and I love that the cakes are filled with tons of buttercream too, so delicious as well as beautiful!

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  4. You are so skilled and creative with your cakes and decoration, I love it!

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  5. Laura - these are absolutely fantastic! I'm so envious of your sugar craft skills 8) These are so clever and absolutely adorable for Tea Time Treats!

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  6. I was planning the exact same thing next week for a charity garden bake sale. I saw it online using the terracotta fondant so searched high and low for the right colours - got skin tone and orange in the end which I will mix. Where did you get your fondant from? Your flowers are really pretty - I was planning to just pipe buttercream flowers as I'm not too good with fondant! Love your #caking ideas :)

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  7. These are lovely and very original. Well done you!

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  8. So cool! I loved the one with the little windmill. I can't make things that look like things it would drive me to distraction! You however are very good at it!

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  9. Thanks...they're perfect for the Chelsea Flower Show this week!

    Ros the following are good for ordering online:
    www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk
    http://www.surbitonart.co.uk/

    Rachel, it would be my pleasure if you want to pin a photo or two on Pintrest! :-)

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  10. These are adorable - did you know Lakeland sell muffin pots that look just like plant pots.

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  11. Laura truly a work of art!!! awesome. gorgeous. awesome...see m speechless. m repeating myself :D
    Yo should start online classes.

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  12. I have been meaning to make these too. They look fab Laura! It seems such a shame to cut them.

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  13. These are lovely! They are amazingly realistic and I like how when you cut into the pot it really does look like mud! I will definitely be bookmarking these :-)

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  14. Those are beautiful, truly stunning! :)

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  15. Yet again another amazing triumph!

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  16. oh my goodness, these are fabulous and you make it look so easy.

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  17. I love these! I saw them in the Peggy Porschen book and have always wanted to make them. Yours look so good! The purple one is very convincing!

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  18. Laura you need to write a book! You have such amazing ideas and such creativity...brilliant idea and they look amazing. x

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  19. These are gorgeous, My Auntie would love this for her birthday cake. You have a real talent!

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  20. They are gorgeous and just perfect for Chelsea Flower Show week! You never fail to astound me with your talent and creativity! x

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  21. These look wonderful! I love crafty food projects and this looks like a lot of fun. However, I am not sure I would have the talent nor patience for these. Obviously, you are not lacking in either area. These are almost too good looking to eat! Perfect for a garden party.

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  22. Me again!

    Just to let you know I have nominated you for some blog awards. The details are at http://www.foldintheflour.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/liebster-and-versatile-blog-awards.html

    Happy blogging :)

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  23. Could have fooled me my friend - is there nothing you cannot do?
    Too talented :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  24. Thanks all for your kind words!

    Susie - thanks also for the award, it's very kind! And congratulations to you too!

    Susan - I'd love to write a book...so if there's anyone out there who'd like to let me...! :-)

    Made with Pink - I'm off to check out the Peggy Porschen version...I haven't seen it!

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  25. FABULOUS idea, such amazing cakes and a stunning entry into Tea Time Treats! THANKS so much Laura for making these.....they are JUST gorgeous......I LOVE them!
    Karen

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  26. Wow! This is beautiful and genius!! I don't think I can decorate this well.. seriously.. Am loving those pots. What a refreshing idea too.. Have a good week ahead.. xoxo, Jo

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  27. These are amazing!!! fantastic work and I'm definitely going ti give your roses a go in the future!! x

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  28. I am new to cake making. I love this cake so much I want to make it. Now when you say 'paste' is this something you make or something you buy?

    Aslo, I just love your blog! :0)

    Lisa~

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  29. Hi Lisa, thanks for stopping by and for your kind comments. Re the paste, it's referring to sugarpaste which is used for covering cakes. You can get it in lots of different colours or colour white paste yourself.

    You can buy it from lots of different cake decorating places or online...I've included a link below so you can have a look at what it is. Hope this helps:

    http://www.cakescookiesandcraftsshop.co.uk/regalice-duck-egg-blue-sugarpaste

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