Fairy cakes are basically lovely little cupcakes adorned with pretty icing and "fairy dust" - AKA sprinkles - for a nice ethereal effect. Check out this video to learn how to ice and decorate a cupcake in five different ways, including creating a flower and swirled icing top ...more
Right now I'm dreaming of some ice cream, and I just remembered a great Bay Area treat - IT'S-IT! It's a chocolate-covered ice cream cookie sandwich. It is so, so good. I even considered just ordering cases of these for my wedding instead of having a cake. But it turned out th ...more
Real volcanos are no fun, but chocolate ones sure are! Whether you're baking a chocolate cupcake or cake, adding the term "volcano" to the mix means adding a lot of extra gooey chocolate. Watch this video to see how to make red velvet cupcakes with a Hershey's kiss center and ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make an igloo and penguin cake. For this, you will start with colored fondant or colored gum paste. Next, you will shape your gum paste into the bodies of the little penguins. After this, make sure you make all the shapes for their eyes and be ...more
To make the Italian wedding cake martini, use vanilla vodka, white cream de cocoa, amaretto, a little bit of cranberry juice and a little bit of pineapple juice. First, fill a shaker with ice. Then, add 2 ounces of vanilla vodka, 1/2 of an ounce of amaretto, 1/2 of an ounce of ...more
To make this special cocktail, you will need three essential ingredients: Cherry Vodka, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. First, put three scoops of ice in a cocktail shaker, so that it is over half full. Add one to one and one-half ounces each of the Parro ...more
In order to prepare an Erupting Volcano Cake, you will need the following ingredients: 3 angel food cake, a disposable plastic cup, jars of ready made frosting, strawberry gelatin, dry ice, and water. Apply icing to the top of one angel food cake. Adhere an angel food cake on ...more
Roses and leaves are a classic cake garnish. This tutorial will show you, step by step how to create a floral look for your next cake. Once you master this your cake will be so beautiful it will be hard to cut into - but you'll get past that as soon as you taste how delicious ...more
Butter cream frosting isn’t only delicious but allows for great decorating possibilities. It can be a little difficult to create smooth surface to of the frosting if bubbles have created pock marks when laid, but as the video demonstrates you can use a smoothing tool to get th ...more
Summertime calls out for desserts that are easy to assemble and don't require heat. Voilà: crème de menthe grasshopper pies. They are minty, fresh, and cold, and are very easy to whip together with marshmallows and a microwave. Another plus? You can make these mini crème de m ...more
Cooking may be an art, but baking is a science. It requires precise measurements since the outcome is based on chemical reactions. Using too much or too little of one ingredient can be the difference between perfect, crunchy-yet-chewy cookies and the dreaded "one big cookie." ...more
During our high school years, one of us (hint: her name starts with a B) worked at Cold Stone Creamery. She loved working there, and from this love emerged a fascination with adding creative ingredients to plain ol' vanilla ice cream. We now keep this blank palate of frozen g ...more
When I was a little kid, my parents often eschewed cakes for my birthday parties, and instead opted for ice cream sundaes and banana splits. It made perfect sense: ice cream is so easy, and you can get multiple flavors to ensure that everyone is happy. Don't Miss: How to Make ...more
If eating bacon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner isn't enough to satiate your love for rashers, then how about eating it for dessert too? It's what a true baconphiliac would do. You don't need to go to a gourmet cupcake shop or ice creamery to get your candied bacon fix; it's ...more
There are few things that make me smile more than ice cream… or bread! So why not combine them for double the happiness? We've discussed the art of making ice cream bread before, but not everyone has the time (or, let's face it—the patience) to bake bread in the oven, no matte ...more
Valentine's Day is right around the corner... which is the perfect excuse to ignite your inner cupid and bake a heart-shaped cake. If you have a heart-shaped cake or springform pan, you're all set. If not, don't worry—you don't need one! With a little ingenuity, you'll have a ...more
Sometimes just drinking your alcohol can feel a little dull and boring. Eating your alcohol, however, is always a party. Whether you're hosting a party and looking for a unique idea to serve drinks, or have a problem with people judging you for drinking at noon, all you have ...more
These cake eggs are a gorgeous treat that also makes a delicious April Fool's Day prank. Getting a fairly humdrum breakfast of boiled eggs and fruit and discovering that it's cake instead is an eggcellent surprise, isn't it? If you want to make these for Easter instead, then t ...more
Emojis, for better or for worse, have essentially taken over online forms of communication. And now, thanks to a recently discovered feature in iOS, they are going to change the way you search for nearby places. The process is actually very simple. Let's say you're looking fo ...more
Let's set the scene: you're at home, it's late in the evening, and you have a hankering for those deliciously decadent chocolate-wrapped squares of ice cream goodness. You could drive to the store and pick up the usual pack of Klondike Bars in the ice cream aisle... or, you ca ...more
My Cuisinart ice cream maker was a wedding gift; it wasn't something on my list, but I jumped up and down with delight when I unwrapped it. I never would've purchased this appliance on my own because it didn't seem practical, yet I loved the idea of making homemade ice cream. ...more
Ice pops are like summer on a stick, with all the sweetness and stickiness of July and August. Store-bought popsicles, although refreshing, are never as good as homemade. So it's time to up your popsicle game with some of these beautiful creations, including some boozy pops (p ...more
Back in July, Oreo released their newest, limited-edition flavor, Choco Chip. These one-of-a-kind cookies are made up of golden, vanilla chocolate chip wafers with a chocolate chip creme filling. Don't Miss: Dunk Oreos Without Getting Your Fingers Messy With this new flavor ...more
Turning your oven on in the summer is just asking to convert your house into a sauna. No matter how badly you want to bake cookies during a heat wave, having to deal with the boost in temperature is a deterrent at best. However, this doesn't necessarily mean you have to go co ...more
With the warm summer months right around the corner, just the thought of having to bake anything in your oven may have you perspiring profusely. But you don't want to give up dessert, especially not luscious, layered cakes, so what's a sweaty sweets-lover to do? Icebox cakes ...more
When I get struck by a craving for something SCJ (savory, crunchy, juicy), nothing fits the bill better than a BLT. But why settle for the sandwich form when there are so many other possibilities? Some of my favorite alternative ways to serve up a BLT are 1) as a salad, 2) in ...more
You're better than a can of Reddi-wip, which is why you should always make fresh whipped cream at home. It's extremely easy to make, won't have all those nasty preservatives, is thicker and creamier in consistency (like cream should be), and tastes much richer. Don't Miss: 4 ...more
Your grater and microplane may look like single-purpose tools, but they're actually one of the most diverse appliances in your kitchen. Sure, everyone knows to use a grater on cheese and a microplane on citrus zest, but why stop there? Here are 10 things you may not have thoug ...more
These cinnamon buns baked in orange peels are one of the easiest, cutest, and tastiest treats you can make for breakfast, a sweet snack, or dessert. Whether you bake them in the oven or grill them over a campfire, the orange peels infuse the cinnamon rolls with a fragrant, cit ...more
Ask ten different people how they feel about boxed cake mixes, and you'll likely get ten different answers. Some baking purists will berate them and throw them in the same category as garlic presses and knife sets sold on infomercials. Many people will say that they prefer not ...more
To prevent melted ice cream from leaking out of the pointy bottom of a cone, plug the hole up with a marshmallow before adding any ice cream on top. This will also give you a nice treat when you're almost finished, as the marshmallow will absorb some of the ice cream. Or, if ...more
A dead British science nerd figured out the best way to cut a cake to preserve maximum freshness, and it's pure genius (well, sorta). His name? Sir Francis Galton, a polymath infamously known as the founder of eugenics, and apparently owner of a very big sweet tooth. Essentia ...more
Wait, don't dump that milk! It may have a slightly sour smell and be expiring tomorrow, but you can still put it to good use by making sour milk jam. Sour milk jam is made by cooking down the expiring milk with sugar and then adding crème fraîche. The pleasantly sour flavor o ...more
We've both had a fondness for pancakes since we were kids; The way the smells of syrup and warm batter permeated the kitchen and lingered for hours drove us crazy—and still does. Recently, we started to notice that when we had guests over to indulge in pancakes for brunch, th ...more
Convenience in the kitchen can be a very, very good thing. As fun as it can be to spend hours toiling over Julia Child's boeuf bourguignon, there's a reason that we have canned soup, microwave dinners, bouillon cubes, and, of course, boxed mixes. Boxed mixes get a bad rap, bu ...more
From vodka to beer, booze is great for drinking, great for mixing, and, yes, great for cooking with. But there's really no alcohol better for bringing into the kitchen than wine. From savory dishes to sweet ones, wine is so versatile that it can make almost any meal better. An ...more
Fondant looks pretty, but man, it sure does taste weird. Don't Miss: How to Frost Your Cake Like a Pro If you've ever slaved over decorating a cake with fondant, you know how disappointing it is to watch people peel it off and only eat the cake. You can avoid this by skippi ...more
Baking used to be a fun, relaxing hobby and a way to make treats for friends and family. These days, this hobby has become a creative battleground among out-of-work graphic designers with Pinterest accounts. People everywhere are now upping their baking game by adding interest ...more
Aluminum foil is one of those things that every cook, experienced or just starting out, has in their kitchen. And while we may think we know how useful this handy material can be, there are hundreds of ways we could be utilizing tinfoil to make our lives a whole lot easier. 1 ...more
We like to have a variety of cupcakes on hand when we're entertaining, but we don't want to spend too much time making separate recipes. No one has the time or the money for that—especially when you're hosting and you've got a bevy of other dishes to prepare. The cheap and ea ...more
Frosting, for many, is the best part of the cake. There's not much to dislike about it, after all—there's a type of frosting for every person. Whipped frostings for those who like it light, dense buttercream for indulgent sugar fans, cream cheese frosting for the tangy crowd.. ...more
Right now is that magical time of year when the general public decides to embrace their inner fattie and get baking in the kitchen. Hello, pies and cakes and cookies and everything carbs. Goodbye, diets—see you in the next year, when you cripple us with unbridled guilt and lon ...more
Beer isn't just for drinking anymore. There are many useful and surprising things that an ice-cold brewski can help you accomplish, from household chores to better-tasting food. It can even help you look and feel healthier. And while it may seem sacrilegious to use a beer for ...more
If there was ever a cake that was both macabre and romantic, and that looked like something the Phantom would offer to Christine as a wedding gift in "The Phantom of the Opera," then this would be it. Check out the video to learn how to build a two tier cake with sugarveil ic ...more
Remember when you were five and you had a blue crayon and a yellow crayon but all you really wanted was a green crayon? Just as you would mix colors in coloring and any other artistic medium, you sometimes need to mix icing colors in cake decorating. Get the exact icing color ...more
What's the difference between a professional baker and an amateur one? A professional baker presents their baked goods with flawless execution. Yes, the recipe matters too, but we can bet you've never been to a five star restaurant that serves good yet sloppily assembled food. ...more
Interested in making a tiny penguin topper for a Christmas-themed cake? This clip will show you precisely how to go about making one. It's easier than you'd think. So easy, in fact, that this free video cooking lesson can present a complete overview of the process in about ten ...more
What's one way to add interest to your cookies without carving out an entire afternoon devoted to crafting neverending sets of peonie flower fondant flowers? Using cookie texture mats. Texture mats are usually pounded onto fondant and candy clay to create an interesting patter ...more
The difference between professional cake decorator's icing and your run-of-the-mill canned icing from Pillsbury Doughboy - or simple homemade icing - is that the pro variety is much smoother, richer, and tastier without being too sweet. And why wouldn't you want that to top y ...more
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to choose the right icing for any cake. This video describes the different types of icings that can be used to decorate cakes. Butter cream icing is very versatile and consistent. Very soft and easy to work with. Royal icing is a type ...more
Create a beautiful royal icing snowflake to top a cake using this simple how-to from http://www.Wedding-Cakes-For-You.com. To start, draw out a snowflake (she shows you how) on a dry erase board or piece of paper, place wax paper over it and then trace your snowflakes with roy ...more
In this cooking HowTo video Ellen Pruden features a winning carrot cake dessert using heart healthy canola oil. She actually prepares this carrot cake as cupcakes and top them off with a maple cream cheese icing. Watch to learn how to prepare this recipes. Carrot cake ingredie ...more
Royal icing is essential when it comes to cake decorating. This how-to video is a step by step guide on how to make royal icing for cake decorations. All you need for royal icing is merengue powder, powdered sugar, and water,
Grass is one of those things you'd think would be easy to replicate in icing, but actually end up becoming your worst nightmare. The problem that most cake enthusiasts have is that they think grass can be made from just about any piping tip, which is not the case as the result ...more
In order to make Shooting Stars for Cakes made from Fondant Icing, you will need the following ingredients and supplies: fondant cookie cutters, wire cutters, gumpaste, a pastry brush, icing spatula, glue (or gumpaste with water), a paint brush, a fondant rolling pin, powdered ...more
As any habitual baker knows, the cake making process doesn't end when you pull out the piping hot masterpiece from the oven. From there, you have to level out the cake - shaving off any areas that are jutting out or not fitting the shape you desire - and also add layers of ici ...more
This video cake decorating tutorial shows how to design piped scrolls of frosting on a cake. Start with a tube 44 or 43 at one point and twist it at the top, allow the tail of icing to fall on the edges to cover the edges of the cake. Repeat the same process around the cake. P ...more
Royal icing is very versatile and great for cake decorating. In this how to video Edna teaches how to make simple royal icing daisies. Watch and learn how to make these beautiful daisy flowers out of royal icing for all your baked goods.
This beautiful yellow icing rose looks really difficult to create, but with the right tools it's as simple as practicing (and probably messing up a few times). Whether you want to add a special edible decoration to a Mother's Day cake you're baking or a batch of vanilla cupcak ...more
Ingredients: 1 cake mix 18.5 oz (524g) 8 oz butter (226g) 6 oz semi sweet chocolate chips (170g) 1 and 1/2 cups pecans 6oz (170g) 8 oz cream cheese (227g) 2 cups powdered confectioners sugar 3 eggs Put 1 egg into a big bowl and mix it up, then add 2 sticks of melted butter to ...more