Where does the cake go?

Over the years I've created many cakes not for a specific recipient but for television, magazine/book shoots or videos.

Joey's "Head" a number of years ago- we all enjoyed the cake!

People always ask, "Where does the cake go?" A six-foot tall sock monkey, a life-sized dress form, wedding cakes, an alligator handbag, a realistic sculpted dog...they've all been made for on-camera usage but it would be a crime to have them wasted.

The original Joey cake was made for my dad. We recorded it so the world can see the sped up process. Now people can watch the full version and learn from the templates, course materials and hours of video. (subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you can see more videos like this!)

Many cakes have gone to the crew, to my friends, family and neighbors- but at the end of my last video shoot at Craftsy.com a very special girl received a delicious vanilla birthday cake, in the shape of a labradoodle. After the shoot, Abby's mom Heather, who works at Craftsy was able to bring the cake to her daughter's birthday party! I'm so happy she and her friends had a chance to enjoy the cake. I think the photos tell it all...

Abby hiding behind her b-day cake's head!

 And if you want to WIN a free Dog Video for LIFE enter the contest at Cakespy

Too-da-loo...

Two ways to win a FREE Craftsy Class

I'm doing a webinar tomorrow for CakeFu.com  

I will be on camera showing some fun stuff and will be happy to answer your questions too.

Plus CakeFu.com will be offering a give-away for one of my craftsy.com classes.....

http://www.cakefu.com/cakefu-master-series-elisa-strauss/

And, Craftsy is doing a giveaway for a FREE class- you have until this Weds, May 22nd:

http://www.craftsy.com/ext/ElisaStrauss_CraftsyGiveaway

AND if you just CAN't WAIT; You can buy the class fro 50% OFF: 

www.craftsy.com/dogcake

Cake for Icing Smiles

I've created many cakes in my life, big and small ones. Cakes for celebrities and for all sorts of celebrations. But none were as special as the cake I made a few weeks ago for an amazing little girl, Antoinette. I was given the honor of making her 12th birthday cake through the wonderful organization, Icing Smiles. Icing Smiles provides cakes to critically ill children and their siblings.

The party took place at the Ronald McDonald House in NYC. There is a party room decorated with all the characters from the comic book, Archie. Antoinette requested a vanilla cake with vanilla frosting.

I carved the cake from a block of layers (with a support board and dowels inside)

If you'd like to know more about Icing Smiles or if you are a cake designer and want to become part of their network of sugar angels please contact them here.

Confetti Cakes on SWEETOPIA

One of my favorite Blogs in the world is Sweetopia. Not only is it an excellent resource for inspiration, it's a fabulous  resource for techniques too. Marian, its founder and author (blogger!) is so creative and just the sweetest to boot. I was thrilled when Marian asked me to be interviewed.
We are also offering a Confetti Cakes for Kids book giveaway!

Check out the interview and you will be eternally grateful I introduced you to this Blog and hey, maybe you can win a book too! Good Luck!

Enter HERE

Mini Brownie Cakes

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Whimsical Cake

The 2nd Birthday Cake

I really didn't think my life could get any busier then it already was, but then just over a week ago my daughter turned two. There is always extra work when throwing a party, but I know all of my cake decorating buddies know the pressure is on to make your own kid's cake. Once again my husband begged me to order cupcakes or cake from a local bakery, but again I would not even entertain these thoughts, even if it put my health in jeopardy. After all, we are talking cake!

About a month before the birthday I had started thinking about a theme for my daughter's cake, knowing at two that this may be the last time I have any say in it...and had I given my daughter some input she probably would have told me this year what she wanted too!

So I picked the adorable main character from the book by Taro Gomi, My Friends. In the back of my head I had the image of an amazing cake by one of my favorite people and an incredibly talented cake designer, Kate Sullivan (her blog Cake Power is really cool too!). She made a sculpted cake of Frida Khalo and I have always loved it.

Here is a TINY image...visit Kate's website under "defying gravity" to really see the cake!

I'm sorry to say I didn't take any process photos this time because I was rushing like a mad woman late into the night. But my AMAZING friends at Satin Ice were kind enough to send me the pre-dyed Pink Fondant....It saved TONS of time. I just mixed the pink with a little of the Satin Ice Baby Blue and was able to recreate the intense fuchsia pink color I wanted.

The cake was delicious white cake and chocolate buttercream from our first book.

And it was all worth it when Sophie said, "Mama, I want to hug my cake!"

She also wanted to eat the bird!

Halloween Class at Make Meaning

Just in case you have been following my frenetic pace and wondering what is keeping me so busy I am excited to share the news!

Besides running the day-to-day operations of Confetti Cakes, teaching private lessons and making 600 desserts for the NYCWFF last week...MOST of my time has been taken up working for a fabulous craft company as a consultant. (oh right, and I'm 6 months pregnant and have a toddler at home!)

I was hired by Make Meaning a few months ago to develop, the first of its kind, a walk-in cake decorating experience. We are about to launch the experience in the beautiful, brand new store opening in November but I have even more exciting news.

I'm holding two classes to TEST the experience in two weeks and you and your kids can come!

Since it is right before Halloween, each guest will receive a cake (pre-baked, filled and iced in rolled fondant) that you can spend over an hour decorating with all of the fun embellishments-from disco dusts and sprays to stencils and edible markers and beyond.

Here is all the info:

Wednesday, October 19th

4-5:30pm: Kids Class (7 & up)

8-9:30pm Adult Class

Sign up soon because spaces are limited!

Learn more about Make Meaning: watch their video

NYC Wine and Food Festival

Our Banner

As I sit here devouring one of the gifts of Dorie Greenspan's Cookie Bar (chocolate cookie!) I am reliving the events of last nights SWEET Event from the NYC Wine and Food Festival which I was lucky enough to be asked to participate in. The event was completely sold out weeks before and now I know why.

Besides all of the proceeds going to benefit SHARE OUR STRENGTH, it was an amazing event, which brought together some of the most talented and well-known Pastry Chefs in the world.

There are too many things to talk about at length so I decided to make a Top Ten list of my favorites of the evening.

Our Table all set-up for service

1) Talking with the famed author and one of the nicest people you will ever meet: Dorie Greenspanand meeting her sweet son Joshua and husband.

2) Meeting Sprinkles Owners, Candace Nelson and her husband , being completely inspired talking to this entrepeneur-mom, tv star (judge of Cupcake Wars)...oh and she is SO nice AND Beautiful, and their cupcakes were delicious too! They have a new NYC store

3) Watching Jacques Torres eat one of our push pops, layer by layer commenting (in front of me) how delicious he thought the buttercream was and how moist the cake was! And meeting his beautiful wife.

4) Seeing my great friend Ron Ben-Israel and his most lovely office manager (and talented photographer) Rebecca. She will be posting photos soon!

5) Meeting Karen DeMasco of Locanda Verde. My favorite restaurant in NYC and every dessert she makes is outstanding. Meanwhile she is so talented and modest and sweet at the same time.

6) Eating the S'mores from The Sea Grill and reconnecting with Michael Gabriel

7) Hanging out with long time colleague and Top-Chef Judge Johnny Iuzzini and hearing about his recent escapades.

Me, Dorie and Johnny

8) Meeting Alessandra Altieri from Bouchon bakery, she as so kind to come over and introduce herself, and her desserts were delicious.

9) Enjoying a fun dinner beforehand at one of the best Mexican joints n NYC, La Esquina and working with the two best assistants a girl could ask for, Liz Shim and Holly Bollig.

Holly and Liz

10) Meeting Christine Quinn and having her rave about my sweet husband (who used to work with her) and I couldn't believe she remembered the cake I made for City Hall's 200th birthday.

Push pop with two layers of cake and three layers of Buttercream

It was great seeing so many wonderful friends and colleagues and I was very

pleased that the 600 desserts were loved by so many and people commented that they had never seen the push-pops before and thought they were delicious. They were all gone under 3 hrs. My only wish was to have more time to check out the other tables, it was a big event with three separate rooms. Probably better for my health :-)