Eilert - Cupcake envy: irresistible cakelets - little cakes that are fun and easy

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all of the talented cake artists and instructors I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with throughout my years with Cupcake Envy. The cake community is a very special group of passionate people with unique personalities, crazy talent, and a true love for creating. I always feel honored to be in their presence, as each cake artist is so accomplished in their craft and yet welcomed me with kindness and excitement into their world.

Amy, you are very lucky that you found someone who is willing to put with you! And boy, were they right. My husband Bill is my alter ego. Throughout the crazy ups and downs, he is by my side with kind words, love, and an indispensable sense of humor.

Thank you to my two boys: Ben and Sam, it was because of them that Cupcake Envy came to be. I have immense respect for them as individuals and the young men they are becoming. I love you, boys.

I would like to thank my mom and dad for their encouragement and support throughout the years. They taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. Though we live states away, they are always in my thoughts and I hope I have made them proud.

Thank you to my sister, Debbie, for being so much more than a sister. Shes my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and a pretty awesome cake class assistant. My sisters strength, guts, and unconditional love are traits I admire and value. I know I could not have done this without her.

I dont think a simple thank you would suffice for my dear friend and neighbor, Dana, who not only helped brand Cupcake Envy but has always given me sound advice, celebrated my successes, and helped me laugh off my failures. She will always be family to me.

Thank you to my agent, Stacey Glick, for her patience and commitment to my project. Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you to Tuttle Publishing for helping to bring my dreams of a book to fruition.

Id like to thank Danielle Centoni for her expertise and guidance. This book would never have happened without her utmost commitment and knowledge. I have learned so much from you.

Writing this book has been such an amazing experience. So many wonderful friends and family helped me get to this point. I am sincerely grateful for the wonderful people in my life.

Appendix A

Substitute Toppings

There have been many times when Ive been in the middle of a cake design when I suddenly realize I dont have exactly what I need. Over the years, Ive been able to improvise and have found that there are plenty of ingredients commonly found in your local grocery store that will do just fine in a pinch.

ROLLED FONDANT VS. TINTED FROSTING

If you love the cake designs in this book, but are not quite ready to commit to working with fondant, you can use tinted frosting and a tapered angled spatula to approximate the look of fondant. Be sure to first crumb coat your cakelet and let the icing set before you decorate. Placing your cakelet in the refrigerator will help quicken the process.

After your crumb coat of icing has set, remove your cakelet from the refrigerator. Use a piece of wax paper to gently smooth any bumps or cracks in the icing. When you are ready to decorate the cakelet with tinted frostings, be sure to keep a glass
of warm water nearby for dipping your spatula. The heat from the water will heat the spatula, and this will help make your icing go on smoothly and cleanly.

NO FONDANT FOR DECORATIONS?

NO PROBLEM!

You dont need to use fondant to create embellishments for your cakelets. The following candies can be used to create decorative flowers, shapes, borders, and even purse handles.

Taffy

Tootsie Rolls (warmed chocolate Tootsie Rolls are also a great substitution for chocolate fondant)

Bubble gum

Fruit roll-ups (fruit leather)

Caramels

Airheads candies

Candy clay

HELPFUL HINTS

Microwave the taffy or Tootsie Rolls at 510 second intervals until the candy is soft and malleable. As you are working with the candy it may begin to firm. It can be easily softened by reheating in the microwave.

To use Tootsie Rolls or taffy to cover your entire cakelet, unwrap multiple candies and knead them together after heating.

You will be able to use most flower cutters and even some texture sheets with these candy substitutes.

Appendix B

Presentation Tips

Cakelets are jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring treatsespecially when given the pretty presentation they deserve. Not only are they wonderful individual desserts, they are also great gifts and party favors. Be sure you present them in a way that shows off your hard work and beautiful decorations.

CLEAR ACETATE BOXES: These are easy to find on the internet (see Resources, page ), come in a variety of sizes and styles, and are easy to assemble. You can go with an elegant box rimmed in gold, or try something playful, like a Chinese takeout-style box. The box I use the most is a 5-in (12.5-cm) square and 7 in (17.5 cm) tall with a gold bottom. It fits many of the designs in this book and it can be used standing up or on its side. Consider wrapping a ribbon around the box, adding a personalized label, or a simple peel-and-stick gift bow.

COVERED CAKE BOARD: Cover a cake board or cardboard cake circle with FDA-approved wrapping paper (look for food-safe paper at cake decorating shops). Place the cakelet on top. Set the board on top of a piece of clear polypropylene cello wrap and gather at the top. Using coordinating ribbon, tie a beautiful bow and trim any excess cello wrap.

CANDLE PEDESTALS AND PLATES: Go to your local craft chain and head straight to the candle aisle, where you will find an amazing variety of candle pedestals. The pedestals add height to your plated cakelet, making it a standout centerpiece, and theyre just the right scale for your little cakes. Look for clear, scalloped, or decorative plates to set the cakelet on.

PARTY PRESENTATION: If youre planning on preparing dessert for a group, but have no time (or energy) to make multiple cakelets, the perfect solution is to make one centerpiece cakelet and surround it with delicious (but simple!) color-coordinated cakelets. Use a candle pedestal for the cakelet centerpiece, and surround it with your adorable matching cupcakes. Your guests will be blown away by your amazing desserts and creative display, and the cakelet can be presented to the guest of honor as a special treat.

Appendix C

Resources

Here is a collection of some of the best places to buy the materials and tools called for in this book.

A quick search on Amazon.com, eBay.com, or YouTube.com will usually find almost any tools, supplies, or tutorials you might need, but sometimes its best to go straight to the source. The following represent but a small cross-section of the available products and information resources.

FONDANT, TOOLS, AND PANS

American Cake Decorating ; www.americancakedecorating.com

Blue Lake Fox Cake Decorating ; stores.ebay.com/bluelakefoxcakedecoratingtools