Alisa's Birthday

Jeff's coworker Luis asked me to make a cake for his daughter.  He had no ideas what he wanted.  Just a nice cake...hmmm, that gave me a chance to try one of those drip cakes everyone is doing these days.  I make homemade sprinkles, and chocolate bark for the top.  She seemed to like it.  It was a double barrel chocolate.  That sucker was 9" tall without the topper.  It was a monster.  I was so nervous driving it to the restaurant!

Jeff's Birthday

Jeff, oh Jeff.  He gives me free reign on his birthday cake design to try something Ive been wanting to do.  I love watching different decorating techniques, and the kids usually want something specific, and I can only send in so many cakes to his work, they already hate me.  So Jeff allows me to practice something I've been dying to try on his cake.  He's not a big cake lover anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter to him.

This year, I wanted to try the newest thing I've been seeing a lot of lately, succulents.  I love succulents, I have a pot with several out on my patio.  So I decided to go for it.  Plus it's kind of masculine looking, I didn't want to give him a ruffled, rose birthday cake, not that he would mind.  

So I did a 6" chocolate (his fav) with vanilla bean SMBC, just a rustic pattern on the outside and topped it with buttercream succulents.  I piped most of the succulents earlier and froze them, then arranged them on top.  Then I filled in with other succulents, and put the finishing touches on.  This actually ended up being one of my favorites to date.

He was pleased too :)