mmm. mmm. mmmmmm.

There were a lot… and I mean aaaaaa loooooot of steps between this bowl of batter and decorating this wedding cake onsite, ten minutes before the ceremony.

I want to tell you about all those steps.  The dowels, the driving, how I tried to turn the inside of my car into a refrigerator, the stacking, the piping… all of it.  

First though… I have to go buy my Dad lunch for Father’s Day.  Then… I think there’s an episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey that I have to um… not go watch.  I’m sure you understand. 

I’m surrounded by cake.  Right now.  Literally surrounded.  

I’m also eating a vegan enchilada… but that’s neither here nor there.

I’m taking a break on this Friday Wedding Cake Extravaganza Madness Day to give you a glimpse of what’s going on in my kitchen.  

The only thing not pictured is my enchilada and crazy crazy hair.  It might be best to use your imagination on those.

Chocolate cake.  It’s secretly vegan!  

I used this cake recipe and multiplied it by four to make a two layer 10-inch cake and two half sheet cakes (for behind the scenes slicing).

Vanilla Butter Cake.  Too yummy.

I used this cake recipe, multiplied it by eight and made a two layer 14-inch cake and a two layer 6-inch cake.  

Phew.

Oh!  I freaked out and had to check tomorrow’s weather.  I need to make sure my buttercream can hold up to the sun heat.   I’m good.  Just a maniac.  

Back to the cake.  It’s baking.  Right now. 

Next up?  Whipping up the buttercream.  

Who wants to come help with dishes?  Seriously. 

Meet Zach and Nicole.  Clay versions of Zach and Nicole… molded and shaped by the bride.  

This cake topper is sitting on the counter staring at me.  I’m going to try super extra crazy hard not to break these little people before it’s wedding time.  

Wedding cake making means wedding cake ingredient shopping.  

Extracts.  Powders.  Eggs.  Butters.  Boards and boxes.  I’ve got the goods.  

Tomorrow?  Bake day.  

Can I show you what’s going on in my kitchen these days?

So far it’s just a bunch of lists (lots of lists) and empty cake pans.  Somehow… by Saturday it’ll all be a pretty pretty wedding cake.  

I don’t make wedding cakes very often.  

They stress me out.  

They mean stacking cake on top of other cake and then driving in a car.  Seriously scary.  

I have nightmares about the cake for an entire week leading up to the wedding.  Nightmares like… oops I forgot to make the cake!  Nightmares like… oops I forgot to wear pants to this wedding.   It’s just what happens.

What helps the nightmares go away?  Wilton.  They have answers.  

The best part of this wedding cake situation?  I get to go to the wedding and see my friends Zach and Nicole say important things to each other.  Then there’s wine.  Then there’s dinner.  Then there’s dancing.  Then…. then!!? Cake.  I get to make a cake and eat it too.  

Oh!  And since I’m in wedding cake mode… we’re all in wedding cake mode.  Everyday from now until Saturday this place is going to be all wedding cake, all the time.  Prepare.  

Some wedding cakes are more flash than flavor.  This simple white wedding cake was definitely not one of those cakes.  It was all flavor, no flash.  Joe and Jen had a simple, but elegant wedding in a beautiful old hall in downtown Los Angeles.  They wanted to keep the look of their wedding cake simple and clean.  We settled on a white buttercream frosting with a buttercream pearl border.  The cake was decorated with  fresh roses, lillies,  red raspberries and bright mint leaves.

While outside was simple and elegant, the inside had a wallop of flavor.

 Inside this simple, white, three-tiered wedding cake was a moist dark chocolate and espresso cake, filled with a vanilla bean buttercream frosting and fresh raspberries.  Yes, the outside is rather unassuming, but the center is filled with vanilla bean and fresh raspberry goodness- a perfect compliment to the rich chocolate.  The bride and groom were insistent about only one thing:  they wanted a raspberry in every bite.  Done and done.

One of the best parts about working on this cake was using my father as my set-up assistant.  The man know how to drive downtown Los Angeles with his eyes closed, so he was an obvious choice for assistant-  arriving at the venue with the cake in one piece is half the battle!  So mad props and many thanks to Cliff for being the rock star driver, and crooked table fixing master.  He even helped arrange the flowers.  Yea… he’s that good.

You should also know that these picture were taken in the days before my blessed Canon SLR- so be kind.