Dragonfly Desserts

March/April

2013-05-21T13:57:00.001-07:00

My day job has been keeping me busy lately, so I haven't had time to do a lot of baking/decorating. I did get to make this cute little "Brave" cake and cakepops for my co-worker's daughter. It was a fun theme to do. I loved the orange and blue!!

I also got to make some of the treats used on a dessert bar for a beautiful bridal shower! The colors white and varying shades of pink. It was so beautiful! I was happy that I could take part in it!!

Baby Shower-s!

2013-02-09T14:05:00.002-08:00

There must be something in the water at work! Our small group of 42 had 4 expectant mothers at the same time. One delivered a beautiful baby boy in December, two are due in March, and one in April. Here are a few picts from the baby shower.

Katherine's Shower

Dawn, Shawna & Silvia's Shower


Silvia, Dawn & Shawna

Winter Showcase Goodies

2012-12-12T13:50:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is our school's Winter Showcase where we invite the parents to watch the students perform after school. This year we are including a bake sale and a hot chocolate/apple cider station. We are also auctioning off Gift Baskets that were donated by the school staff. Here are a few of the items that I will be donating.

December

2012-12-06T09:09:00.000-08:00

The holidays are in full force and I have so many great baking ideas. I didn't do too much baking over Thanksgiving. I tried my hand at a pumpkin roll, but it didn't turn out too well, so I didn't post any pictures. I found this great recipe on Pinterist, so I rushed over to Michael's and used by 40% off coupon to buy a jelly roll pan. After using it twice, I figured that it's just way too big for a "roll". I think I'm going to have to invest in a smaller pan over the holidays.

Here is a picture of my second attempt at a roll. It's devils food cake, with peppermint buttercream, covered in dark chocolate ganache. I added some peppermint Andes for decoration. I took this over to my friends house for dessert last night and though it was not "pretty" it still tasted really yummy.

25 Days of Christmas Giving

2012-12-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

This month my church is kicking off 25 Days of Christmas Giving. It's a great service program where each day the church does something to serve the community. Today happens to be the day we are giving cookie baskets to local postal workers/letter carriers and garbage collectors.

I was emailed this recipe as part of the Food Network's 12 Days of Cookies. It was a super yummy and chewy cookie. Definitely a keeper.

A little more Halloween...

2012-10-28T14:49:00.002-07:00

As promised I made some pumpkin spice macaroons for my teammates at work. I also tried my hand at some Pumpkin Spice cookies too! I used the WW version (1 box spice cake and 1 can of pure pumpkin). Don't you just love fall and pumpkin spice everything?

The Caramel Corn is for the Halloween Festival at school.

Halloween Treats

2012-10-11T17:30:00.002-07:00

I'm starting to plan my Halloween Treats and Caramel Apples are first on my To-Do list. Keep checking back to see what's next. I'm thinking Orange Macarons with Chocolate filling, cupcakes, maybe some donuts??? Who knows??

The Mighty French Macarons

2012-09-30T20:46:00.001-07:00

Over the last year I've tried several times to make French Macarons...tried and failed! That is until today. :-) I took the Luscious Fall Macarons class at my local Sur La Table and finally..... success!!! We made Vanilla Macarons with Praline Buttercream, Chocolate Macarons with Pistachio Buttercreme and Cinnamon Macarons with Coffee Buttercreme. Now does that sound DELICIOUS of what?? To answer the question...Yes they were!! Now the real trick will be to see if I can make these scrumptious little treats on my own..without the talented Chef Katie Torres at Sur La Table. By the way you should check out her FB page at Le Pop Shop. Checkout some of the pictures from the class.

The Menu

That's Me!!

Sifting the almond flour and powdered sugar

Whipping the Meringue

Folding the Macaronnage

Piping

More Piping

Even More Piping

After 8 minutes in the oven we checked to see if they were ready

The Finished Product

These were Vanilla with Praline ButterCreme

Cinnamon with Coffee ButterCreme

Don't you just love how pretty they are!!

Beautiful French Macarons!!!

2012-07-24T17:46:00.000-07:00

I went to Starbucks yesterday for some coffee and couldn't leave without trying one their cute little mini pies! The apple pie was absolutely delish! Like any good baker I couldn't wait to get home and try them for myself. Since I was so excited, I ended up making the semi-homemade version. I had some ready-made pie crust in the fridge and some left over peach filling from the last cake I made. Put it all together and in no time at all I was biting into one of these cute little treats!!

The top part is right before I put them in the over and the bottom part is once they came out all golden brown and crispy!!

Michelle's 40th Birthday Bash

2012-07-15T19:14:00.004-07:00

This weekend I was so happy to celebrate my BFF Michelle's 40th Birthday. We had a lot of fun celebrating, but I had just as much fun trying out a few new baking techniques like a zebra cake and leopard cupcakes. I was inspired to make these delicious treats by www.mycakeschool.com . If you haven't checked it out yet, be sure you do!! It's fabulous!

I know...It's been FOREVER since I've posted!!!

2012-06-25T15:21:00.001-07:00

Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon

Given that cake decorating isn't my full time job, I kinda needed to take a break from the whole thing for a while. I started exploring some new hobbies...like running a half marathon earlier this year, and going to sleep before 1:00 am. :-)

I did get to do a small job around Valentine's Day that was a lot of fun. I made some easy cupcakes and cakes for my family & co-workers, but for the most part I've been enjoying a long over-do hiatus.
Click here to see all the pictures.

Last week I did dip my finger into the buttercream again and make a two tiered cake with gumpaste flowers. I hope you enjoy the long overdue pictures.

Yellow Butter Cake with Peach and Strawberry filling, iced in buttercream with gumpaste flowers.

Chocolate Covered Oreos


Pretzels, Cake Pops & Oreos

Cake Pops


Chocolate Colored Pretzels


Valentine's Day Cake Pops


Chocolate Cake Pops

Mini Cupcakes for Joe & Leo our school custodians

School's out for Summer!!! Cake Pops

Stef & Bob's Baby Shower

2011-10-31T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of the Dessert Table at Stef & Bob's Baby Shower. I can't take credit for the cake, but I did the cupcakes and cakepops. The cake was from Rockwell's Bakery. It was absolutely delicious...chocolate cake with chocolate mocha mousse filling and the most divinely light chocolate buttercream. YUM!!!

October Birthdays

2011-10-31T21:18:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of Birthday cakes and a "Sweet 16" cupcake tower that I worked on this month.

Breeanna's Sweet 16 Cupcake Tower

Zebra "16" Cupcakes and the 5 Tier Zebra Tower that I made.


Chocolate CakePops dipped in Red Coating Chocolate with Zebra "cups"

Monica's Birthday Cake

Moises' Birthday Cake

Ladybug Cake

2011-10-08T18:50:00.000-07:00

This cake was made as part of a "dessert table" for Maren's 2nd Birthday. It's a simple vanilla cake covered in satin ice fondant and Duff's buttercream fondant. The face is a giant cake ball covered in fondant. The photos are courtesy of Taken by Tammy.

Birthday Cake

2011-07-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I got to spend time with friends celebrating my BFF Michelle's birthday. The event gave me the perfect opportunity to try out two decorating techniques I saw on the My Cake School blog. It was a simple and fun cake to make. The inside was a vanilla/chocolate "checkerboard" and it was iced in chocolate buttercream with a easy gumpaste flower on top.

Happy 4th of July!!!

2011-07-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a summertime favorite....Hamburger and French Fries!!! It was tons of fun to make, but I can't take credit for the idea. I found this cake on MyCakeSchool.com. The "buns" were white cake and the "burger" is a chocolate cake. The "fries" were pound cake. Don't you just want to take a big bite out of it???

Birthday Cupcakes

2011-06-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

My dearest friend Lori celebrated her birthday today. It was so great to see her and catch up with such great friends over drinks and cupcakes. We were having such fun that lunch lasted all the way to happy hour. The cupcakes were dark chocolate with choc ganache buttercream and a gumpaste flower on top. The pictures are courtesy of my "sis" Lisa!!

I also have a second long-time friend that will be celebrating her birthday tomorrow!! Happy Birthday Lorena!! She's celebrating with some cupcakes too! :-)

WWE Birthday Cake

2011-06-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

This cake was so much fun to do! It was a 10" cake with a 8" cake on top. It was made of white cake filled with strawberries, bananas and whipped cream. The whole cake was covered in black buttercream fondant (Duff's). The "ring" was made of gumpaste and wooden skewers dyed red. The WWE superstars were purchased by Julian's mom. Happy 3rd Birthday Julian!!!!

Graduation Cake Pops

2011-06-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

These cake pops were chocolate cake coated in dark chocolate and sprinkles. I added the graduation "caps" out of melted chocolate with a fondant tassel.

Cakes, Cakes and More Cakes!!!!!

2011-05-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

April has been such a crazy month for me. I had so many birthdays this month I rarely turned the oven off. Although there were MANY late nights, I had a wonderful time treating my friends and family to some of the most fun cakes I've ever made.

Andrew's Birthday Cake

Here's a view of all the TREATS....chocolate covered oreos, cake pops, rice krispy treats, and marshmallows dipped in chocolate

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

Andrew's SMASH cake...chocolate chocolate!!


Rice Krispy Treats

Chocolate Covered OREOS!!

Martin's Birthday Cake---Chocolate Stout Beer Cake covered in Chocolate Ganache....He said it was the best cake I've ever made!!!!

It was definitely CHOCOLATE OVERLOAD!!!!!!

Rosa's Birthday Cake (Martin's Mom) The basket is chocolate cake and the yarn balls are actually cake balls.

Easter Egg Cake Pops

Happy Mother's Day!!!! Teapot Cake and gumpaste teacup

Mother's Day Teapot Cake and Gumpaste Teacup


Close-up of Teacup


Close-up of Teapot Cake

Mother's Day Purse and Shoe Cookies

Mother's Day Cookies

Mother's Day Daisies & Hearts Cookies

Hello Kitty Cookies

Amaya's Birthday Cookies

Vikki's VW Cake

Monica's 40th Birthday Cake Pop Cake!!!

Ivette's Baby Shower

2011-04-09T17:15:00.000-07:00

Here's the invitation that inspired me to make this Monkey Cake & Cupcake Tower. Congratulations Ivette & Isidro!

Lexy's 19th Birthday

2011-04-06T23:17:00.000-07:00

Cake Pop basket for my god-daughter's 19th Birthday!! I love you Lexy!!!

Happy Birthday Annie!!!

2011-04-06T23:15:00.000-07:00

This was a cake for my dear friend Ann's birthday. It was a banana cake with buttercream icing and fondant sunflowers.

Angels Cake Pops & Chocolate covered Oreos

2011-04-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

These cake pops and chocolate covered oreos were a belated birthday gift for my brother Patrick!

Happy 18th Birthday Emmy!!!!

2011-04-02T17:39:00.000-07:00

Last week Emmy celebrated her 18th birthday! I was so honored to make her hot pink, zebra and bling themed cake! Doesn't Emmy look absolutely beautiful!!! As for the cake, the bottom layer was chocolate cake with buttercream icing and the top tier was white cake with raspberry filling. Both cakes were covered in buttercream fondant. It's a new brand for me. (Made by Duff from Ace of Cakes.) It's has a better flavor than regular fondant. The zebra print is an edible image and the paper circles and accents were made using my Cricut. I also made 2 doz. cupcakes with a fondant "18" topper. Emmy's mom Tricia did a wonderful job designing the table. Everything matched perfectly!!