Have you ever noticed how some people do everything well and make you feel like crap, while others can do everything well and serve as inspiration? My high school friend Karen is in the latter category. Although we’ve not seen each other since we went to Israel together in 1986, we’ve reconnected through Facebook and have enjoyed catching back up.
My favorite adult discovery about Karen is that she’s an amateur cake maker, the likes of which are fantastical and awe inspiring. Take for example the Sesame Street theme birthday party she just put together for her three-year-old son, which included cake, handmade character candles, Elmo lollipops, Cookie Monster cookie bags and, well . . . I’ll let you just see for yourself:
Karen's Sesame Street cake. Note the detail around the windows, the "Super Grover" on the roof and pearlescence of the street lamps!
Ernie and Bert, fondant friends forever.
The party favors. Character crayons made from old broken crayons, Elmo lollipops and the cookie bags. So wish I had been invited!
My son’s 13th birthday party is one month away, and I am completely inspired to do something special. I have no idea what, but I am definitely going to start giving it some thought. Thanks for the inspiration!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Great idea with the crayons! And that cake is amazing. I’m obsessed with the Cake Boss show on TLC, he did a Sesame Street cake too.
Oh my. That is the most awesome party! I love that cake, and all of the party favors are just genius.
Wow–the cake is adorable! I think I’d hesitate to cut it up and serve it. It’s too cute to eat! Did your friend make the character candles and all the other goodies as well?
Yes, her friend made everything 🙂
Thanks Katy. But, like I told you, I scoff at this “while others can do everything well and serve as inspiration”. The grass is always greener, my friend.
The cake was all edible. The characters and walls were forms of fondant and/or gumpaste all hand built for only the cost of supplies. The Sesame crayons were made from broken crayons galore that we had hanging around the house. I just melted them in batches of different colors and then poured them into a candy mold that had Sesame characters. They popped right out. A little sign, and it was done. The Elmo chocolate pops were from colored white chocolate, put into a mold and stuck with a stick. The cookie bags were just 3 chocolate chip cookies (actually my mom made them for me) and I just cut out the Cookie Monster heads and cookies. It all takes TIME but not a lot of money.
Oh and as for serving it. By the time I am done making a cake, I’m so tired of looking at it, that I am ready to hack it up. There was serious Sesame Street carnage. But, when you get a picture of your 3 year old, leaning over and biting Elmo’s head, it’s ALL worth it. He had been waiting weeks to touch the pieces.
Ah.Maz.Ing!!!!
What artistry! That is just beautiful and amazing. Your friend should start a business from her home doing cakes. It’s exquisite.
Great cake and a great surprise for the party!! I used to watch Discovery Channel’s Cake Boss (but did not like them handling everything with bare hands or using chickenwire). When I saw the French’ Les Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (M.O.F., the Championships for Mastercraftsmen and -women) I got really inspired. In the department of the Patisseurs (the pastrychefs), the contenders spend three years thinking up recipes and thinking up a design for a detailed showpiece “cake”. During the 5-day contest they have to make three different desserts and one showpiece (le piece de resistance). Imagine failing the contest one time, than working hard for three years, before entering the seconth time. And than after 5 days of tense contest, to see your showpiece shatter in pieces on its way to the jurors-room. What really inspires me is that the chef – with only 30 minutes to go – went on and created a new showpieces AND won!
For the M.O.F. see:
http://www.perigord.tm.fr/~mof/photo_mof/oeuvres_mof.htm
For the World Championships (English aviable) see:
http://www.cmpatisserie.com/2011/index.php/en/Posters.html
So keep on bakin’ and please keep us informed about your next years birthday party cake! (Enter team USA?)
Maarten
Katy you should have a superstition party for your son (you know because he’s turning 13). Or something a little spooky.
Yes,cute.but can you EAT the characters or are they made out of that iccky modeling paste icing..?? Still,VERY cute!