Oh Dora Dora!

Some very close friends of ours ask if I would create a cake for their daughter's 2nd birthday, of course I would I told them.  There next questions was can it please be a Dora theme cake ...... Ooooooo now that changes things!  You see me and Dora are not very good friends!! We don't seem to get on very well but after much thought how could I say no to my friends!  I took on the challenge and create a pretty Dora cake fit for a ballerina.

Miss Ashton Sky's Dora Cake

Dora took a few attempts to get right but was really happy with how she turned out in the end.  I was also super excited to give a new technique a go!  Watercolour painted effect was just so lovely!! I just love the soft subtle feel it gave to a cake!! I just think it all came together to create a really special cake for a special little girl!

Happy Baking!

Mr BC's Birthday!!

It was Mr BC's birthday over the weekend so I thought I'd better bake him a cake.  This year proved to be abit of challenge for me ... you may be asking why?  Well Mr BC has just been diagnosed as lactose intolerance.  So my mission was to bake him a cake that was super tasty but also something that he could enjoy and not make him feel sick.

Mr BC's Birthday Cake

I ended up baking a chocolate cake which is both lactose and gluten free.  It was absolutely delicious! A very moist decadent cake filled and covered with a vegan chocolate "buttercream".

It was so lovely to bake this for Mr BC!! It may have been a simple decorated cake but it was a cake made with alot of love and Mr BC was very grateful that he could have his cake and eat it too.

I've had people ask on my facebook page about the recipe for the frosting so please see below the recipe for the vegan "buttercream"

I found the recipe on Sweetapolita blog.  She has also included a vegan cupcake recipe you might want to try?  I haven't tried it myself.  You can view her recipe here.

Sweetapolita Chocolate Vegan Frosting:

• 227g/8oz Vegan, non-hydrogented margarine {I used Olivani}
• 125g/4oz Icing sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 145g good quality bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
• 60ml Almond or Soy milk {I used soy milk}
• Pinch of salt     

1. In a bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine icing sugar and margarine and beat on low speed for 1 minute.
2. Add vanilla and beat on low until combined.  Add melted chocolate and beat on medium until smooth, about 2 minutes.  Add soy milk and salt and beat on medium speed for 1 minute.

Ok so I got to this stage and my frosting was looking rather gross!! It was really soupy and look like it had curdled. I was about to throw it away but decided nope! I've got to see if I can save it!  So I kept adding icing sugar and beating it.  In the end it turned into a beautiful frosting and was so happy that I could save it and use it on the cake.  I would say that I probably added at least another 200g or so of icing sugar.  My suggestion is to keep adding small amounts at a time until you get the consistency you are wanting.

Happy Baking!

For Miss Emilia!

I loved creating this cake for Miss Emilia who celebrated turning two!  I just love the sweet simple style of this cake with the cute toppers and name plaque with the ribbon roses.

Introducing Miss Emilia's Birthday Cake.

A sweet saying that I think is so true!

Rosette Ruffles!

I have seen these these rosette ruffles done on some really stunning cakes and have always wanted to give them a go.  I finally had a chance to have a go with this cake which I created for my gorgeous cousin's sweet sixteenth birthday.  I'm also in love with peach and gold as a colour combo at the moment, I just think they are perfect together.  The rosette ruffles took FOREVER to make but oh my goodness!! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous!! I also think this would make such a beautiful wedding cake! I hope someone ask me to create a rosette ruffle cake for their wedding soon!

Introducing Nicole's Sweet Sixteen Birthday Cake.

A very Happy Birthday Nicole!! Love you lots!

Isabella's Birthday Dinner Party!

As you all know back in December my little munchkin turned the big 5! We put together a special fairy party for her & her friends and we had a second party for our close friends and family.  We had a lovely dinner party and this is the dessert table I put together for her.

Welcome to Isabella's Dinner Party!

The birthday Girl!

Miss Isabella's party dress.

The birthday cake was inspired by Isabella's party dress.

Cake pops with sprinkles and chocolate macarons for the guest to enjoy.

White chocolate mini cupcakes with soft pink ribbon roses.

We all had a wonderful evening celebrating with Isabella! We feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family!!

Styling & Catering by Bella Cupcakes

Backdrop by Serendipity Soiree

Photography by Vanessa Iti

Dress from Lizzy Love

Paper fans from Lilybel Studio
Topper by Tiny Blossom

Isabella's Enchanted Fairy Party

Hello Lovelies,

Wow! It's been a long time between drinks.  Hope you all have been well! We're been pretty busy here at Bella Cupcakes HQ and haven't had much time to update my blog {So sorry}

At the end of last year my Isabella celebrated turning FIVE!! Where has the time gone? For her 5th birthday I wanted to do something super special for her .. you only turn five once right.

We decided on a fairy party and well I was excited to start planning things.  I wanted to have a fairy party that had a vintage feel, very sweet and girly.  

First thing to do was to find some gorgeous invitations which would set the mood of the party.  After hours of looking for the perfect invite I came across Serendipity Soiree.  Catherine does the MOST gorgeous invitations and paper collections.  I knew I had to get in touch with her to see if she would design Isabella's invitations.  And Oh My Goodness! I fell in love as soon as she sent through the draft. It was exactly what I wanted.

Catherine design a hand illustration paper collection - Isn't is so pretty? hehe 

So Welcome to Isabella's Enchanted Fairy Party!

I hope you all can stay awhile and enjoy!

We decide to have the party at Cornwall Park underneath the large gorgeous trees which give a great feel for the party.  It was an absolutely beautiful day and I was very excited to set everything up.

The sweets table all ready and now we wait for all the little fairies and pirates to arrive.

Miss Isabella Fairy's birthday cake.  I took inspiration from the invitations.  I absolutely love creating this cake for my little girl.

Miss Isabella Fairy in fondant

Isabella helped me baked these honey cookies and I had so much fun decorating them.

Also on the menu were White chocolate vanilla bean & raspberry macarons, coconut macarons and salted caramel macaroons.  Chocolate cake pops dipped in white chocolate decorated with roses and butterflies.

White chocolate mini cupcakes with vanilla bean swiss meringue buttercream.

Lots of gorgeous flowers in little terra-cotta pots, doilies to give that vintage feel and tree stumps to give that woodland feel.  I made chocolate cake filled with vanilla bean swiss meringue buttercream and fresh raspberries.  This was enjoyed by all after we played a game of pass the parcel.  Adults and kids all joyed in!! Was so much fun.

Chilled old fashion lemonade and Peach Juice served in these gorgeous vintage jar drink dispensers.

All of Isabella's friends arrived to find a fairy dress and headwear waiting for them.

The Birthday girl checking out all the sweet treats.

We also had a selection of savory treats for all our guest.

On the menu was a selection of sandwiches

Chicken Avocdao with toasted almond flakes

Prawn and dill

Ham & Egg

Date scones with cream and jam

A selection of sushi

Mini mince savouries

Mini sausage rolls

A selection of fresh fruit and vege sticks

Chocolate dip strawberries

Serena the Fairy entertained the kids with a treasure hunt, magical stories, making magical wands and doing the girls nails and glittering their cheeks.

All the fairies and pirates had such a wonderful day! And it was so lovely that all our closest friends and family were able to come and join us and celebrate our little girl turning five. 

I have to say a HUGE thank you to our friend Catherine from Photographique for capturing such gorgeous photos of Isabella's special day.  We will treasure these beautiful photos.

Thank you for staying awhile and I hope you enjoyed Isabella's Enchanted Fairy Party, because we certainly did.

A huge Thank you to the following:

Styling & Catering by Bella Cupcakes

Photography by Photographique

Paper Collection by Serendipity Soiree

Vintage Drink Dispensers by Leo & Bella

Fairy Dress & Headpiece by Bella Cupcakes

Leotards by Lizzy Love

A Hooting good time!

I made this ombre ruffle cake with cute owl topper for a lovely lady who was throwing her best friend a surprise birthday party.

I have been overwhelmed by all the wonderful response via my Facebook page!! I had so much fun making little Miss Hoot and love the little say that I found.

I absolutely loved creating this cake and loved making all those ruffles!!! Ruffles and me are very very good friends :)  I'd put ruffles on all my cakes if I could!

Happy baking