Secret Garden - Made for Cake Central Magazine

I’m so excited to share this cake with you all! Cake central magazine emailed me asking if I would be interested in submitting a cake to possibly be published in their magazine. I was nervous to take on this task, but went for it. The theme was a Green Secret Garden Wedding. They sent inspiration photos and I had to design an all buttercream cake based off of the photos while using more than one icing technique. It could have fondant accents, but the base of the cake had to be in buttercream. I tried to showcase that you can make a beautiful, romantic cake with different but easy icing techniques. I hope that’s how it was conveyed.

For the bottom tier I made my icing very fluffy and used a leaf tip. I then added on some grass shards and clovers that I had made from fondant. I made the clovers a few days in advance after finding a tutorial on how to make clover earrings out of some type of clay form. It took a bit to make them, but was worth it. For the second tier up, I used a bunched up paper towel and saran wrap to create the effect. I dipped the paper towel in some vanilla extract that I had added a tiny bit of ivory to and then used that on the icing to create some subtle depth. I then added some off centered pink fondant petals. This tier actually took the longest to complete I think. The third tier up I iced smooth and then using buttercream I did some brushed embroidery and scroll work. I added on some small fondant flowers and pearl accents. For the top tier, I did some rosettes adding a pearl in to the center of each one and a fondant bow/brooch accent.

There are SO many amazing photos of this cake taken by Marissa of Memories To Cherish Photography. I will be making an entire album just to showcase what great work she does! I think she captured this cake perfectly in the way I was hoping for…actually better than I had hoped for! The day of the photos it was drizzling out, kind of gray out but the sky had a beautiful color to it. We brought it outside and set it up on the side of my home where there is a concrete slab, moss, rocks, etc. It seemed like the perfect spot. I held an umbrella over the cake while she took photos and my little munchkin was running around puddle jumping lol. We were lucky to get these photos in the time frame we did before it started down pouring.

I loved making this cake and was so honored to even be asked! I sure didn’t think it would actually make it in but when I found out it did, it was an amazing feeling. When I was done making this cake, I kept it on my counter an entire day lol. It was hard to let go, but it is cake after all and I certainly did not want it to just be thrown out. I wanted it to be enjoyed so I donated it to the nursing home that my Gram was at before she passed away. I hope you all enjoy this cake as much as I do! <3

-- Tiff - MA www.facebook.com/sweetbeecakery