When Miss Sarah contacted me and asked if I could help her out with a bridal baby shower... I was about to say no. I have been so busy I could not take on another order... but then she said something that sorta took the no out of me.
"We tried going to local bakery's, but none are willing to take on the challenge."
Dem's like fightin' words to me. I got all hot and bothered and said ABSOLUTELY I will help you out!
Now... what exactly am I going to be making?
She sent me this picture of an invite made by her sister Amanda.
Then said that she liked the idea of this shower, and wanted the bride mom to be to have personal (take home for a gift) cake as well.
She needed the main cake to serve thirty, a personal cake, and then three dozen cookies for snacks.
One of the last things she said to me in our coorespondence was, "Can't wait to see what you come up with!"
All of a sudden the fight was gone, and terror took over. What the heck?!? I had no idea what I was going to do.
So!
I settled on this.
and these...
...and some little flower cookies as well.
I made the "cookie cutter" template for the Russian doll cookies and used my favorite sugar cookie recipe as well as my trusty ole glaze icing recipe.
For the main cake I did devils food with a middle layer of vanilla and vanilla frosting.
The Russian doll personal cake is vanilla with pink vanilla frosting in between the layers, and covered in vanilla frosting. I tried fondant and failed miserably at it. #totalbummer (for you twitter lovers)
I just piped on the face, flower, and border with my glaze icing.
I really hope they like everything! Congrats to the bride mom to be!
*You may have noticed that I sorta got the shower ALL wrong. It was for a BABY shower, not a bridal shower. Thank goodness I didnt write that on any of the cookies huh? :)
*Also, I cant change the title of the post without altering the permalink, which would leave anyone who had linked to this with a bad link among other complications. Live and learn!
How cute! WOnderful job, as always! My mom went to Russia once on a mission trip (She was a clown), and brought back some pins that look like that doll.
Posted by: Renee | Nov 05, 2010 at 04:39 PM
Aw man, my grandma would have LOVED these!
Posted by: Jessica @ How Sweet | Nov 05, 2010 at 04:42 PM
There you go again, Amanda!! I don't know what to ooh and ahh over first! That awesome doll cake (how in the world did you get the buttercream so smooth?!) or those precious doll cookies?? The main cake is beautiful too!
You da WOMAN! ;-)
Posted by: Becki D. | Nov 05, 2010 at 04:50 PM
Um, there is no doubt in my mind that they will be in love at first sight. You rock my world, baker girl!
Posted by: Amy's blah, blah, blog | Nov 05, 2010 at 04:51 PM
Awesome job!!!
Posted by: Jackie S. | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:03 PM
I'm in love with this cake and the cookies! Really!
Posted by: Sue | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:09 PM
You are totally amazing. If it were my shower, I would go absolutely crazy over those adorable cookies and cakes. They are indeed a one-of-a-kind and hopefully the bride to be feels very special.
Posted by: Donna | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:11 PM
Your cake is precious and your buttercream is PERFECT! :]
Posted by: Jae | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:18 PM
My daughter and I totally love these!!! They are so super cute. She thought that they where pretty,pink and looked yummy!!
Posted by: Meera | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:21 PM
OMG !!!! If I ever get married will you do my bridal shower. It will be part bridal shower/nursing home party though, so please plan something soft, so we all can gum it.
WOW!
Posted by: CopyKat | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:23 PM
Wow, those are fantastic! Nicely done.
Posted by: Stephanie | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:39 PM
In all honesty, I think these are your best work. The colours, shapes, proportions, everything is just right.
Posted by: Alice | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:42 PM
oh my gosh, amanda, you are crazy-good, out of control! these are perhaps the cutest darn things i have ever seen! you have a talent, girl, go with it!!!!xxxx
Posted by: the urban baker | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:50 PM
Just adorable!!
Posted by: Joy | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:54 PM
This is my favorite thing I have seen of yours. Everything is always beautiful, but this is phenomanal.
Posted by: HeatherChristo | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:56 PM
I love this! All of it!
Posted by: Meghan | Nov 05, 2010 at 05:58 PM
I want one!
Posted by: June G | Nov 05, 2010 at 06:07 PM
Wow Amanda you've outdone yourself. This is fabulous! Again you're suchhh an inspiration!!
Posted by: Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes | Nov 05, 2010 at 06:19 PM
It astounds me how creative you are. Your attention to detail & color is exceptional! Gorgeous cakes, cookies & everything for this shower. Your friend & everyone there will be sooooo impressed! xo
Posted by: marla {family fresh cooking} | Nov 05, 2010 at 07:04 PM
Wow!! Wow:) Awesome job!!!
Posted by: holly | Nov 05, 2010 at 07:17 PM
These are simply stunning Amanda. You not only stepped up to this challenge, you baked it out of the park!
Posted by: Seraphim | Nov 05, 2010 at 07:31 PM
so cute!!!....i seriously thought you were going to show a cut away of the cake with little mini russian doll layers inside that you baked inside somehow...for real i thought that!!! (you probably did but just don't want to bum the rest of us out too much, because you are that good... :)
-michelle
Posted by: michelle | Nov 05, 2010 at 07:50 PM
You are such a talent!
Posted by: Cheryl Cole | Nov 05, 2010 at 08:09 PM
Perfection! I love what you came up with for the main cake withthe floral detail in the center and the cookies are dead on perfect:)
Posted by: Melanie | Nov 05, 2010 at 08:33 PM
That is just TOO cute! You're really amazing at this!
Posted by: Wei-Wei | Nov 05, 2010 at 08:39 PM
I thought the exact same thing as Michelle above! You have such a love of putting exciting things inside the cake that I was sure you were going to do some crazy nesting doll cakes thing. Gorgeous, as always.
Posted by: Alissa | Nov 05, 2010 at 08:49 PM
Beautiful cake and buttercream work. The cookies are adorable
Posted by: Kathia Castro | Nov 05, 2010 at 08:53 PM
That totally makes me smile!
These are priceless without a price attached! You are a.maz.ing!!!!!
Posted by: Gianna | Nov 05, 2010 at 10:16 PM
Absolutely amazingly talented! I'm sure the bride was thrilled. Wish you lived closer... would order cookies in a heartbeat!
Blessings, Kari
Posted by: Kari | Nov 05, 2010 at 10:27 PM
breathtaking.
Posted by: Jenny | Nov 05, 2010 at 10:38 PM
Renee, I always thought it was kind of funny my aunt went to Russia as a square dancer, but you've kind of got me beat.
Posted by: Jenny | Nov 05, 2010 at 10:40 PM
OH MY GOD. i swear it really blew me away. i love the russian doll cookies they look so perfect. but the russian doll cake made me go woah!
Posted by: dipna | Nov 05, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Jane Ko | Nov 06, 2010 at 01:54 AM
The Cakes and the cookies alike are stunning!
Posted by: Marie Overballe | Nov 06, 2010 at 02:24 AM
Wow! These are absolutely amazing! They look perfect and almost identical to the picture she gave you!
Posted by: Jackie | Nov 06, 2010 at 07:55 AM
these are amazing your so talented i wish i could bake like this xxxx
Posted by: Take My Hand | Nov 06, 2010 at 08:10 AM
You. Are. A. True. Artist. Wow.
Posted by: Denise | Nov 06, 2010 at 08:34 AM
I'm obsessed with the Russian nesting dolls! I've been thinking about a cake idea to incorporate the shape. THANKS so much! I'll totally give you "props" when I try making this cake :)
~Dominique
Posted by: Dominique | Nov 06, 2010 at 08:36 AM
Your talent has left me in awe, once again.
Posted by: Renee (Kudos Kitchen) | Nov 06, 2010 at 08:42 AM
How cute are those! You did a great job. Hope all is going well with your pregnancy and family! Wish we could have gotten to know each other better at Betty Crocker.
Posted by: Jamie Cooks It Up! | Nov 06, 2010 at 09:04 AM
Now I know who to contact for those seemingly impossible challenges. Beautiful!
Hazel @ TastyPursuits.com
Posted by: Tastypursuits | Nov 06, 2010 at 09:23 AM
I hope you don't get tired of hearing how amazing you are...cause you are. Another fabulous job!!
Posted by: Christine Trebendis | Nov 06, 2010 at 09:26 AM
Is there anything you can't do? You are the master of all cookie creation!
Posted by: Rose in Ohio | Nov 06, 2010 at 10:20 AM
love it....SUPER cute!!!!!
Posted by: angie | Nov 06, 2010 at 10:31 AM
I've always loved those Russian nesting dolls! Used to have a collection of them, but gave them to my DIL. You did a super job making cakes and cookies with that idea!
Posted by: Barbara | Nov 06, 2010 at 02:25 PM
I love, love, love it!!! My young daughter has always had a thing for Russian nesting dolls. I called her over to take a look at your pic and she giggled with joy and gave me a hug. You'd think I presented her with the actual cake. Well, I'll have to file this idea away for her future bridal shower - many, many years down the road. Bravo!
:)
ButterYum
Posted by: ButterYum | Nov 06, 2010 at 03:28 PM
I should have known as soon as I spotted this on FoodGawker it was you!! Absolutely adorable!!!!!
Hope you are feeling good these days!!
Posted by: BethieofVA | Nov 06, 2010 at 04:12 PM
What a beautyful cake and your cookies is very cute!
Posted by: sana | Nov 06, 2010 at 04:43 PM
This is absolutely beautiful! I know the bride to be is going to LOVE this! That 3d doll take home cake is perfect, what a special treat! So glad you accepted this challenge, you should be so proud of the end result!
Posted by: Lauren @ Crave. Indulge. Satisfy. | Nov 06, 2010 at 05:32 PM
Awesome Awesome Awesome!!! Thank you so much for creating this for us!!! I am Miss Sarah's sister, Amanda and everything was a Gigantic hit!!! So So So So delicious too!! You truely came through for us!!!
Posted by: Amandasalovich@me.com | Nov 06, 2010 at 07:36 PM