Cake Condensation Solutions

Cake Condensation

Sometimes we say that a cake “sweats” which implies that the moisture is coming from inside the cake but that’s not true. Here’s what you need to know about cake condensation with explanations on what causes it and how to minimize … Continue reading

How to Freeze Cake

How to Freeze Cake

Have you ever heard the myth that “freezing cakes is bad?” It’s not true! The freezer is a great tool for cake making, especially when it comes to the engineering of tiered wedding cakes or sculpted cake designs. Here’s how professional bakers freeze cakes … Continue reading

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House Feature “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” Made by Cakes for Occasions Artists: Angela Petterson, Kate Rousselle, Janelle Hodge, Heather Sullivan, Caitlin Gallarelli, & Shelia Glidden, Kristen Paul-Stair, Reve Prapeall & Michelle Zeroulias I had the pleasure of getting to … Continue reading

How to Make a Skull Cake

How to Make a Skull Cake by Wicked Goodies

According to Mexican tradition, on the Day of the Dead, the elegant skull represents both the death of beauty and the beauty of death, a cake decorator’s paradox. The decorations on this skull cake were crafted from modeling chocolate. The cake was … Continue reading

Breast Wishes Cake Tutorial

3D Boob Cake Tutorial

I made this booby cake decorated with smooth buttercream and modeling chocolate for a fundraising event in honor my friend, Laura, who is winning a fight against breast cancer. Go, Laura! It was a huge cake – each boob was … Continue reading

You Be the Judge

Vote for the Cake

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED. Results will be announced on Sunday, Sep 15th Wow, there were some impressive entries in the Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate Competition. Thanks to all the talented dessert artists who submitted photos! There were many great … Continue reading

How to Make an Owl Cake

3D Owl Cake Tutorial

No carving involved! How wise is that? This step-by-step tutorial demonstrates how to make a 3D owl cake baked in a bowl, frosted with buttercream and decorated with modeling chocolate. Tips: Half Sphere Cake Tutorial   Items Needed Half sphere … Continue reading

How to Make a Boat Cake

3D Boat Cake Tutorial

This 3D cake adventure involves modeling chocolate, piped chocolate, malt balls, buttercream frosting, wood dowel infrastructure, carved cake construction, and Pepperidge Farm Pirouette Rolled Wafers. This boat wedding cake was designed for a couple that met at the 2009 San Diego Singles Conference on … Continue reading

How to Roll Modeling Chocolate Videos

How to Roll Modeling Chocolate

Using both a pasta machine and a plastic rolling pin, these two video tutorials demonstrate how to roll modeling chocolate. For thinner, more consistent sheets of modeling chocolate, I recommend using the pasta machine method. How to Roll Modeling Chocolate … Continue reading

How to Make a Car Cake

How to Make a Car Cake by Wicked Goodies

The 3D car is a wildly popular sculpted cake design for groom’s cakes, birthday cakes and father’s day cakes. Unfortunately, it is an especially time consuming shape to create. I have spent many late nights working on car cakes, realizing that I should either charge … Continue reading

I Published a Book

Hot Off the Press Wicked Goodies

Hot off the press! I’ve published a book called Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate. It was released yesterday in the U.S. on Amazon.com and can also be purchased internationally at the Book Depository. I will be working to make this manual accessible on other … Continue reading

Giraffe Cupcake Tutorial

Baby Giraffe Cupcakes

Items Needed Filled cupcakes, frosted with chocolate buttercream Light orange, dark orange, white, and bittersweet modeling chocolate or fondant rolled modeling chocolate equipment googly chocolate eyeballs Pointed sculpting implement Vanilla buttercream Orange food coloring Parchment paper cone #3 (Ateco) small round piping tip … Continue reading

Duck Cupcake Tutorial

Baby Duck Face Cupcakes

Items Needed Filled cupcakes, frosted with vanilla buttercream light and dark orange modeling chocolate or fondant rolled modeling chocolate equipment googly chocolate eyeballs 1” round cutter Yellow-colored buttercream paper cone or piping bag petal piping tip (#102 Wilton petal tip used here) Google … Continue reading

Lion Cupcake Tutorial

Baby Lion Cupcakes

  Items Needed Filled cupcakes, unfrosted Yellow and violet modeling chocolate or fondant Rolled modeling chocolate equipment Googly chocolate eyeballs Round cutter, 1 cm in diameter Chocolate buttercream Piping bag, disposable with coupler #352 (Wilton) leaf tip  Google Chocolate Eyeballs Instructions Step-by-Step … Continue reading

Elephant Cupcake Tutorial

Baby Elephant Cupcakes

These cupcakes were made along with some other zoo animal designs for the birthday of an adorable one-year-old boy. Items Needed Filled cupcakes, frosted with vanilla buttercream Light blue modeling chocolate or fondant Round cutter, 1” (25 mm) diameter Rolled modeling … Continue reading

Fairy Flowers Tutorial

Fairy Flowers Cake

This wedding cake, fit for a midsummer night’s dream, is finished in chocolate buttercream and draped with petal-thin faerie flowers crafted in rolled modeling chocolate. It was served at an Irish wedding that took place in a traditional Irish pub in San Diego, CA. The bride and … Continue reading

Chocolate Flower Blossoms

Modeling Chocolate Blossom Flowers

This common and easy cake decoration that is so popular with fondant can also be executed with rolled modeling chocolate. The same methods apply with modeling chocolate as with fondant; only where fondant tend to look chunky, modeling chocolate buds can be shaped to … Continue reading

Chocolate Bow & Ribbon Tutorial

Modeling Chocolate Bow and Ribbon Tutorial

The classic present cake is appropriate for almost any occasion. Modeling chocolate is particularly well suited for forming fine bows because it can be rolled so thin. The trick to a full-looking bow is to cut wider strips for the loops … Continue reading

Zoo Animal Cupcakes

Baby Zoo Animal Cupcakes

Here, rolled modeling chocolate is combined with both buttercream frosting and piped chocolate to make doe-eyed zoo animal cupcakes. Note that where fondant may be used for these designs, modeling chocolate is much better suited for popping in the mouth. I like to make filled cupcakes. With … Continue reading