I can’t wait to teach a class on Doll Cakes this weekend because it was with a doll cake that my obsession with cake decorating really 
began, now nearly six years ago. My niece Madison, who was turning five, saw a photo of a doll cake that had been made for her grandmother’s birthday when her grandmother was a little girl. (Apparently doll cakes were all the rage in the ’50s!) Well, Miss Madison had to have one, too, and I was determined to make her one. I spent hours and hours (and hours and hours) watching a YouTube video on how to pipe icing decorations, and then I spent hours and hours (and hours and hours) practicing in the evenings after work. I went through batches and batches of buttercream as I learned all the necessary techniques—ruffles, borders, and even roses—and finally Madison’s fairy princess cake came to life, wings and all.
Of course Madison’s little sister had to have one for her own birthday a few months later; hers was purple and white. Over the years the cakes have gotten more and more elaborate; now I’ve made over 100 of them for friends and friends of friends, each one just as unique and special as the little girls for whom they were made. And it looks like I’ll be busy making a few more in the coming months. My friend Lisa mentioned me to the moms in the Golden Gate Mother’s Club and new orders are pouring in. Perhaps I’ll have to hire some of my own students as assistants after this weekend!
If you’re here in the Bay Area and would like to learn how to make this cake yourself, please join us on Saturday. There’s one space left in the class. Email me for more info at miri at lauracarmen dot com.
For more doll cake photos and assembly instructions, click here: http://www.mirileigh.com/?p=42
That is amazingMiriam! I could never bring myself to EAT her though!
Don’t the little girls just want to keep their cakes?
They do. The little ones (3-5 years) usually have a bit of a crying spell before the cake is cut. It’s a little heartbreaking even for me to see these cakes get devoured. But then, I can always make another one.
Oh my goodness, amazing! Wish I lived in San Fran so I could come take your class : (
I’ve danced onstage as a ballerina many times, but I’ve never worn a tutu as pretty as the gown on this fairy princess cake!
How precious!
The cake are just absolutely darling. I am now regretting not signing up for this class…
I hope you are having a great time with your students!
We had so much fun today, Jennifer! We missed you. I will post pics from the class soon.
You should have seen Sophia’s face when she saw the cake — she was stunned! I don’t think she believed it was a cake until she stuck her finger in the buttercream… And indeed there was a lot of “Mommy, no!! Don’t cut!!!” But, we did… out of sight.
It was delicious!
I would have loved to see her reaction! But I can just imagine… precious.
Oh I wish I was able to attend this class, my little ones would absolutely go gaga for it! Thank you for sharing assembling instructions … can’t wait till the next class!
hey miriam! it was really a pleasure to be part of your class! thanks to maritz too! it was such an experience coz i have never tried any cake decorating and your class was awesome! i just wish i was able to bring my cake back here in LA..:) anyways, i ended up giving it to my aunt that i visited that night. hope to see you again and be part of your class next time i visit SF!