Royal Icing Over Piping Method

Decorative Royal Icing Over Piping on a Gingerbread House (2)

Below are some photos of this over-piped blue gingerbread house in process.   These pictures tell the story of how the white lattice and rose cluster decorations were created using royal icing, piping cones, and patience. The royal icing roses were … Continue reading

The Making of the Oompa Loompas

Once, I made a giant gingerbread house that looked like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. There were all kinds of candies involved (vats of candy) and there were many singing Oompa Loompas. These edible munchkins were made of gumpaste.  However the … Continue reading

Gingerbread Birdhouse by Jamie Moon

Gingerbread Birdhouse

Check out this amazing gingerbread cookie birdhouse made by Jamie Moon of Love Blossoms Cakery. This piece was awarded runner up in Cake Central’s Gingerbread Birdhouse Inspiration Challenge. The 3D cardinal figurine was made of modeling chocolate. Jamie made a gingerbread pine cone and gingerbread pine needles. … Continue reading

Gingerbread House Doors

Gingerbread House Doors

Gingerbread house doors are an important part of cookie architecture since one of the goals is to make people want to come into your gingerbread house. A gingerbread house‘s front lawn should be well landscaped. I recommend offering lots of candy around … Continue reading

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Creamsicle Gingerbread House

Orange Creamsicle Lace Trimmed Gingerbread House

I like to call this gingerbread house my chocolate-dipped orange creamsicle design. Because it’s got the same gradations of color that an orange creamsicle cupcake would. There are many layers of piped royal icing on this gingerbread house, which is … Continue reading

How to Make Modeling Chocolate Figurines

Modeling Chocolate Figurines

VIDEO: How to Make Modeling Chocolate Figurines Here is a video in fast forward figurine-making with modeling chocolate and royal icing. These tiny carolers were added as decoration to the Winter Gingerbread House Village. These modeling chocolate figurines are both decorated and held together … Continue reading

Pink Cross Stitched Gingerbread House

Pink Cross Stitched Gingerbread House

Perched atop a cake crumb cliff, there is a pink gingerbread house with piped cross stitched royal icing and a modeling chocolate figurine in the front yard. This cookie house was decorated with fancy laced royal icing all around the window holes. … Continue reading

Chocolate Quilted Cookie House

Chocolate Quilted Gingerbread House

This chocolate quilted harlequin gingerbread house is made from gingerbread cookie dough and royal icing. This house was a little topsy turvy shaped for a whimsical effect. The little figurines are made entirely of modeling chocolate. Follow this link to watch the video … 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 Make Piping Cones

Parchment Paper Piping Cones

I like to use parchment paper cones to decorate cakes with melted chocolate, buttercream frosting, or royal icing. The cones allow for more control and better rotation with the wrist to accomplish swirls and finer detail work up close on cakes. They are disposable … Continue reading

How to Make a Piano Cake

Piano Cake Tutorial

This 3D piano cake design involves minimal carving. The cake presentation involves a raised stand that is simple to build out of cardboard, dowels, tape and screws. It helps the cake look like a real piano. Baking and Carving the Piano Cake Begin with … 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

How to Make Fish Cake

Koi Fish Cake Tutorial

This alternative wedding cake is finished in rolled modeling chocolate and piped chocolate. It was for a couple whose reception took place in Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Gardens, which has a zen rock garden and koi pond full of plump, spotted fish. The groom asked … Continue reading