Baby Carriage Cake

A few weeks ago, Nicole e-mailed me to ask if I'd be interested in making a cake for her upcoming baby shower. Her mom (the shower host), was looking to have a variety of decadent cakes, but Nicole also wanted her to include something baby-themed.

After doing some browsing online, I sent her a few cute options. Nicole chose the baby carriage cake. I was excited because I had wanted to take a crack at this thing!

I met Nicole when we were both planning our weddings, when we both went to a "knottie get-together." She got married a month after we did, in July. Now, she and her husband, Gabe, are expecting their first child in June. The baby's gender is going to be a surprise, so the cake had to be gender-neutral. I loved how this cake used both pink and blue.

The cake was made out of two 9-inch round layers. I cut out the carriage and handle from one of the layers, then cut the two small wheels out of the other. I torted each layer so that I could put a thin layer of buttercream and fresh sliced strawberries in between.

The decorating went pretty smoothly, aside from the basketweave. I was rusty since my cake classes were so long ago, and I was having issues remembering what order to do the pattern in. I'm going to be honest; I wanted to throw my decorating tools across the room a couple times! But the fact that this was a paid job kept bringing me back to get it done, and get it done right. I eventually figured it out (thank god).

I made extra batter and made a small 6" round cake for my grandma's birthday (which was today), too. I couldn't make a strawberry cake without making extra for us to try! I will post the recipe tomorrow.

Nicole, I hope you enjoyed your baby shower (and brought home lots of loot!). I hope the cake was well received. Congratulations again to you and Gabe!