Well, hello! Please forgive the fact that it’s been 10 days since my last post–I would have shared one sooner, but I swear I’ve been dyeing, rolling, snipping, and dusting fondant asparagus since the last post. If you’ve never seen the earlier version of this cake, then I’m excited to share it’s craziness (and deliciousness) with you for the first time; if you have and you’re wondering why in the world I’ve made it again, well, I couldn’t resist.
The thing is, I’m usually partial to much traditionally prettier, and much less hyper-realistic novelty cakes, but under the circumstances of the first Asparagus Cake, it just made perfect sense to attempt a fondant asparagus wrapped layer cake. After the first time, I somehow fell in love with it’s quirky beauty and unexpected appearance. You can read all about the creation of my first version here (which happened to be one of my very first blog posts!), but I’ll quickly explain that I first made it back in October, for Grant’s gorgeous sister, Mary. She had eaten heaps of asparagus for months, while rigorously training for a fitness competition. I recall a text she sent me a few days before her show, expressing her disgust with eating even one more asparagus, and when I had asked her what she wanted for her first post-show meal, she said “anything but asparagus!” She also requested that we have any kind of chocolate cake with Swiss meringue buttercream for dessert. At first I started planning a pink, ruffly cake, and then with no warning, it came to me in the middle of the night: whatever it took, I had to conceal her rich chocolate cake and buttercream with a bunch of asparagus made from fondant.
I began working on it the very next morning, and didn’t stop until it looked as realistic as possible. She loved it and the proverbial “icing on the cake” was that she came in first place! Ever since that time, I’ve been eager to create and photograph this cake again, and I thought it would be fun to kick it up a notch this time by building an 8-layer chocolate cake inside, as opposed to the traditional 3-layer version I did originally. Asparagus or not, slicing and serving an 8-layer cake just feels right.
Just as I did the first time, I referred to a real bunch (above) of asparagus for inspiration, but, it’s funny — even though they’re green and, well, all vegetable-ish, I see such beauty in them, particularly raw and full of purple highlights. Creating them out of fondant and petal dust is actually very similar to creating hundreds of sugar flowers — each one unique and full of organic details and personality.
Little Neve was a trooper through this project, and I’m pretty sure she spent the duration of the week trying to figure out what I was doing. She sat with me in the daytime while I made hundreds of fondant asparagus tips and stalks . . .
I’ll give her another year of freedom, but then she’ll be ready for some official fondant-asparagus-training.
For now, just being adorable, making me laugh, and keeping me sane while I dye, roll, cut, snip, and dust for days, will do perfectly fine.
In the works . . . can you believe I actually find building this cake therapeutic?
After a few days, it’s done! I was dying to slice into this because I knew the 8-layer chocolate cake factor was going to make it even crazier looking . . .
And I’m always up for some crazy! Ooh, dramatic desserts will always have my heart. Always. Most of the time when I make chocolate layer cakes, I use my standby Rich Chocolate Cake recipe, which is a one-bowl, moist, dark cake. A few weeks ago for the Inside-Out Neapolitan Cake, I did a southern version of Devil’s Food Cake including butter, mayonnaise, and buttermilk; it was unbelievable! This week, I thought it would be fun to try another Devil’s Food Cake recipe (typically richer than the one-bowl cake and made butter-cake style by creaming sugar, adding wet and dry ingredients separately, etc), so I played around with a more traditional version that didn’t include mayonnaise.
I baked three 8-inch round pans and then sliced each one into 2 for this cake. You may be asking yourself how I get an 8-layer cake with a total of 6 layers, but the truth is I had a layer of chocolate cake I needed to use up, and so I sliced it in two and popped it on top to create 8-layers sandwiched between vanilla swiss meringue buttercream (I should add that I added about 20% less butter this batch, and it was gorgeous; don’t be afraid to play around with your ratios.). I can’t stress enough how quickly you can create a wow-factor by slicing a regular 3-layer cake into a total of 6 layers — it only takes a few extra moments, and it changes the complete dynamic of the cake! It could even be a classic vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream or filling, and once you start stacking layer upon layer, it offers a touch of drama.
Well, the good news for you is that I’ll spare you the step-by-step tutorial on how to make an Asparagus Cake, because I have a feeling that I’m the only one silly enough to spend days making a layer cake so unusual, but I’d love to share this variation of the Devil’s Food Cake I baked for this cake. Its texture is a bit lighter than the southern Devil’s Food Layer Cake, but it’s a gorgeous classic version and divine in its own right.
NEW! How to Make a Fondant Asparagus Cake {a Tutorial}
Happy Mother’s Day!
Dark Devil’s Food Cake {click here for printable recipe}
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pans
3/4 cup Cacao Barry Cocoa Powder – Extra Dark
1/2 cup boiling water
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
Method
Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter three 8″ x 2″ round cake pans, line with parchment rounds, and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Add boiling water to sifted cocoa powder in medium bowl and whisk; set aside to cool.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until lighter in color and slightly increased in volume, 3 to 5 minutes. Lower the speed to medium and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Sift the flour and baking soda into a medium bowl. Add the salt to the dry ingredients after sifting and whisk together. Whisk buttermilk into cocoa mixture. Alternate dry ingredients and buttermilk into butter mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated, or finish by hand gently.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. If possible, weigh the batter in each cake pan to ensure even layers. Smooth with small offset palette knife, and bake for about 35 minutes, rotating once after 20 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick or skewer comes barely clean. Try not to over-bake. I tend to under-bake a few moments, so the skewer is a little bit gummy. This works well for a moist chocolate cake (not vanilla). Let pans cool on wire rack for 20 minutes, then invert cakes onto racks, gently, peeling away parchment rounds. Let cool completely.
Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart’s Moist Devil’s Food Cake
For Swiss Meringue Buttercream recipe, visit the previous post Swiss Meringue Buttercream Demystified
You may also find this previous post helpful 50 Tips for Baking Better Cakes
The Cacao Barry Extra Brute Cocoa Powder (my all-time favourite) is what makes this chocolate cake taste so incredible. You can find it by clicking here: Cacao Barry Cocoa Powder – Extra Dark
Good luck & enjoy!
Love, Rosie xo
I have always been in awe of your talent. But, this takes it to a new level. I work with fondant often and this makes my fav cake (Running With Tweezers food stylist cake) look like an etch a sketch version. Love this!!!
This is such a gorgeous fun cake! I wouldn’t mind if you did ever want to do a tutorial for fondant asparagus – I think you may be the first in the world to produce such a beautiful and quirky design. It’s just pure genius. It takes ‘eating vegetables’ to a whole new plane. I’m amazed and in awe.
Love your work. And Baby Neve is a doll!
This is just stunning! Who knew asparagus could be so lovely!!
I am absolutely DYING over how beautiful this cake is!!!!! Bravo!!!!
wow! the asparagus looks so real!! :D gorgeous cake..
You are beyond talented! Absolutely breath taking. Little Neve is just too precious.
Yes I agree – a tutorial on making the asparagus would be wonderful. They look amazing!
Breathtaking!! I think this is the most lovely cake I’ve ever seen! I love the concept.
You are a fondant artiste! This is amazing. I love it.
It’s the first time I see your blog and I really love it. Oh that’s an amazing cake!! Asparagus look soooo real! Brava! Greetings from Italy
I am awed by you-truly! Magnificent. What a cute baby too!
This cake is just splendour!!!!
I haven’t seen this before so I am extremely impressed! What an amazing looking cake!
I totally 100% believe you that making this was therapeutic! It looks like so much fun! I loved it before and I love it now. You’re amazing :)
I absolutely LOVE this cake. I’ve made an asaragus cake but only made the asparagus out of sugar cookies. Didn’t look this fantastic. You are a true artis. Love, love, love it!
This is amazing. AMAZING!! I can see and feel your heart seeping through each of your confectionery creations — I love how your cakes look, but I really love how they make people feel :). xo
Absolutely fabulous! Your photography is exquisite! Does this cake freeze well? hint! hint!
I’m speechless. This is fabulous!!
Thanks so much, Lori!
One Word! OMG!!
Inspired by your cakes, I baked (for the first time) a 4 layer Sillyville cake for my son’s 7th last weekend and I was exhausted, happy but exhausted. So I understand your elation, but hats off honey .. I don’t know how you do it! :-)
Oh my, Sneh–I know what you mean! Thanks for the sweet words, and Happy Birthday to your son!
Here’s another vote for the tutorial! This cake is GORGEOUS!
OH WOW that is amazing! You got me at 8 layers of delicious chocolate. I really thought the asparagus were real, they look so real! And your baby is just adorable. She’ll be a great helper soon :D
You leave me speechless every time I visit. Your work is flawless.
I sat here gazing at my screen in utter disbelief: fondant asparagus. WOW!!! You’re an artist.
I for one would LOVE to have the step-by-step! This is the cake I discovered you with, and I was in absolute awe. Please please please post the tutorial for this cake! :)
wow! This is totally amazing! Even though its not really asparagus, we’d love to have you link up to our Seasonal Potluck! http://bit.ly/eLlgG2 May is asparagus month! I think this post would be a really cute addition. Truly amazing! Great work :)
Absolutely dramatic and I absolutely love it, but I’m having a hard time deciding whether I like the pictures of the cake or your precious little one better! She is adorable! Beautiful job on both. ;)
I do have a question, slightly off topic, but you brought up that your sister was in training and ate ridiculous amounts of asparagus. I am also in training and have never heard this before… what was her reasoning?
Thanks, Gina! Mary explained that, from a training perspective, asparagus is a natural diuretic and detoxifier for the body. It definitely worked for her! She was in unbelievable form, and of course won her competition! Good luck!
Rosie, this is THE most beautiful, creative, impressive, humorous cake EVER. Please, please, please show us how to do it! I too an neurotic enough to sit for hours and do that kind of stuff. Don’t deprive me!! You’re amazing. Xoxo.
Haha…I love the story behind the original cake! I definitely thought it was real asaparagus the first time I saw it. The 8 layers look amazing too, but I feel that the layers would split in half whenever I’d pick them up to layer them…how do you prevent this from happening? They are so thin, but come together gorgeously! Truly an AMAZING cake. Worth every minute spent on those fondant asparagus =)
Wow. That is just incredible! It looks so real I was actually wondering if there was a real cake under there! Delish!!!
This cake is an amazing work of art! Truly one of the most gorgeous cakes I have ever seen! The only thing prettier is that daughter of yours, who is stunning! I am sure your sister really appreciated your hard work and the tasty, unique results. You should be very proud!!
I’m not a huge fondant fan so I almost skimmed right through this post, until I saw the 8 layers of chocolate cake inside. OMG that is fantastic. I love doing tall triple layer cakes but I’ve never really though about cutting them all in half to get that wow factor. WOW. Definitely gonna try it!
When I saw this in my flickr feed again I had just assumed it was the same cake you posted last time, but I had to click on the pictures again. This cake is seriously one of the most beautiful & impressive cakes I’ve ever seen. I just can’t stop looking at how impressive & realistic it looks. I can’t believe you made a 2nd one! Love it! Now if only my fondant skills were as good as yours!
You are so incredibly talented! I wish I had this kind of attention to detail, and patience no doubt, that it takes to make something this uniquely beautiful.
This is one AMAZING cake Rosie…you outdid yourself!
This is nothing less than remarkable; when I first saw your tweet I thought fondant/asparagus? But as often happens, ‘had to look’ won over and so glad it did.
Your assistant must surely help; such an amazing sweet face.
I just fell in love with your blog all over again! I mean let’s face it you are a pure artist! You exude creativity. I loved this cake the first time around – and now with all those layers? You are a superstar my friend! ♥- K
Tutorial please!!!!!!!!!
I’m definitely on the “wanting a tutorial” bandwagon. Asparagus cake is such a brilliant and fun idea. Time consuming, sure. But stunning!
WOW!!! That is the coolest cake EVER!!
You know, this is what drew me to you begin with girl!! I kept coming back to the post just transfixed by the sheer beauty and intricacy of this divine Asparagus cake you magically created!! I was completely hooked with a single post!
If I could clone you & have that version live with us so we can enjoy delightful confections all the time, I soooooo would!! I’d be the envy of all my friends! Sadly…since I CAN”T actually clone you (lucky for you), I’ll have to do with just obsessing of your posts :)
Adore you my friend!! You are the REAL deal and I wish you all the continued success in the world!! xoxo
Incredible. I remember spotting the early version. An equally incredible introduction to your work!!
Amazing cake..
This is really impressive! I wish I could do that time and endurance wise – I don’t know how long I would have lasted making the asparagus sticks. YOu are amazingly talented! Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing cake! Thanks for sharing! And your little girl is adorable :D
WOW! there are no words- this cake looks absolutely amazing!
This is an amazing cake! I wouldn’t mind a tutorial on the asparagus. My FIL is a farmer, and every summer we always have asparagus coming out of our ears. It would be great to make this cake for him!
That is absolutely amazing!
Wow, that cake is just unbelievable. Truly one of the most amazing cakes I have ever seen. Thanks to Food Gawker for helping me find this blog.
This is the most extraordinary thing I have ever seen. You are a master of your craft. Your photos are extraoridnary and I’ve never seen bigger eyes on a little person!
this is incredible! such an amazing talent for artistic beauty – and the slice with all of those layers is just stunning!
I love it! What a creative idea.
Little Neve is just so precious!! I adore her little face. You must have so much patience to make these so realistic. GREAT JOB.
You made it again! I’ll never forget the first time you made this crazy amazing cake. It blew my mind. This one is even better wow!
Laura
This cake is amazing! It’s my first time visiting your blog, and I’m absolutely amazed by all of your cakes -will definately be coming back!! (and your daughter’s adorable, btw!)
this is amazingly creative!!!!
That is ridiculously amazingly beautiful and amazing. I am so in awe (and drooling)
Unbelievable!!! I see your stuff of Foodgawker from time to time and love what you do, but this cake is, WOW!!!
Unbelievable!!!!!
This cake is STUNNING. You are so talented and I admire your creativity, not you mention the work you put into making so much fondant asparagus!
your cake – pièce de résistance.
your baby – irresistibly cute.
Congratulations on both!
That is one crazy…beautiful…striking cake! I love the 8 layers.
This is the prettiest cake I have ever seen!
Amazing! I don’t know how you do it, but this is unbelievable! Just gorgeous!
oh my goodness, I love this cake! So creative.
Quirky and beautiful and inspiring. Amazing work!
Amazing. I am so happy to have found your beautiful blog. It is such an inspiration. Could you let me know where your cake stand is from that you used in these pictures? Thank you. I can’t wait to see what you post next! xoxox
Thanks, Amy! The white cake stand in these photos is made by Rosanna. Here’s the link: http://www.rosannainc.com/
OMG! So glad I saw this on Tastespotting- wht an amazing edible artwork!!!
That’s gorgeous!! YOU SHOULD MAKE A VERSION MODELING WHITE ASPARAGUS! What a novelty wedding cake idea…
Oh Wow!! You completely had me fooled with those sugar asparagus spears (which made my mouth water when I first saw them), but now that I know they were concealing such a lovely cake, my mouth is watering even more!
brilliant.
will link from my blog for sure!
great work
Impressive!
WOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!! this is the coolest thing ever.
Thanks so much for all of the cake love! It is a crazy cake, but for some reason I hold it dear! I may just have to make it every few months, just for fun. :)
I don’t think I’ve even seen anything as amazing as this!!!
Amazing :)
I didn´t know your blog and I´m completly amazed with it.
Congrats!
rita
I love ur blog and I am awed by your talent each time you post something new! This cake is truly amazing!
Happy mother’s day, Rosie !!
I had to do a double take when I came across this on Tastespotting. Truly amazing—and makes me want to devour the asparagus spears in my fridge right now!
I just discovered you via Twitter – what an incredible cake! I’ve always admired the sculptural qualities of asparagus but never for one minute considered paying homage to them in fondant. I can’t wait to discover the rest of your blog. I just know I’m going to love it!
AMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAZING !!! And as beautiful outside as yummy inside. Mmmmmm.
wow!! that is pretty amazing!!
Your asparagus cake was the post that led me to your beautiful blog. I never tire of looking at how pretty it is. I admire your patience and of course, your talent in being able to create something like this. It’s amazing!
It brings back such great memories!!! Love it again…you are an amazing sister ;) xo
You, my dear, are deliciously insane! And I LOOOOOOOOOVE it!
Asparagus has always been my favorite vegetable, but you have catapulted it to a whole new level entirely!
Bravo.
I love this cake!
You did such an amazing job the first time on this totally unique cake and yet again, you have blown it out of the water. If you never told anyone it was fondant, no one would believe until they ate it that it was not asparagus. Your patience in making each of them stems and tips is truly admirable as is your outstanding and unparalled talent.
I absolutely LOVE this! It is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen! When I showed my husband he asked if having all that asparagus around the cake made it taste funny, and his eyes went wide when I told him it was fondant.
Could you post or send a step-by-step tutorial to me? I am a student in nutrition and love to eat healthy and to splurge every once in a while on a dessert. I would appreciate it so much if you could give me more details on how to replicate the asparagus. Even if you’re not able to-I will try to make this regardless!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations and creativity!
I love your blog. The cakes are Amazing & I love your photos. They have a real modern feel to them. Gorgeous!
I just keep coming back to stare at this cake – it’s gorgeous and funny at the same time :-)
This cake is amazing! I hope you don’t mind that I put a photo of it on my blog, of course with your credit and I directed any readers here to look at more photos. It is just mind blowingly good.
Thanks so much, Pamela!
STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT! How the heck did you do this? How?!?! It’s gorgeous! I’m absolutely blown away.
A tutorial would NOT be a waste of your time! :)
You are nothing short of AMAZING. As always. I heart you :) xo
Thanks, everyone!
This cake is astounding. I am a new visitor to your site and I love it!!! My husband is encouraging me to make this cake but I said I there is no way I could do it. If I had a tutorial, I would definitely try it! As well, I made your rainbow cake with your recipe for a Mother’s Day Cake but instead of the rainbow colours I made the cakes 6 different shades of pink. The outside was decorated with cherry blossoms. It was a hit! Thanks so much for inspiring me.
Your asparagus cake made it on Cake Wrecks Sunday Sweets edition!! They saved the best for last as it’s the final photo in the set :)
http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2011/05/sunday-sweets-eye-candy.html
Whoa! I saw this on Cake Wrecks’ Sunday Sweets feature today, and let me just say that that cake is AMAZING! I’m totally going to make this for my mom as a joke for her birthday someday.
Awesome cake, and your little girl is ADORABLE!
Please do an asparagus tutorial! This is gorgeous.
This is making me so HAPPY! Just yesterday I said to my husband that I wish I could somehow incorporate asparagus into the rhubarb and strawberry cake I had made, because then it would contain all my favourite spring foods. And you’ve just gone and done it! In a way. :o) This cake looks amazing!
Found you through Cake Wrecks and I am in awe! Asparagus….my favorite vegetable. Chocolate…my favorite treat. Who would have EVER thought of these two together. PLEASE do a tutorial, I would love to try one of these!
Oh, that’s an absolute beauty of a cake — wish I had seen this post sooner and made one for mom!
Followed the link from Sunday Sweets on CakeWrecks… it made my day to see 2 of my favorite things (asparagus and chocolate) in one mash-up! :) Your creations are amazing, as is your little girl. Thanks for making the world a much prettier, and tastier, place!
I saw this on Cakewrecks and just wanted to tell you how awesome this cake is!
Came via Sunday Sweets at CakeWrecks. Love asparagus, but wow. I’d buy a tutorial! Bookmarking you!
Oh my god! Unbelievably, I got an order for an asparagus cake and did some research on the internet, but could not believe that there was anyone in the world who made such in the past. And then I found your blog. Wow it is amazing! I can never do anything like that. Love it! Thanks for the inspiration!
Rosie,
I don’t know you. I found you through Steph Dlugon. I just have to say, your asparagus cake takes the cake. I didn’t believe it was really fondant until I saw it sliced revealing those lushous layers. Amazing!
This cake is absolutely incredible!
Beyond brilliant!
I found your blog through Cake Wrecks…absolutely amazing! I love baking, but I’m nowhere near patient enough to attempt anything as fabulous as this cake. I’m definitely going to try this cake recipe though, because in my opinion, you can NEVER have too much chocolate cake.
And also, your little girl is just gorgeous :)
I, too, just found your blog through Cake Wrecks. This cake is… WOW. I am incredibly impressed. Such creativity!!!
I don’t see this as a cake wreck at all! It’s pretty darn cool! Not to mention the work it must taken to make that asparagus! I love it!
Thanks, Cindi! Luckily, they featured it as a “Sunday Sweet,” rather than an actual “cake wreck,” and thank goodness for that! Thanks for the sweet words!
This is amazing!! I want one of these for my birthday.
This is absolutely insane! I can’t imagine the time and patience it took to make those asparagus. Bravo!
You are Goddess of Cake. I bow to you.
I ran across this cake on flickr and had to see it again here. I love the contrast of all the layers with the vibrant green asparagus – this makes my short list of fav. cakes! BTW great blog.
WOWWY KAZOWY!!!!! you are amazing!
Is there *any* way that you will do a tutorial on how to make the asparagus? My dad and I are training for a big bike ride and he has been eating suuuuper healthy/low carb to lose a lot of weight. Asparagus is one of his staple foods he’s been eating and I would LOVE to make him a cake like this for after our ride in July.
Your cakes are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing!
This cake is an artwork!
Great!
OH. MY. GOSH!!!!!! I L O V E this cake more than any cake I have ever seen in my life! You must have the patience of a saint. Thanks for sharing your incredible work!
This is totally mindblowing… what an amazing cake! I don’t think I could bring myself to eat it! Absolutely amazing!!!!
Wow! Amazing! You left me speechless! Really beautiful!
this is one of the coolest cakes i’ve ever seen! wow!
THAT IS AMAZING!!!
Oh my, that is truly incredible! Beautiful work!
all i can say is WOW!!!!…how much would you charge for a cake like this?..and do you ship?.i know it was very time consuming and therapeutic as you stated :0)..Please let me know!
I just found your blog, and I’m completely in awe. This cake is SO AMAZING! I made my hubby come over and see it because I was so impressed.
WOW!! This is completely amazing, loved it, you’re an artist!
wow. i have to say, i didn’t really believe that this was an actual cake – it looks so, SO much like asparagus – until the photos where it was sliced! amazing.
This is absolutely blowing my mind!!!!! I have to try it this weekend!!!!!!!!!!
Rosie, this is a masterpiece. Beautiful work.
Having made a fair number of fondant flowers, myself, I need to ask — did you use store bought fondant or did you make your own? In either case, how did you make sure it was “wet” enough to not dry out and crack, but dry enough so that everything stood up straight? Striking that balance is always my biggest problem. I tend to err on the side of making things too dry, but its bad when you have dark-colored fondant…the cracks really show up. Many thanks!
Don’t spare us! I’d love the step by step on creating it!
Hello.
I really like your blog, congratulations.
Inspired by your “For the Love of Fondant Asparagus,” I did my version with carrots.
I’ll give you the link if you want to see it.
Regards.
Cake de Zanahoria
You are sick! I mean seriously? Wow, amazing, but you are still sick! I can’t even imagine and the time and effort you put into that. Just incredible…
I know there are numerous comments on here already but this cake definitely deserves another. It’s fantastic. You are so talented and creative. This really is a work of art – the time and effort you put in is inspirational. If only I could create something even half as amazing.
I LOVE THIS! And I love that you made it just because! Happy baking!!
Mouth watering cake, at first from the top photo I didn’t know what it would be.That’s so wonderful.
Fantastic! I know exactly who to surprise with this cake… ;)
Thank you!
Congratulations for having your cake in Readers Digest!! My mom saw it and wants me to make one for her. It would never turn out as terrific as yours!
Thank you, Marian! Did you give it a try?
Not yet, still thinking on how to do it. Did you use an extruder? How did you make the tips? I think I need to wait for your tutorial. : )
This is fantastic! If my rainbow cake turns out I will have to find an occasion to make an asparagus cake… well, maybe after more practice :)
wow is all i can say, i came here as i was browsing through Gizmodo, and saw a story on your cake. sounds like something that would keep my little brother away or maybe a good prank. you are a very creative person, and i must say an absolute artist. an artists whose art tastes good, sounds like a great deal
This is so amazing!! I’m just in awe of your talent! I think I need a piece of cake now… :)
This is amazing, and so striking. You are an artist!
Oh my gosh. My boyfriend sent me this link this morning and I’m so happy he did! This is so amazing and your daughter is so beautiful! I don’t think you need to apologize for not posting for 10 days. Looks like this cake more than makes up for it.
Please include any sendings/information to above email address, and thank you for wonderful work.
What an amazing cake, from the 8-layers to the fondant!
Kudos to you for such an amazing cake! This looks so real. I am a true fan of yours.
Bev
Thanks so much, Bev :)
Please tell me you make a living making/decorating cakes…because you would be a millionaire with your talent. I wish I had your patience.
Thanks so much, Lisa!
This is amazing. I want to make this cake for my mother in law for her birthday as she is a vegetarian and lives for asparagus! I was wondering if you could give me any pointers on the asparagus tips? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Adore your site by the way!
Hi Jess,
Thanks so much! I will try to put together some kind of tutorial on the blog as soon as I can. I hope this helps!
THIS IS BLOWING MY MIND!!!
Thanks, Lynn! It was even kind of freaking me out as I was making it, to tell you the truth. :)
WOW! Insanely gorgeous. Love your brain! :)
OMG you are so talented! I wish I had your mad skills!!! This is so freakin adorable, when I first looked at it I thought “well that would be disgusting” LOL! I thought you had candied asparagus they are so real looking. :D
I am in deep, deep love with this cake. I love asparagus, and–like most human beings, have an unhealthy relationship with chocolate cake. I’m really trying to get back to a healthy weight and lifestyle this year–it feels like the first time in a long time that this goal is realistic, and I would LOVE to have this cake in celebration. Maybe for my birthday in September? Whatever form the celebration takes, it would be great to have a tutorial or something in order to make something like this happen. Your excellence in execution and artistic prowess, though, are going to be tremendously difficult to match.
Wow, that’s like wrapping some fire up in a case of water. That will keep children away from the cake for sure.
WOW! I just came across your website and found this. It is absolutely amazing! I could totally see a version of this cake for a small, outdoor garden themed wedding. Great work!
You are amazing! Wow!
just freakin epic, amazing!
Absolutely stunning. Asparagus is one of my family’s FAVORITE veggies, so this cake would be so perfect for us. I bow down to your talent!
So sad about no step by step for the asparagus fondant, I would definitely be crazy enough to make something like this! Do you make your fondant or buy it?
Hi Karlie,
There is a Fondant Asparagus tutorial in this recent post: http://sweetapolita.com/2012/01/how-to-make-an-asparagus-cake-a-tutorial/
Enjoy!
Oh yes, I found it earlier, thank you so much for the reply. Cannot wait to make this for my mom!
This is amazing.
Hi Rosie,
I came across your blog a couple of day’s ago whilst off work with a chest infection. Feeling sorry for myself, I took to my laptop to source new ideas for my cake baking passion. My life has now changed…Wow, what an inspiration you are! I have spent several hours over the last 3 days being totally inspired by both your baking and fabulous photography. And then I come across this…what can I say..I am from the Vale of Evesham in the UK where we are known as the Kings of Aspagragus. Locals call it Grass and we have a local pub called the Round Of Grass after our most famous local produce. We have an Asparagus festival and I am sure this creation would make a fabulous centrepiece and talking point! Well done! P.S. I am just about to make your Strawberry Layer Cake with Strawberry Icing. Thanks for the inspiration! xx
This may be one of the most amazing cakes I’ve seen! I showed it to my boyfriend, and he seemed unimpressed …” It’s just a bunch of asparagus!” .. I scroll down “…wait… It’s a CAKE?!”
Congratulations on fooling my bf! And on making such an astounding cake! x
This is so impressive and inspiring!!! Can’t wait to put a day aside to make fake asparagus!
I just tried my first fondant cake, not going well, AT ALL.
Your cake is so beautiful. I just wanted to let you know that
aspargus also grows purple and cream color (I have the purple in my
garden) so if you have an opportunity to make a cake for Mary again….
and we all want to see pictures.
I love it! That original, the truth that in the short time llavo in the world of cakes is one of the nicest I’ve seen quue. My most sincere congratulations.
Vero.
Amazing, just absolutely amazing. I love you cakes! :)
I love asparagus! This cake is gorgeous!
excellent !