Petit Fours

I did it.  I completed all my cake decorating classes.

I started these classes because I just couldn’t get a decent birthday cake for my kids. I have a few horror stories about this but don’t want to trash any of our local businesses. My cakes taste wonderful but look like my youngest did the decorating, no offense to Grace. So off to Hobby lobby to learn how to be a decorator.

My final class was Flowers and Cake Design ( I took my classes out of order). Our instructor, Wondra, was patient, caring, talented and supportive. I know a few of the things I did looked like crap, but she never once laughed (out loud anyway) at our progress. We did laugh quite a bit about other things.

If you’re not comfortable decorating cakes or just want to polish your skills, or learn how to work with fondant (all the rage now for cakes), or just try something new….go take a class. The classes are cheap, mine was $40 but each month they had a half off special so only $20, woohoo. Don’t get me wrong, the experience isn’t cheap, they get you on the equipment and supplies, Cake decorating kit for one class, around $30, deluxe decorating kit, has everything you’ll need for all three classes plus some stuff I never used (hubby don’t read this part) $140 I think. Love Hobby Lobby though, they usually have a 40% off coupon so I planned for it. Then there were a few things I still had to buy that weren’t in the kits, that were must haves….anyway, if you take a class, as soon as you sign up, talk to the instructor about what you will need that’s not in kits, and plan on the coupons.

So back to my Petit Fours, final class you are supposed to decorate your final cake.

I don’t like full size cakes. We love it the first day, but then the second day….it’s a leftover….not as fresh as the first day…..we eat some…..on the third day…..maybe one will still want a slice….on the fourth day…. we throw away close to half a cake. What a waste.

I like individual size yummies …

cookies,
cupcakes,
brownies,
bars,
candies,

You get the idea.

1. No slicing, already have the perfect size serving.

2. I don’t feel guilty having seconds.

3. Usually more fun to make with the kids.

4. If decorating, kids get to do more, more fun for the kids (see #3)

5. Leftovers, we eat on first night. The next day, whatever it is leaves my house, usually to hubby’s office. I walk in, and they all think I baked just for THEM! They don’t realize, they are getting “leftovers”. They feel special, I feel special, and isn’t that what baking/cooking is all about, make someone (even if it’s only you) feel good?

So….back to my dilemna, I need to do something for a final project.

Hmmmm…

Cupcakes would be boring.

hmmmm……

Bars would be basic, wouldn’t highlight my talents…..

hmmmmm…….

Then I remember as a young girl, going to a tea house with my grandma,

and having…..

Petit Fours!

Those would be perfect,
small,
dainty,
delicate…..

I can probably get away with eating a dozen of them and not feel guilty.

Sounds simple enough.

There is a reason these are hard to find at bakeries….they are a pain in the butt to make and time consuming.

But I decide this is what I want to do, so…..

Welcome to my adventures into making:

Petit Fours 

Ok, I search and search and study on the web, I watch videos, I look for recipes, I find more videos, and I come to the conclusion:

Use a pound cake. Store bought, from a box, from scratch. Get your hands, somehow on pound cake.

This is my wow project, the one I want everyone to ooohhhh and aaawww over so I go the “from scratch” route. I decide to use a Cream Cheese Pound Cake .

I baked it in a 9 x 13 inch pan and let it cool, completely.

Ok, that was easy enough. Now to start cutting. (Here’s a tip I figured out half way through my journey, freeze the cake first!)

Cut off all four sides, save these. Using a serrated knife, cut off your top, all of it, so your top is flat.