THE WHIMSICAL BAKEHOUSE

by LIV HANSEN and KAYE HANSEN

New softcover book with superb full-colour photos and step-by-step instructions. 160 pages, published 2010

A cheery sunflower perched atop an orange butter cake, three neon-bright layers of cake, tilted at a jaunty angle and adorned with edible chocolate candles; a Jackson Pollock–inspired cheesecake spattered with chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter icing; and a swarm of plump bees perched atop a rainbow of candy-colored cupcakes - these are just a few examples of the unfettered creativity at work at the Riviera Bakehouse. There, mother-daughter bakers Kaye and Liv Hansen turn out some of the most charming, refreshingly eccentric cakes ever to grace a birthday or wedding celebration.

Kaye and Liv believe that a cake should taste as good as it looks, so they skip esoteric (and inedible) decorations in favor of simple buttercream, flavored whipped cream, and tinted candymaker’s chocolate, covering their luscious cakes with amusing designs and gorgeous colours that are easy to make and delicious to eat. The cakes themselves are no less enticing, pairing old-fashioned favorites like Banana Cake and Spice Cake with sumptuous fillings such as French Custard and Chocolate Mousse. Simple step-by-step lessons, illustrated with photographs, explain how to re-create Liv’s charming chocolate designs, from the bright polka dots that shine against dark chocolate glaze to the shimmering stars that adorn the enchanting “Starry Night.” Templates for the delightful designs allow you to adapt these techniques to create your own unique decorations.

A thorough full-color guide to creating delicious, unique, show-stopping cakes, with time-tested tips and complete information on everything from mixing colors to adjusting pan sizes. The Hansens explain all you need to know to get started. Whether you’re dreaming of an elegant Chocolate Apricot Pecan Torte or a three-tiered butter cake filled with spiked mocha cream and embellished with fantastical spring flowers, The Whimsical Bakehouse is the ultimate guide to creating delicious, showstopping confections that are completely original .... and edible!

The Whimsical Bakehouse is a US publication. All measurements are in imperial.

About the Authors

Kaye Hansen is a self-taught baker. She owns the Riviera Bakehouse in Westchester County, New York. The bakery has been featured in the New York Times and Kaye and Liv have appeared on TV shows including Today and Food Network. They have written several Whimsical Bakehouse baking books together.

Liv Hansen's eye for edible decorating comes from her training as a painter.

Liv and Kaye live in Rockland County, New York.

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Little Cakes from the Whimsical Bakehouse - Liv Hansen and Kaye Hansen