Cake & Cupcake Photo Gallery

I was honored to create a dessert display for Grace & Thomas' September wedding at Bill Miller's Castle in Branford, and I surprised the couple with this miniature tiered wedding cake in my signature Chocolate Peanut Butter Heath Bar flavor profile. rustic wooden accessories, and fresh flowers and herbs.  Who says wedding cakes must be white? Size: 6" bottom, 4" top, serves 16+.

Fall colors are some of my all-time favorites - to view, to wear, and especially to use in palette knife painting!  Rene requested a rich palette of burgundy, burnt orange, a touch of dusty pink, and deep green with pearl accents and both real roses and silk calla lillies to match her bridal bouquet for her October wedding at Saybrook Point Resort.  Size: 10" bottom tier, 6" top tier, serving about 55.

Many thanks to Sara of Sara's Photography, Niantic, CT for the gorgeous photos!

Creating cakes for my former students is one of the highlights of my job.  For her September wedding, Tessa requested a palette knife cake that was less structured and, in her words, "very wispy and whimsical."  With touches of pale blue butterflies and dabs of pearls, this cake had no "back side" - it was designed to be viewed all the way around.  Size: 2 tier 8"/6", serving about 40.

Jordan and Daniel's late-summer wedding at the Wadsworth Mansion had a variety of cupcakes, cookies, and brownies to serve to guests, but this 3-tier palette knife floral cake in vanilla and pistachio with almond buttercream reigned over them all.  During consultation, Judith, the Mother of the Bride, mentioned that the cake should be "the queen of the dessert table" and I couldn't agree more! Fun Fact, Judith also grew the dahlias you see in this photo just for the wedding. Size: 3 tier 10"/8"/6", serving 85+.

The Wadsworth Mansion is truly a jewel in Middletown's long history, from its beginnings as the "Long Hill" summer home to Col. Wadsworth and his wife at the turn of the 20th century to its complete restoration in 1999. I am so honored to have brought cakes to the Mansion to celebrate joyous occasions, like this vintage-piped 3-tier wedding cake for Suzy and Ari's wedding on the first weekend of summer. It was the perfect centerpiece for such an estate! Size: 3 tier 10"/8"/6", serves 85+.

An ultra-feminine, ridiculously romantic vintage floral cake for Michelle's "thirty & flirty" 30th birthday party. I loved working with the soft, dusty rose color palette with pops of green and purple. Each section of the base is slightly different in its floral design, one of my trademarks on cakes like this - I love adding little extras so that no two cakes are ever exactly alike. Size: 8" round, serves up to 30.

Yes, this cake can be made in any size or design, but the important part is that it's arguably the best cake I've ever made.  Well, according to everyone who has tried it, at least.  When I test recipes, I always decorate them, and I loved the simplicity of the textured frosting, some gold splatter, and a stunning statement flower. Size: 6" round, serves up to 15.

This fully hand-painted palette knife cake celebrated 50 years of marriage for a couple I have known since my teen years.  Robyn and Mark's three daughters, Erin, Jill, and Kerri, surprised them with a spectacular party on Essex Island, including this cake, which traveled by car AND ferry to get to its destination!  Each layer of leaves and petals is done by stroke of the palette knife and then detailed with edible gold luster and a variety of pearls. Size: 2-tier 10"/6", serves 50+.

The loveliest gentleman requested a tearoom-themed cake for his wife's surprise 75th birthday, and the most important inclusion was the phrase he selected for the front.  The teapot and teacup were handmade in gumpaste, so they could be gently cleaned and saved as a keepsake after the party.  This lemon raspberry cake was truly a show-stopper! Size: 8" round, serves up to 30.

A handmade bunny topper and palette-knife painted first birthday cake in vanilla and strawberry.  Because the bunny was made in gumpaste, which dries solid, it also became a keepsake with which, I'm told, the little birthday girl is totally fascinated.  Client photo.  Size: 8" bottom, 6" top, serves up to 45.

Wedding cakes can be tall and statuesque, tiny and delicate, or anything in between.  This one, a carrot cake, was perfect for Kim & Ralphie's at-home spring wedding.  To achieve the shades of blue in the bride's palette, we used silk florals, a ribbon-and-pearl border, and added a custom wooden topper.  Size: 8", serves up to 30.

A tiny S'mores wedding cake for a couple eloping over the winter, complete with my homemade marshmallows and a dusting of tiny sugar pearls - the perfect blend of traditional white wedding with vintage piping, but in a fun and decadent flavor profile! Size: 6" heart, serves up to 10.

They say rain on your wedding day is good luck, and there was no shortage of it on the evening of Lydea & Riley's nuptials at the Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown.  The couple chose a chocolate chip cake (one of my most popular wedding flavors!) in a stunning white-on-white vintage design, sprinkled with edible pearls and topped with the message in their vows, "til death." My great appreciation to Victoria of Victoria Veneziano Photography for sharing the wonderful photos she captured of this special moment! Size: 8" round, serves 20+.

I'll admit, I was almost sad to know that this cake was going to be smashed under tiny fists!  Smash cakes are available in chocolate or vanilla alongside orders of $100+ to match the theme of the event, and this one was a joy to create in a pumpkin theme for a first birthday in October. Size: 5" smash cake.

Olivia celebrated her 21st birthday with this gorgeous vintage heart cake complete with rosettes, pearls, and a gold-dusted, white chocolate "21" topper. Her mom told me later on that when she asked Olivia what her favorite part of the day was, she replied, "When they brought out my cake."  I hope that everyone has that wonderful moment on their special day! Size: 8" heart cake, serves up to 20.

I DO believe in fairies! A whimsical fairy garden, complete with a tiny door for the fae, draped in fresh flowers and herbs, with little details tucked all over, this cake is one that I look at over and over and still find new favorite bits. Size: 8", serves up to 30.

One of the great things about beachy cakes is that they are usually covered in white chocolate shells just like this.  Jess requested a more muted, neutral color scheme for Zach's summer birthday cake, so I used orange and copper luster for the decorations, which are all made in-house with Ghirardelli white chocolate. Check out the Instagram page for a reel of this cake being frosted! Size: 6" round, serves up to 15.

For my dad, who has been known to order the biggest steak on any menu and then ask the staff to add a few ounces as well.  While I am not a realism cake maker, I was so excited to make him the biggest "steak" he's ever had in chocolate chip cake and ganache filling, complete with a "pat of compound butter" (fondant) and grill marks.  Fully hand-carved and -painted in buttercream.  Specialty sized, serves up to 10.

The latest in my series of tree stump cakes (yes, there's more than a few!), entirely hand-painted and carved in buttercream, this was the perfect birthday cake for one of the owners of The Angry Beaver LLC Stump Grinders! These cakes are in my top 10 favorite cake styles, and this one included chocolate candy rocks and three little beavers. Size: 6", serves up to 15.

After the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the Fall of 2024, the Kitchen raised over $900 which was donated to the American Red Cross to assist in the recovery efforts.  All donors were entered into a cake raffle, and this was one of the results, combining one of my favorite styles (vintage heart cakes) with my signature flavor (chocolate peanut butter heath bar.) Size: 8" heart, serves up to 20.

Jessica & Sean had a truly spectacular Fall day for their wedding, which included an assortment of cupcakes for their guests to enjoy.  These lemon raspberry cupcakes were topped with house-made dried lemon slices and freeze-dried raspberries, plus a little gold sugar for bling.  My heartfelt thanks to photographer Sarah Barbagallo of Sarah B Photography for capturing this gorgeous shot as dessert was served that evening! Cupcakes by the dozen.

When Maeve and Everly turned one, they celebrated with an outrageous display of dessert, including these beachy cupcakes topped with graham cracker sand, white chocolate shells, and buttercream waves. Cupcakes by the dozen.

Make them pale pink, and glamorous, and top them with glittering sugar pearls and shimmer.  Rose gold is a popular color palette for a reason, and it was stunning on these cherry almond chocolate chip cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Cupcakes by the dozen.

Meghan requested a floral palette knife cake in Lemon Raspberry to match the invitations for her daughter's Baptism, complete with a gold acrylic cross.  The wonderful message I received after the event were the "icing on the cake" for me: "Just had to text you to tell you how incredible the cake and cupcakes were! Absolutely stunning and delicious." Size: 6" round, serves up to 15.

All the succulents on this special birthday cake were piped by hand in buttercream for Jessica's celebration in the Fall.  No two are exactly alike, and the entire cake featured crawling vines and tiny details all over.  Size: 6", serves up to 15.

The great thing about custom cakes is that they are, well, CUSTOM.  So creating an ocean/lobster-themed cake in chocolate peanut butter with Reese's Pieces in the filling is totally ON the table!  Check out these adorable little lobsters, hand-made from fondant, and all the chocolate sea stones, anchors, and more! Size: 10", serves up to 40.

It is always an honor for me when I am asked to create a cake for a religious celebration, like this Baptism cake for Emerson. Drawing on Emmy's mom Courtney's Irish heritage, I included a Celtic cross in gold fondant and plenty of fresh flowers.  This lemon raspberry cake was the perfect way to celebrate! Size: 10" round, serves up to 40.

My husband's 40th birthday cake was a huge hit at Hops on the Hill Brewery this spring! The wooden barrel was done all in brown sugar buttercream and hand-painted with gel food color, accented with modeling chocolate barrel hoops, and finished with rock candy geodes painted in edible gold luster with his choice of bottle. I love making these "gentleman's cakes!" Size: 8" round, serves up to 30.

Back in the Fall of 2023, I was encouraged to enter a baking competition, something very out-of-the-ordinary for me. But I decided to give it a shot, and I created a new flavor combo - Chocolate Peanut Butter Heath Bar - for the occasion.  And I won!  Since then, the Chocolate PB Heath Bar has become my signature flavor profile, and I absolutely adore making it.  Each iteration is a bit unique, like this one for Tony's birthday, covered in a thick ganache drip and gold splatter.  Whether large or small or even as a cupcake, this flavor profile makes a statement! Size: 6" round, serves up to 15.