My fondant recipe post is by far my most popular post, and the one thing I like best about it is that many people are kind enough to send me pictures of the cakes they made using my fondant recipe.

Jacalyn W. had a great success with my fondant recipe, here’s what she wrote:
”
Dear Duke,

Thanks for sharing!
Jacalyn”
And here are the great pictures she sent:

fondant recipe

Fondant recipe

Fondant recipe

Fondant recipe

Fondant Recipe

As Jacalyn wrote, the fondant is shinning in some places, but it’ll be ok when the color dries.

I think it’s a great success, I bet no one believed it’s her first attempt with fondant recipe!

If you want to try my fondant recipe you can find it in the post called… fondant recipe

You’re all welcome to send me pictures of cakes you made using my fondant recipe to theduke@thecookduke.com I’ll be happy to post it in my blog.

To see more pictures of people using my fondant recipe please visit “Fondant Recipe – Amy Johnson’s experience” and “How to make fondant – Gerbera Daisy Cake”

Happy cooking

 Fondant recipe is the most popular recipe on my blog, and although many times I feel that many good recipes goes overlooked, at least I’m happy my fondant recipe is a success.

My fondant recipe post is also the post i get most comments about, and when the reader is as generous as Amy J I also get a respond letter with pictures describing the reader’s fondant recipe experience.

Here’s what Amy wrote:

Dear Cook Duke, It was my son’s second birthday this November and I decided I’d try my hand at fondant recipe since I’ve seen it used so much on TV and admired how it looked.
I consider myself to a very apt baker and decorator for just doing it in my spare time so I wanted to try something new this year as well.

His favorite TV show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so that was the theme I chose for the party.
I scoured the internet for what seemed to be the easiest and best fondant recipe since I didn’t really want to buy it from a store.
Yours seemed to need the least amount of effort and from reading other reader reviews, also the best tasting fondant recipe.

This was my first time using fondant, let alone making it from scratch, and also my first time attempting a 3-D cake (I used a dense chocolate cake for all the base elements and rice krispie cake for everything else).

I made two batches of fondant not knowing how much I’d use and not wanting to run out.
The first batch seemed to turn out ok but when trying to work with it seemed very dry compared to the second batch I made that didn’t crack at all.
For the most part it, I was very pleased with how everything turned out (considering it was my first time) and would definitely try it again.
My only concern was when I was adding color the fondant seemed to get kinda sticky and also, when rolling it out I assumed I was supposed to roll it out on a smooth surface lightly dusted with the confectioners sugar, only that altered the smoothness of my fondant and kind of took away from the original color.

Since I’m not sure what the consistency or texture of fondant should be, is there a better description you could give so I have a better idea (because I thought I had a smooth pliable mass but it cracked when laying it over the cake (this was the ‘grass’ part of the cake)).
And possibly any other tips you might have for rolling it out so that it looks as good as yours does in the pictures??

Thanks! I’ve attached a picture of my cake although I know it could look a bit better.
Thanks again for the great fondant recipe and I’ll keep trying ’til I get it right!

Sincerely, Amy Johnson Canada 

As you can read, even when she encountered some difficulties, the fondant recipe experience is still a success.

And here are the pictures she sent, I bet her next cake will look better, but for a first attempt it’s a GREAT success!

Fondant recipe Micky mouse cake

Fondant recipe MM cake 2

Well Amy, I’m happy you enjoyed my fondant recipe and thank you for your mail and pics.

For better understanding on how to color fondant you can view my post named “how to color fondant”
and for all of you who hadn’t try yet – You’re welcome to try my fondant recipe, and more welcome to send me pictures of cakes you made using my fondant recipe to theduke@thecookduke.com

Happy Cooking

My favorite Pumpkin Soup Recipe

My Pumpkin Soup Recipe is my way of notifying my family that winter is here.

For some people the pumpkin soup recipe is a sign of Halloween coming, but trust me – after trying this Pumpkin Soup Recipe you’ll find yourself making it over and over again.

Pumpkin Soup Recipe Ingredients:

• 2 Pounds (900 gr) peeled and chopped Pumpkin
• 1 roughly chopped large onion
• 1 peeled and chopped large potato
• 1 peeled and chopped large carrot
• 1 stick of chopped celery, strings discarded
• 1.5 pints (700 ml) vegetable stock
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 1oz (25g) butter
• half pint cream
• 2 tblspoons of chives chopped to garnish
• Salt and pepper

This pumpkin soup recipe is very easy to prepare – follow the preparations below and your pumpkin soup is ready to serve within one hour!

Pumpkin Soup Recipe preparations:

1. In a large heavy bottomed saucepan melt the butter and add all the vegetables
2. Cook gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Make sure the vegetables don’t get brown
3. Add the vegetable stock and the stock cube and stir
4. Simmer gently for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are just cooked and then purée with a blender
5. Return the puréed vegetables to the saucepan and season to taste
6. Add the cream and re-heat very gently
7. Sprinkle with the chopped chives before serving to complete the pumpkin soup recipe

Pumpkin Soup Recipe Tips:

• If you plan to freeze this pumpkin soup do not add the cream until you defrost the soup before serving
• This Pumpkin Soup Recipe can be kept refrigerated for over a week
• This Pumpkin Soup Recipe takes about 25 minutes of preparations and about 30 minutes cooking

If you have any comment regardeing this Recipe please let me know, I’d appreciate if you could recommend this pumpkin soup recipe using une of the social networks below.

Happy Cooking

How to make a diaper cake – Readers experience 2

My “How to make a diaper cake” post is one of two special posts (the second is my “how to make fondant” post) that keep surprising me.
The special thing about those posts is that people get such good results, that many of them make it into a business.

Look at this Diaper cake made by Gerry G, I guess she took the video tutorial I recommended…

Pati’s Diaper Cake pictures:

How to make a diaper cake

How to make a diaper cake

And this is what she wrote:

“This is my first attempt to make a diaper cake, and WOW did I have fun!!! There are 100 size 2 diapers, 130 rubber bands, plus “gifts”. The mother-to-be loved it. This cake took me 5 hours to make. If I can do it, anyone can:) Good luck to all, and thank you for letting me share my success story. Gerry G, CA
PS
I am making a 2nd diaper cake, which I have already sold!! I did not roll my diapers, but did the fan look. I will send pics.”

Not only she’s making great diaper cakes, she also turned it into an additional income stream – WOW!

In my original “how to make a diaper cake” post I mentioned this “cheap as chips” video tutorial that showed me the in’s and out’s of how to make a diaper cake.
I never thought that following it is a way to generate more income

Gerry, thanks for the diaper cake pictures, I will be happy to get pictures of more cakes you made, diaper cake or not.
I hope you can develop your “how to make a diaper cake” adventure into a real business, my benefit will be getting the pictures to post here.

You are welcome to see another diaper cake made by one of the readers at “How to make a diaper cake by Pati” and you’re most welcome to send me pictures of cakes you made to: theduke@thecookduke.com
 
Happy Cooking

How to make a diaper cake – Readers Experience

My “How to make a diaper cake” post is online for 2 years now, and nothing makes me happier than getting picture from people who made diaper cakes following my “recipe”.

This diaper cake was made by Pati B following my How to make a diaper cake post.

Pati’s Diaper Cake picture:

How to make a diaper cake

“Dear Cook Duke
 I can understand how hard it is to make the diaper cakes.  I have seen the one you tried to attempt on a site that sells the cakes.  It’s the diapers fanned out around a center, very hard to do I would think.  It was a valiant attemp.  I just made a plain old rolled diaper cake.  I did the diapers first one night.  Then my cousin and I made the cake together.  She’s my “bow” expert LOL 
It’s not too bad for a first one.
 Caption:  Diaper cake for shower 4/6/08 for my daughter Erin.  It was fun to do.”

So first of all, not only it’s not too bad, it’s actually good for a first try!

In my original “how to make a diaper cake” post I mentioned this “cheap as chips” video tutorial that showed me the in’s and out’s of how to make a diaper cake.

The thing I like about this video tutorial is that it saves you the need for first tries and takes you to a complete different level, although Pati shows us that you can make a beautiful diaper cake without any training.

Pati, thanks for the diaper cake picture, will be happy to get pictures of more cakes you made, diaper cake or not

Anyone that followed my “how to make a diaper cake” post is welcome to send me pictures to theduke@thecookduke.com
 
Happy Cooking