Simple Citrus Hued Cakes

The Summer issue of MSW has some pretty, yet easy, cakes in citrusy hues. These cakes are frosted and sprinkled with glitter dust to create these simple patterns.

We've talked about this and this M&M cake before, and I was iffy about wether I liked the concept or not. The one in this issue of MSW is the best I've seen so far.

Leis wrapped about the layers of these cakes make for simply beautiful adornments.

Tissue paper flowers create a bouquet that trails down this cake.

All of these cakes look so different, but they all prove that you don't have to have elaborate decorating skills to create a really pretty cake. Imagine topping a one layer cake with a bouquet of tissue paper flowers or

Recipe: White Peach, Lychee, & Red Berry Pops

It's supposed to be 100 degrees tomorrow, and I'm sweating just thinking about it. These white peach, lychee, and red berry pops by Aran of Cannelle et Vanille would be a great way to beat the heat.

If you've got some popsicles molds handy, go ahead and give this chilly recipe a try.

images via Cannelle et Vanille

Sweet Brands: Arctic Candy

This candy is made from berries grown north of the Arctic Circle. The extreme temps make the berries even sweeter than regular berries, and this redesign by Neue puts the fruit front and center.

images via The Die Line

Decor Ideas: Geronimo Balloons

Some of you loved the Confetti System decor idea I shared with you, while others were utterly perplexed by the entire concept. I'm interested to see how you guys feel about Geronimo Balloons for dessert table decor. This gigantic balloons easily add a festive flair to any dessert display. Anchor them to the back of the table or hover them overhead.

So, what do you think? Do you love or loathe the giant ballon/confetti decor idea?

Week In Review & Violet and Plum Button Cake

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We liked the reusability of this dessert table's apple favor tree.
A reader submitted this dessert table for a little girl's 5th birthday.
This dessert table was a sweet centerpiece for a baby's baptismal bash.

This week on Sweet Life, I interviewed Alicia of Cupcake about her appearance on Food Network.

If you have a DIY, dessert table, favor idea, or other sweet creation to share, check out the Submissions page for the how-to.

image by Janae Shields

Guest Desserts: Beautiful Baptism

Punky of Box of Sweets submitted these pics of the dessert table she designed for her niece's Baptism a few months ago. You may remember this black and yellow buffet of hers that I shared on the blog last year. Well, this table was the first that Punky made for an actual event, and she chose a pink, violet, and yellow palette. A fondant cake, cupcakes, and candies fill out the table, while flowers accent the design.

Thanks so much for sharing your work with us, Punky! Congratulations on your first real event. I hope you have many more in the future.

Guest Desserts: Little Miss 5th

Norkys of Sweets and Pretties kindly submitted this table that she created for her daughter's fifth birthday. A simple frosted cake is made perfectly girly with a DIY-able heart cake topper. Macarons, cupcakes, and cake pops sit alongside strawberry malt balls, meringues and drinks.

Do you have a Guest Desserts feature to share? Great, check out the submissions guidelines here.

Dessert Table: Apple Tree Birthday

It seems like the dessert table craze has really exploded in Australia. Every time I come across a new table, the designer is from Down Under. This little girl's pink and green apple-themed buffet is no different. The ladies of Ruby Ju created this sweet display, which features cookies, cupcakes, and a pretty ruffle cake. I love the striped straws in the old fashioned milk bottles.

The striped candy bar wrappers are another sweet touch. What's your favorite element of this design?

Week In Review & A Candygram

If you've been reading the blog for awhile, then you might remember this rainbow colored candy art. I thought that was pretty great, but this Jessi Arington candygram ups the creative factor.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

This modern black, white, and yellow dessert table made a bold impact.
I announced the winner of this Potter & Butler giveaway.
We oohed and aahed over this pretty pink cake display.
I gave a reader a this bit of dessert table advice.

This week on The Sweet Life, I wrote about these new desserts coming to the MN State Fair this year.

image via Eat Drink Chic

Sweet Reader Q & A

Yesterday, Jessica asked for some dessert table advice on the Shauna Younge Facebook page. I thought I'd share her question, as well as my answer in case some of you are also looking for tips to personalize your dessert tables.

Q: Shauna, I need your help!!! I am hosting a tea for family celebrating the anniversary of my grandparents (who are no longer with us). It is a time for us to come together, reconnect & reflect on the love that has brought us to where we are now. I would love to do a dessert table, but I have no idea where to go. I want to incorporate old photos. Any idea to jump start me would be appreciated.

A: Hi Jessica, You could use their old photos to make a garland or backdrop for their dessert table like I did for the XOXO design. As long as you incorporate special things that have significance for you and your family, you can't go wrong. Good luck. Let me know how it turns out.

I hope that helps, Jessica!

Do you have a dessert table question? You can ask me on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments section, and I'll do my best to help.

Dessert Table: Have Your Cake & Eat It, Too

There are so many cakes on this dessert table shot by Cynthia Brown that I don't know how guests were possibly able to choose which one to start with. The really great thing about each of these cakes is their simplicity. The baker utilized texture and a soft pink and cream palette to make each cake a unique, but cohesive part of the display.

Even if you don't have the time or skills to decorate a simple cake, consider buying a cake from a delicious bakery in town and top it with fresh flowers or wrap a satin ribbon around the base.

images via Style Me Pretty

Potter & Butler Giveaway Winner!

After a random number drawing (my toddler pulled #8 out of a hat), I'm pleased to announce the Potter & Butler giveaway winner!

Thank you all for entering! Sarah, the ladies of Potter & Butler will contact you soon regarding your gift card. Congratulations!

Dessert Table: It's Always Sunny in LA

First things first, remember today is the last day to enter the Potter & Butler gift card giveaway. Simply visit their site, and leave a comment here to tell me which of their products you'd use the gift card to buy.

Now, on to today's post. Photog Max Wanger captured this Sweet and Saucy dessert table for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia star and his bride. A graphic black and white pattern is a backdrop for  cupcakes, cake pops, and a simple cake.

Week In Review & Popsicle Invites

It finally hit 100 degrees this week in Minneapolis. Inexplicably, it's cloudy and only in the 60s today. Go figure. Either way, these popsicle invites are bringing a little bit of warm, sunny goodness into my day.

This week on the Sweet Tooth:

My hub launched Well-Groomed, which is the style blog for grooms.
These dessert tables in Little Bit Magazine are full of color.
I announced the Potter & Butler giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, you better hurry up!
I shared this Ferrero Roche cupcake recipe with you.

It's been a crazy, whirlwind of a week. I hope to see you all back next week.

image by Our Labor of Love via Design Sponge

Recipe: Ferrero Roche Cupakes

My friend, Maddy of Somewhere Splendid, experimented in her kitchen this weekend to create these cupcake inspired by Ferrero Roche chocolates. She adapted the cake recipe from Elisa Strauss's The Confetti Cakes Cookbook.

Want to try your own Ferrero Roche cuppies? Keep reading to get the recipe.

Giveaway: Potter & Butler

Remember this dessert table I designed a few months ago? Well, those pom cake toppers were from Potter & Butler, and today I've got a giveaway that I know you all will love.

Shop owners Emily and Carrie are offering a $25 gift certificate to one lucky Sweet Tooth reader. The ladies specialize in making "handmade goods for authentically merry celebrations." What does that mean? It means that they make the garlands, cake toppers, and decor elements that give your party (no matter how big or small) the finishing touch it needs. Enter the giveaway, and you could win a $25 gift certificate to their lovely shop.

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Ready for the entry details? Of course you are. Simply visit Potter & Butler's shop here between today and Monday, June 13th. Browse their products, then come back here and leave a comment telling me which product you'd buy with your gift card and what party, celebration, or everyday wonderfulness you'd use them for. You don't have to stick with the products I've shown here, or even stick to a certain price range. Please only enter once.

Good luck!

*Winner of the $25 Potter & Butler gift certificate will be chosen at random. Giveaway will be open from June 8. 2011 and close at 11:59 pm on June 13, 2011. Winner will be announced June 14th on Sweet Tooth.*

Dessert Table: Little Bit Magazine

Aisha of Dooby Design Group recently launched Little Bit Magazine, an online publication full of kid-friendly party planning and design tips. I've featured some of Aisha's work before, like this Turqouise and Teal dessert table, and the current issue of Little Bit has two more great dessert designs.

If you're looking for a little more monthly eye candy, be sure to flip through Little Bit Magazine for favor ideas, decor concepts, and party themes.

images by Nicole Haley Photography via Somewhere Splendid

Launching Well-Groomed!

First, I want to thank those of you who responded to my anonymous reader's comment that last week's Sweet Brands post was homophobic or misogynistic. I really was curious to know if I'd made an error in posting the feature, and many of you agreed that it was humorous, not hurtful. Keep the comments coming, and let me know what you think about that post and any other one.

On to happier news, today my husband launched his new groom style blog called Well-Groomed. I know this isn't really dessert news, but it is design news since I designed the blog and our friend Maddy Hauge of Inspired Bride designed the logo. Since the blog has consumed a lot of my time and creative energy for the last few months, I thought I'd show you a little of what we came up with.

Since grooms are often overlooked in the wedding blogosphere, he decided to create a blog that features grooms and offers style advice without also featuring tons of frilly dresses.

The blog also features lots of examples of real grooms who had some amazing wedding style. So, if you are a guy or know a guy who's getting married please swing by and check it out. If you're a bride who's trying to convince your groom to step out of his style comfort zone for the big day, you'll find lots here to help persuade him.

I'll be back tomorrow with more of the sweet posts you love!