Sunday Sweets: A Black Tie Affair
February 3, 2013 You are cordially invited to step away from Beyoncé, buffalo wings, and beer commercials for a small moment today, and instead feast your eyes on something a bit more refined: fabulously formal cakes!
;)
By Laura Stankis of JaCiva's
Please note: black tie required. Supper bow tie, not so much.
King Kong definitely got the memo; check out his tie and tux on this fun art-deco topper:
;)
Ack! So cute. He's even color-coordinated with the cake's monogram:
;)
By Gateaux Inc.
But if you're tuned in to Downton Abbey tonight, you will already know that white tie is THE most formal of all evening wear, and to dress accordingly. You know, like this all-white wonder:
;)
Just look at that painstakingly perfect piping!
Can polka-dots be elegant? You bet!
;)
Submitted by Nicole S. & made by Sugar Bakers
It doesn't get more classic than black and white with red roses all over.
Hey, remember that time on Downton Abbey when Matthew was forced to wear a black tie to dinner, and everyone acted like he had just shambled in wearing a holey bathrobe and flip flops? Ha! So funny. (Um, this show is better than I'm making it sound, honest.)
;)
Don't worry; I bet no one would ever mistake this beauty for a waiter.
(Mostly because that wouldn't make any sense, but still.)
Ok, back to more civil matters. Remember that time on Downton when that thing happened to that person, and everyone was, like, really shocked? (Jen says I'm not allowed to give any more spoilers, but YOU know what I mean.)
Well, I guess we can only hope the person who that thing happened to will come back later. You know, for a...cameo:
;)
But not as a horse.
I guess we can only dream!
And while we're dreaming, imagine the look on Mr. Carson's face if Mrs. Patmore baked this stunning cake and hung it up in the dining room, chandelier-style!
;)
Made by Gateaux for Betty Crocker
That's right, this cake is actually hanging from the top, like a real chandelier. Or chandeTIER, as I like to say it. Cake joke! (I've never actually said that.)
But I do love the hexagon-shaped tiers of this next cake. Aren't the hand-painted doodles dreamy?
File this under 'fabulous!'
;)
Sub'd by Kate K., made by Sweet & Saucy Shop
That's worthy of Lord and Lady Grantham's finest dinner party. I bet even Granny would approve.
Sorry. I'm totally done talking about Downton Abbey, I swear. Let's talk about this damask cake:
;)
By Sugarland
Ain't no damasquerading, it's lovely!
And here's one last extravagantly fanciful cake for you to behold before you head out to enjoy the Super Bowl, the Puppy Bowl, Downton Abbey, or just the rest of your weekend:
;)
Sub'd by Su-Anne & made by Cile Bellefleur Burbidge
WOW.
Also:
"What is a weekend?"
(Couldn't help it!)
As always, send your Sweet nominations to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com. Also, be sure to check the Sweets directory to see which bakers we've featured in your area!
Reader Comments (48)
I have only watched 2 Downton Abbey episodes so far, but i got the 'what is a weekend' joke :-)
When Mr. Bates gets out of prison I'm sending him that second cake, even though neither the Empire State Building nor King Kong will have existed on that glorious day. I know he will mask his confusion with stoicism and thank me humbly in that humble, stoic, weirdly attractive way of his.
Also, if Betty Crocker can make a chandelier cake, Mrs. Patmore certainly could.
Cakes: jaw dropping gorgeous. Some of my favorites, ever, featured here on Sunday Sweets.
And then Downton references? I love you guys.
If Matthew came to dinner in a holey bathrobe and flip flops, that would be quite fine. Quite. Fine.
Maggie Smith plays Granny's role to perfection. She provides comic relief without appearing to be aware of it.
Lindsey, I shed a chandetear of delight over these.
EEEEE! Maybe wedding cake bakery was featured in this week's Sunday Sweets! SO HAPPY!
OMG those are gorgeous :O I love the king kong cake and the all white one is so pretty-reminds me of porcelin
I, of course, have seen the whole series- not sure where you are , in the series, or even which series, in the States, but I have also seen the "Christmas Special".....not saying a WORD!!!! It will need a great big cake, though, so I suggest you start looking now.
I could not work out why Mathew did not just wear a white tie with his other outfit- but maybe that would have been a worse faux pas- Cake? We were supposed to be talking about cake? Oh, sorry....
I would be ok if he came in just the black tie...
Amazing cakes! But that thing that happened to that person...excuse me while I go cry some more.
I love Downton Abbey, have seen all eps so far and just got the DVD-box of Season 1&2 for my birthday. Am so loving this post, I just want to watch DA while staring at these gorgeous cakes now!
Black and white is alwys stylish. Except when they're zebra stripes and paired to hot pink. Though I'd love to see someone try and make that combo work for the Crowley's!
You know, I'm a home baker, and I make cakes for family and friends and stuff, but I always know just how far I still have to go on Sundays. The cakes sent in are just so perfect, I could never get that. On the other hand, the people getting mine seem pretty happy, and I can see some progress in my creations, sometimes inspired by the excellence n display here. So it's a work in progress, and self-development is a kind of virtue, right?
oh, of course these are amazing and a nice counterpoint to other going ons for this wkend. i am particularly impressed by the 5th cake and the 2nd to last cake. both are amazing and of course so on trend with the black & white theme. (altho, really, is that a trend that ever goes away completely?)
gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!!
The roses on the Polka Dot cake are amazing. And last weeks episode totally made me cry.
Loved these cakes and your Downton Abbey. My dh wanted to know why I was laughing at the beautiful cakes! Also, why is it that us geeks love the Downton?
I have seen all three seasons (thanks to the internet Gods) and I love all of it and the cakes above:)
One of the reasons I love CW so much is because between Jen, the writing team and the all the comments I have been made aware of some really great shows and movies I either never knew about or had never heard of. These cakes are just beautiful! I kinda love the King Kong one. And seriously, the last one is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
Off to finish watching 2 seasons of Downtown Abbey while I try not to cough every single one of my internal organs. O.O
I just can't wait to see the cakes that are MODELED on these beauties - and will inevitably show up as wrecks.
They are all gorgeous, but I really love the Art Deco one.
I just checked out the directory, and the Short and Sweet bakery under Hawaii needs a link fixed - http://www.shortnsweet.biz/gallery/ - they have amazing cakes (and paninis, macaroons, brownies...), so I thought they needed updating. The link under Delaware is also broken.
Love the sunday sweets - my favorite cake wrecks posts!
[Editor's note- Well, we kinda figured this would happen eventually. Baker's change their sites or go out of business all the time. I'll take a look at it. Thanks for the heads up! -john]
My only issue with black icing is that it stains the teeth horriblely! Other than that, it looks spectacular!
Chandelier cake = WOW!
Love! Especially the first and sixth cakes.
@Jodee in WA: Poor you. If you're not taking Mucinex, you should. I'm told the cough hangs around for 3 weeks after the rest of the illness, and Mucinex (guafenesin) helped with mine. (I've got a week of coughing to go...)
I don't have a DA joke exactly, but I was watching the Super Bowl as the lights went out. Looks like the Dowager Countess was right about those electric lights! Can't depend on them.
So I switched over to PBS and they were running last week's episode where the terrible thing happened. It still gets to me!
Okay, new one coming on now. Bye!
Matthew! Puppy Bowl! Cake! Does it get any better than this?!?
Thanks for the tip @Sharyn! I actually have a couple of boxes in my cupboard but never think of it. I've been using Theraflu and that helps but only for a while. I've spent the day on the couch watching Downton Abbey (and been corrected that it's not DownTOWN) and sleeping. I've heard rumors there was a game today but haven't even looked up any of the commercials...which in my opinion is the real reason to watch ;)
Off to dig out the Mucinex and start another episode!
This is for SuBee... Ahem....
Haaaaaappyyy Birrrrrrrthh Daaayyyy Tooooo Youuuuu.
Haaaaaappyyy Birrrrrrrthh Daaayyyy Tooooo Youuuuu.
Haaaappppyyyy Biirrrrthhh Daaaay Dearrrrrrr SuuuuuuBEEEEEE...
Haaapppyyy Birrrthhhh Daaaayyyy Tooooo Yooouuuuuu!!!!!
Oh, was I supposed to talk cake?! Ok, the all white ones are my favs, especially that last one! I had my groom in all white - most formal, as someone pointed out. Our cakes weren't that fancy but quite delicious. (Italian creme - secret family recipe) I think I had the cake in all white, too. The groom's was all brown because I wanted chocolate *somewhere* for me to eat! :-) His cake wasn't fancy either, but at least it wasn't a wreck. He had a model shuttle atop his cake with the inscription "Blast off to happiness!" :-0
PS to Sharyn - definitely no scoring at my house; hubby's been coughing up organs all week! I think he's down to one piddly adrenal gland and a kidney! :-)
Thank you for the lovely cakes. I love the wrecks, it is nice to see that someone can make cakes look really nice. Words do not describe the quality of the cakes you shared today.
I have seen some downton Abbey, missed the one with the weekend joke, will have to review...
Being a non-sports fan, it was nice to see something posted that had nothing to do with the SuperBowl and the power outage they suffered. lol
Okay, have to go off-topic here for friends in need....PPS @Jodee in WA & Sharyn - Avoid dairy until cough is gone (mega-gunk maker - trust me!) and try a teaspoon of honey to quiet your cough. Also Throat Coat Tea or Gypsy Cold Care Tea (reg or PM version) from Traditional Medicinals with honey and lemon (or Vitamin C powder in place of lemon). We swear by it & I made a special trip today 'cuz we were out & hubby felt awful without his Gypsy Cold Care Tea.
Now back to your *lovely* super formal Sunday Sweets...Superb! <Go Ravens!>
@Liessa glad to see you didn't qualify yourself as "just" a home baker. after all, as we know Monday-Friday, there's a lot of "alleged" professional decorators who should look at these cakes on Sundays and see how far they have to go!
I second KarateLady on the limit-the-dairy warning. Multiple doctors have warned me off dairy when sick as it causes more mucus to build up. I have to admit, they seem to be right. Some have told me to stay off it with any type of illness as I have respiratory issues "and you shouldn't take any chances." (you'd think I was missing a lung or something)
the chandelier cake? I was gobsmacked and would love that in a lovely shiny satin as a light shade for a formal dining room. (not that I'd know what to do with a formal dining room- just saying it would be beautiful)
]
Happy birthday, SuBee!! :D
(your present is that I won't sing to you and you're welcome)
I was fortunate enough to have Gateaux Inc for my wedding cake and I just wanted to say that according to their Facebook, the chandelier cake which is credited to Betty Crocker is actually their work. I do know they contract out their amazing work to Betty Crocker sometimes; including making Betty White's birthday cake for her TV special last year.
Also, amazing and breath taking cakes today! (Just like all the Sunday Sweets.)
WOW. Those all white cakes are just spectacular. The rest are gorgeous too. SO nice to get a refreshing break of beautiful, well-done cakes every week.
Now off to see the latest Downton Abbey... :-)
My daughter is getting married this fall, and if she were to go for the chandelier cake or the last cake I think I'd have to re-think paying for it. Although very pretty and creative, very unrealistic and the last one is way too fussy. Sorry, it just is.
As it is, her wedding has a peacock theme. Thankfully she just wants feathers in her centerpieces and not on her cake. She wants a white cake with white gum paste flowers. Please God, don't let the bakers wreck something as simple as that!
And for your coughs and the honey/lemon tea - don't forget a dash of cinnamon!
And...Downton Abbey Rocks!!!
Puppy Bowl? I forgot that even existed, having left off watching Animal Planet when they stopped airing programs that were actually about animals.
Downton Abbey? I don't even think I've ITV to see it on.
Well, pretty cakes, and I'm awake now because there was nothing on TV last night. ;)
Best. Sunday Sweets. EVER.
Gorgeous, just utterly and completely gorgeous.
Nice cakes.
Me, my favorite Downton Abbey moments occurred in the webcomic Basic Instructions, in which the characters from DA were used to mask spoilers from Game of Thrones season one.
I honestly would not have realized the Super Bowl was this weekend if CW hadn't had themed posts referencing it. You are my news outlet, CW.
I love Sunday Sweets, they're my favorite part of CW.
The bakery name of the third cake - We Bake in Heels - made my feet hurt. I don't even sit in heels.
The Art Deco cake is gorgeous - I'm an art deco fan, and the lines and topper of that cake are phenomonal! Since I've been married 30 years, I don't have an occasion to hope for a beauty like that, but a girl can always hope... Is that a quilling technique on the first cake?!!? Ack, it's amazing work!
I've heard so much about Downton Abbey here and other places that I simply HAVE to start watching it, from the beginning. Not sure how long it will take me to catch up, but I'll get there eventually :) .
So the #blackoutbowl is YOUR fault! By having your Super Bowl Sunday Sweets a "Black Tie Affair" you're the one who jinxed the game and caused the catastrophic blackout that delayed the game and trended on Twitter. Well played, Jen. Well played. I didn't know you were a 49ers fan. At least now people will stop blaming Beyonce.
Isn't hindsight fantastic?!?
I love Cake Wrecks.
I love Downton Abbey.
I LOVE this post.
:)
I walk past Gateaux whenever I go to work... Still would love to work there...
The cameo cake took my breath away. Simply stunning.
@Anne-Marie: Each season is eight opr nine hours long, so a couple of weekends will do it (hubby and I did that over New Year's w/Seasons 1 and 2 so we could jump in when Season 3 started).
Re: the dressing up, "white tie" (black tailcoat, white vest, shirt, and bow tie) is the most formal men's attire. Although introduced by daring young rakes in the 1880s, "black tie" or the tuxedo (black "suit" coat, black vest and black bow tie, with a white shirt) is actually "semi-formal" and not an acceptable substitute during the DA era.
A white tail coat is never acceptable unless you are Liberace opr selling ice cream.
Oh. My. Gosh. I suddenly love you even more than I did before now that I know you watch Downton Abbey. :-)