It’s Day #3 in our 12 Cakes of Christmas series!  12 bakers baking… some of the most lovely cakes you could ever imagine!   Elegant.  Sophisticated.  Exquisite.  You’re going to flip when you see today’s cake!  The 3rd Cake of Christmas is brought to us by the queen of romantic ruffle cakes, Maggie Austin.  And what do you get when you combine Maggie’s meticulously hand-ruffled layers with a bold splash of plaid?  An absolutely stunning and festive Scottish Tartan Ruffle Cake!

Talk about window shopping!  If I was strolling down the streets of DC and spotted this beauty in the window, I would have to stop and stare.  A view of Maggie’s lovely creation through her shop window…

With a perfect balance of bold plaid and romantic ruffles , this cake is absolutely stunning!  It’s as though Maggie’s first career as a classical ballet dancer transcends into her cake work…. each design seems to possess the grace and elegance of a dancer.  I just love how the distinctive pattern of the tartan creates such a dramatic contrast to the airy fondant frills.

Special thanks to Maggie Austin for sharing her exquisite Scottish Tartan Ruffle Cake with us today.  We’re completely swooning!!  The holiday cake inspiration continues tomorrow with cake #4!

Maggie Austin Cake:
Website:  maggieaustincake.com
Be a Fan:  Maggie Austin on Facebook

We’re just getting started with our holiday cake inspiration, The 12 Cakes of Christmas.  12 days of festive cakes to make you merry, shared with us by some of today’s top cake shops.  Whether it’s a winter wedding, an elegant cocktail party or an open house, every occasion deserves a great cake appropriate for the season.  And our 2nd Cake of Christmas would definitely steal the show!

An enchanted forest comes to life in the form of cake.  With hand-painted winter landscapes and delicate fawn figures, today’s cake from Cake Opera Co. is a snow covered fantasy.  Prepare to get lost in this magical world of elegant birch trees and glittering deer….

And because two cakes are twice the fun, this design has a stunning counterpart.  Elegant quilting, ruffled flowers and willowy branches dusted with silver snow…

This extraordinary pair is truly magical!  The ladies of Cake Opera Co. take cake artistry to an entirely different level.  I’m just captivated and in awe of this exquisite cake duo.  The painted scene alone is dreamy, let alone the entire display!  Could you image this as the centerpiece of your holiday event?

A huge thanks to Jessica and Alexandria of Cake Opera Co. for sharing their Wintry Enchanted Forest Cakes with us today.  I could totally get lost in this sugar-coated winter wonderland!  Tomorrow, the fun continues with cake #3 of The 12 Cakes of Christmas!

Vendors & Credits:
Cake: Cake Opera Co.
Photography:  5ive15ifteen Photo Company

This is, by far, my favorite time of year.  The excitement, the buzz, the joy of the holiday season!  I’ve been wanting to do this segment for several years now and am thrilled to see it finally come to life.  I asked some of my very favorite bakeries and cake shops to send over their best cakes of the season.  Well, ask and you shall receive!!  I feel like a kid on Christmas morning each time I open my inbox to find a new, beautiful cake!  Honestly, it has been quite a challenge to narrow it down to just 12.  But that’s how the song goes, right?  There might not be a partridge in this pear tree… but there will be 12 days of festive holiday cake inspiration that will definitely leave you merry!  It’s 12 bakers baking…. it’s The 12 Cakes of Christmas! Ho, Ho, Ho!

I can’t think of a better way to kick off The 12 Cakes of Christmas than with a whimsical cake from one of my very favorite cake shops.  We all know them.  We all love them!  They’ve been creating fabulous cakes for happy customers and inspiring cake artists for years now.  Which is why today’s post is even more exciting!  We have a brand new design to share with you today!!  Never been seen before, I present to you…. The 1st Cake of Christmas.  A Gingerbread, Candy Cane Fantasy created by Pink Cake Box.

Anne Heap and her team at Pink Cake Box have a signature style that I just adore….  Playful and fun yet modern, clean and and precisely done.  Polka dots and stripes.  Gingerbread men and candy canes.  I think Santa himself would approve of this cake!

Could this cake be any cuter?  Forget the sugarplums, this cake will be dancing through my head on Christmas Eve.  It’s a present, all wrapped up and ready to eat!  And since it is the season of presents and giving…

Pink Cake Box is making it easier than ever to spread some holiday cheer this year.  Just hop on over to their website and vote for favorite Pink Cake Box cake from 2011.  For every 2 votes placed, Anne will donate $1 to Icing Smiles, a non-profit organization that provides custom celebration cakes to families impacted by the critical illness of a child.  Easy, fun, done!  Plus, you’ll be automatically entered to win a free $150 gift certificate towards one of their cake decorating classes.  Place your vote HERE!

A huge thanks to Anne and her team for sharing this merry little cake with us!  It’s a ginger man, candy land DREAM!  Tomorrow, the fun continues with cake #2 of The 12 Cakes of Christmas!

Pink Cake Box:
Website: www.pinkcakebox.com
Be a Fan: Pink Cake Box on Facebook
Tweet: Pink Cake Box on Twitter
Top Tier Directory: Full Listing