Welcome to our highly anticipated third annual holiday series, a delightful journey into the heart of festive baking: The 12 Cakes of Christmas! This cherished tradition invites you to marvel at twelve extraordinary cake designs, each a brand new, never-before-seen creation crafted exclusively for this special occasion. We’ve gathered some of your most beloved bakers to bring their artistic visions to life, celebrating the magic of the season through sugar and artistry.
This year, our theme takes a nostalgic turn, encouraging us to reflect on our cherished Christmas memories and enduring traditions. It’s a month-long celebration of all the little things that make this time of year truly shine. Each featured baker was challenged to create a cake inspired by a classic Christmas tradition, translating heartfelt recollections into edible masterpieces. As we unveil these magnificent creations, prepare to be enchanted by the spirit of Christmas, beautifully expressed in every detail.
The Tenth Cake of Christmas: A Homage to the Evergreen
Our journey through “The 12 Cakes of Christmas” continues as we proudly unveil cake number ten. This installment celebrates an iconic symbol of the holiday season – the timeless evergreen. With its sturdy branches, perfect for adorning with twinkling lights and ornaments, and its inherent natural beauty that instantly evokes the warmth and wonder of Christmas Day, the Christmas tree holds a uniquely special place in our hearts and our holiday decor. It stands as a beacon of joy, growth, and enduring tradition, reminding us of countless treasured moments spent with loved ones.
It’s no surprise then that The Tenth Cake of Christmas draws its profound inspiration from the majestic and beloved Christmas Tree. This cake isn’t just a dessert; it’s a sculptural tribute to the evergreen, capturing its essence and the joy it brings into homes worldwide. Prepare to be captivated by a design that beautifully encapsulates the magic of this cherished holiday symbol, reinterpreted through the exquisite artistry of cake decorating.
Meet the Artist: Jacki Fanto of Blissfully Sweet Cakes
For our tenth breathtaking creation, we are thrilled to welcome back the incredibly talented Jacki Fanto, the visionary owner of Blissfully Sweet Cakes, based in beautiful Sydney, Australia. This marks Jacki’s second consecutive year gracing our holiday series, a testament to her exceptional skill and boundless creativity. Many will fondly recall her inspiring Aussie Christmas cake from 2012, which offered a unique Southern Hemisphere perspective on festive traditions.
Beyond our Christmas series, Jacki’s portfolio boasts an array of awe-inspiring works. You might recognize her incredible starry night cake, a celestial masterpiece, or her serene and beautiful ocean sunset cake, which captured the vibrant hues of a coastal horizon. Jacki consistently amazes us with her distinctive creative style and her profound ability to translate a given theme into an artistic, edible reality. This year, she brings her signature flair to the classic Christmas tree, infusing it with an abundance of lush greenery, shimmering gold glitter, and an undeniable whimsical charm. It’s time to fully immerse ourselves in the splendor of The 10th Cake of Christmas, a true celebration of artistry and festive spirit!
The Creative Spark: Jacki Fanto’s Inspiration Revealed
Jacki Fanto, the creative force behind Blissfully Sweet Cakes, generously shares the fascinating journey that led to her stunning Christmas tree design. “My inspiration for this cake,” Jacki explains, “came from a rather unexpected source: a J. Peterman Catalogue Cover from 2010. I specifically wanted to be inspired by traditional festivities, elements that evoke a sense of nostalgia and timeless celebration. So, I embarked on a quest, sifting through greeting card images and anything that possessed a charming vintage appeal.”
She continues, “As soon as I stumbled upon that particular inspiration image, my mind immediately began to ‘dream it in cake.’ It was one of those moments where the vision instantly materialized. I felt it perfectly captured the essence of a traditional Christmas theme, while simultaneously offering ample scope for a contemporary execution. This blend of classic sentiment with modern design principles became the cornerstone of my approach, allowing me to create a piece that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.” This insight into her creative process highlights Jacki’s talent for identifying unique sources of inspiration and skillfully transforming them into intricate, edible art.
Mastering the Craft: Jacki Fanto’s Innovative Techniques
Delving deeper into the meticulous creation of this holiday marvel, Jacki Fanto of Blissfully Sweet Cakes walks us through her innovative techniques. “This design,” Jacki explains, “is my personal interpretation of a classic Christmas tree, complete with all the beloved trimmings often associated with a Northern Hemisphere Christmas. Hailing from Australia, we typically don’t experience the quintessential ‘white Christmas’ scene, so for me, creating this cake was a little like stepping into a long-held dream, bringing that magical imagery to life.”
She elaborates on her structural and decorative choices: “I wanted the overall structure to feel contemporary, echoing the modern aesthetic of my inspiration image while still being unequivocally Christmas-inspired. The most striking element is perhaps the bottom spherical tier, which appears elegantly suspended in mid-air. This illusion is masterfully achieved through its support by a beautifully gilded and intricately detailed fondant Christmas tree trunk. This sphere itself is completely enveloped in a cascade of rich, red-toned maple leaves. These leaves were first meticulously applied in a two-dimensional manner to cover the tier, then followed by wired leaves carefully hung around the tier’s circumference. This technique not only adds incredible depth and texture but also effectively creates the wide, graceful base characteristic of a traditional Christmas tree, giving it a lush, organic feel.”
“Moving upwards,” Jacki continues, “the top two tiers feature a unique ‘mad hatter’ shape, adding another touch of whimsical charm and visual interest. These tiers are decadently covered in shimmering gold disco dust, chosen specifically because Christmas, to me, is a time of opulence, joy, and grand celebration – and gold perfectly embodies that spirit. To honor the traditional Christmas palette, vibrant green leaves were artfully cascaded upwards from the red maple leaves, gently encircling the bedazzled middle tier. This created a harmonious transition and a beautiful contrast, completing the classic red and green festive theme with a luxurious sparkle.” Every element, from the structural ingenuity to the choice of decorative materials, contributes to a cake that is both a technical marvel and a heartfelt expression of holiday cheer.
Intricate Details: The Pine Needles, Berries, and Pine Cones
The artistry of Jacki Fanto from Blissfully Sweet Cakes truly shines in the intricate details adorning the top tier of her Christmas tree cake. “The uppermost tier,” Jacki explains, “is delicately encircled with finely crafted pine needles, charming winter berries, and miniature pine cones. I spent considerable time contemplating the best approach for creating the pine needles, exploring many different ways to achieve a realistic yet edible effect. Ultimately, I decided on grouping floral wire together in numerous small bunches. Once assembled, these truly captured the look and feel of natural pine needles, providing a wonderfully authentic texture.”
“To give them that characteristic ‘sugar look’ and an extra festive sparkle,” she adds, “each pine needle bunch was triple-dipped in leaf green royal icing. The beautiful ‘drip’ effect achieved through this method was absolutely perfect for what I had envisioned, adding a glossy, dew-kissed appearance. The pine cones were equally a labor of love; each one was individually wired and hand-moulded from tiny petals, assembling into adorable ‘baby pine cones’ – thankfully, without the woodsy smell! I finished these miniature cones with a subtle touch of white paint, which not only added depth and dimension but also enhanced their wintery, frosted appeal.”
“Finally,” Jacki concludes, “the vibrant red winter berries proved to be the ideal companion for the meticulously crafted cones and needles. They provided an essential pop of extra color and brightness, beautifully completing the festive composition of the top tier. Every tiny element was carefully considered and executed, contributing to a truly cohesive and breathtaking edible display.” This level of detail exemplifies Jacki’s dedication to her craft and her ability to transform simple ingredients into breathtaking edible art.
A Perfect Backdrop: Photographing the Christmas Tree Cake
The final touch to presenting this magnificent creation was finding the perfect setting, as shared by Jacki Fanto of Blissfully Sweet Cakes. “I actually discovered a Live Christmas Tree Farm that I had never known existed before,” she recounts. “As soon as I learned about this truly magical venue, I immediately knew it would be the absolute perfect place to photograph my Christmas Tree inspired cake. The synergy between my sugar art and the natural beauty of real evergreens was undeniable.”
“It was such a fantastic experience,” Jacki enthuses, “to see my meticulously crafted cake nestled harmoniously amongst the endless rows of perfectly shaped, fragrant Christmas trees. The traditional colors that I had chosen for my sugar tree – the vibrant reds, lush greens, and sparkling gold – truly brought the entire tree farm vignette to life, imbuing it with an incredibly festive and cohesive feel. The natural light and the authentic backdrop elevated the cake, making it truly pop and conveying the essence of a traditional Christmas setting, even for those of us dreaming of a white Christmas in Australia.”
“The cake came together exactly as I had envisaged,” Jacki reflects, “and I was absolutely over the moon with the final result. It represents a truly creative and unique approach to the traditional Christmas tree theme and its classic colors. Photographing it within the genuine surroundings of the Christmas Tree Farm proved to be the most perfect backdrop imaginable, adding an extra layer of enchantment and authenticity to the presentation.” Jacki extends her heartfelt wishes: “I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and sincerely hope that this festive time of year is filled with an abundance of love, joyous laughter, and the warmth of many different, cherished traditions.” Her words encapsulate the spirit of her creation – a blend of personal dream, artistic execution, and shared holiday joy.
A Heartfelt Thank You & Catch Up On the Series!
A huge and heartfelt thank you goes out to Jacki Fanto of Blissfully Sweet Cakes for creating this truly incredible and imaginative Christmas Tree cake for our cherished holiday series. We are immensely grateful for her extraordinary talent, her innovative vision, and especially for her generosity in sharing such fantastic and detailed insights into her unique techniques. Her contribution has undoubtedly added another layer of magic to our collection, inspiring bakers and enthusiasts alike.
Can you believe we’re already nearing the grand finale of our spectacular “The 12 Cakes of Christmas” series? The festive season is truly flying by! If you’ve happened to miss any of the previous awe-inspiring creations from The 12 Cakes of Christmas, now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in all the festive beauty. You can easily catch up on all the delightful designs and inspiring stories right HERE! We still have two more stunning cakes and a delicious cupcake recipe coming your way before the week concludes, so stay tuned for more holiday cheer and edible art!
VENDORS & CREDITS
Cake: Blissfully Sweet Cakes
Photography: Blissfully Sweet Cakes
Inspiration Image: J. Peterman Catalogue 2010
Venue: Dural Christmas Tree Farm