The Grand Finale: Celebrating Christmas Traditions with The 12th Cake of Christmas – Inspired by Tree Trimming!
Welcome to the much-anticipated conclusion of our third annual holiday series, The 12 Cakes of Christmas! This year, we’ve embarked on a heartwarming journey, presenting twelve truly marvelous cake designs, each a brand-new masterpiece crafted exclusively for this series by some of the most beloved bakers in the industry. Our overarching theme this season has been a tender reflection on our cherished Christmas memories and time-honored traditions. It’s been a month dedicated to celebrating the warmth, joy, and profound beauty found in the seemingly small moments that make the holiday season shine so brightly. Each of our featured bakers was invited to draw inspiration from a classic Christmas tradition, translating its essence into an edible work of art.
As we lovingly wrap up this enchanting series, we proudly unveil cake number twelve. This final, exquisite creation celebrates a tradition that many families hold dear, a sacred ritual brimming with joy, excitement, and the sweet anticipation of the wonders yet to unfold. It’s an activity that brings loved ones closer, their hearts full, as the family Christmas tree awaits its annual transformation. The Twelfth Cake of Christmas draws its profound inspiration from the quintessential holiday act of… Trimming the Tree!
Meet the Mastermind: Rachel Skvaril of Fondant Flinger Unveils Her “Winter Owl” Cake
The twelfth and final cake in our spectacular series comes to us from the incredibly talented Rachel Skvaril, the visionary owner of Fondant Flinger, based in the vibrant city of New Orleans. While this marks Rachel’s debut year joining our festive Christmas series, her exceptional artistry has captivated us and her legions of fans for many years. We were first awestruck by her creativity back in 2012 with her absolutely incredible ruffled flag cake, a patriotic masterpiece crafted for our Fourth of July series. Who could possibly forget her truly out-of-this-world blue poppy flower cake, or the breathtaking beauty of her gorgeous purple anemone cake? Today, Rachel’s latest creation is just as consistently amazing as her previous works, if not more so. With its enchanting woodsy winter feel and an adorable snow owl that is simply too cute for words, this cake is a feast for the eyes.
However, what makes this cake even more extraordinary is the deeply personal and heartwarming family tradition that served as the profound inspiration for its design. If you’re someone who often finds yourself scrolling through blogs primarily for the captivating pictures, we wholeheartedly encourage you to take a moment and immerse yourself in today’s full post. Rachel isn’t merely trimming a tree with her design; she’s symbolically placing the shining star atop our entire Christmas cake series, bringing it to a close with grace and profound meaning. It’s time to fully embrace the magic of The 12th Cake of Christmas!
The Heartfelt Inspiration: Rachel Skvaril’s Family Tree Trimming Tradition
Rachel Skvaril of Fondant Flinger generously shares the deeply personal inspiration behind her exquisite cake design:
“I absolutely adore Christmas. Every aspect of it fills my heart with joy. The familiar, comforting smells of evergreen and cinnamon wafting through the air, the crisp, invigorating coolness of the seasonal breeze, the harmonious sounds of carolers spreading cheer, and the countless tiny lights scattered across myriad gorgeous decorations – each element contributes to the unparalleled magic of this time of year. Perhaps the most nostalgic and treasured part of the entire season for me centers around the weekend immediately following Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition that truly kicks off our family’s holiday celebrations.
After hours of enthusiastic searching through what often feels like hundreds of trees, the perfect one is finally chosen. We then undertake the slightly messy, yet always memorable, task of dragging it home, leaving a delightful (if somewhat inconvenient) carpet of needles all over the floor. With the tree proudly in place, the true decorating adventure begins. My wonderful husband valiantly tackles the attic, dragging down all the boxes filled with ornaments and lights, while the rest of us gather around, nestled comfortably under snuggly blankets, sipping hot cocoa, and indulging in delicious sugar cookies. Michael Bublé’s velvety voice quietly serenades us in the background, setting the perfect festive mood. The boys, full of boundless energy and excitement, fling open box after box, revealing hundreds of cherished ornaments and pine cones collected meticulously throughout the years. Each ornament, as it emerges, instantly triggers a warm, specific memory, a tiny story from Christmases past. And one by one, each takes its rightful place on the tree, joining all the other beautiful memories in a vibrant tapestry of our family’s history.
It’s truly one of those rare and precious moments where time itself seems to stand still. You actually have the opportunity to pause, look around at your loved ones, and fully appreciate how incredibly blessed you are. The sheer delight and unadulterated joy that radiates from my boys’ faces throughout this magical night is, for me, utterly priceless and irreplaceable.”
More Profound Reflections from Rachel on Her Inspiration
Rachel of Fondant Flinger continues to elaborate on the deep wellspring of her inspiration:
“Once the tree is finally and beautifully trimmed, twinkling with lights and adorned with our beloved ornaments, we all gather together on the couch. It’s a tremendous, cozy heap of family, snuggled close as my husband takes center stage to read the timeless story of Christ’s birth. The boys listen, wide-eyed and utterly captivated, as they hear about the angels and shepherds worshiping the Baby in the stable, a moment when both heaven and nature seemed to sing in joyful adoration. Following this sacred story time, it becomes our turn to sing. With uninhibited enthusiasm, the boys sing at the top of their lungs, as wonderfully off-key as you can possibly imagine, belting out the beloved carol, “Joy to the World, The Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart, prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing…”
And I, well, I sit there, often with glassy eyes, utterly immersed in the beautiful scene unfolding before me. I watch my cherished family, bathed in the soft, ambient glow of the newly trimmed tree, feeling a profound sense of joy completely filling my heart, my home, and seemingly, the entire world. This particular night, to me, is far greater and more meaningful than even Christmas morning itself. Instead of the traditional focus being on the material things under the tree, this night is profoundly about the precious people and shared experiences around the tree. It’s a night of connection, gratitude, and spiritual reflection that truly encapsulates the essence of the season.”
The Artistry and Technique: Bringing “Heaven and Nature” to Life
Rachel Skvaril of Fondant Flinger delves into the intricate techniques and design choices behind her magnificent cake:
“Perhaps my absolute favorite aspect of decorating for Christmas lies in the transformative act of taking this completely natural, rustic tree – a simple gift from nature – and adorning it with sparkling lights and cherished ornaments. It’s that breathtaking combination of both heaven and nature, perfectly intertwined, that truly defines the magic of the season for me. The entire inspiration for this cake stemmed precisely from this powerful visual and emotional concept.
To capture this essence, I meticulously recreated a woodland brush owl ornament, which happens to be one of my most treasured pieces from our personal family collection. I paired this charming owl with delicate, realistic small pinecones, creating a striking contrast against the opulent gold tiers that form the cake’s foundational structure. These golden layers, along with additional ornamental details and a vibrant, bright white poinsettia, represent the “heavenly” adornments. The bottom tier of the cake was skillfully decorated to mimic the intricate, overlapping scales of a pinecone, achieved through careful texturing and fondant application. For a smaller, complementary tier, I aimed to perfectly mimic the delicate, twig-like components that give the brush owl its unique and rustic charm. Every element, from the subtle textures to the bold color contrasts, was thoughtfully designed to evoke the harmonious blend of natural beauty and festive elegance that defines the beloved tradition of trimming the Christmas tree.”
A Perfect Ending to a Perfect Series
Absolutely. Positively. Unquestionably. Amazing! Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to Rachel Skvaril of Fondant Flinger for creating this truly stunning, thought-provoking, and emotionally resonant cake for our annual Christmas series. We are equally grateful for her willingness to open up and share such a deeply personal and cherished family tree trimming tradition with all of us. Her work, in its beauty and narrative, is not only inspiring us to aspire to greater heights in cake artistry, but it’s also gently reminding us all to pause, take a moment, and remember what this magical season is truly all about. It encourages us to shift our focus from the material to the meaningful, to appreciate the simple yet profound joys of connection and reflection. And, perhaps most importantly, it inspires us to be profoundly thankful for the countless blessings that grace our lives. This exquisite creation and its accompanying story provide the most fitting, beautiful, and perfect ending to The 12 Cakes of Christmas!
VENDORS & CREDITS
- Cake Design and Creation: Fondant Flinger
- Photography: Heather Neely Photography
- Inspiration Image Source: Pottery Barn