Sunday Sweets Visits India
September 30, 2012 It's time to get all international up in here! Unless you're in India right now. In that case, it's time to get all national up in here, because today we're checking out Indian-inspired sweets!
Let's start with a little trivia:
Can you name India's national bird? I'll give you a hint:
;)
The peacock! Correct! And isn't this one beautiful? This baker really nailed the iridescent colors of the feathers.
Next question:
What's India's national flower?
;)
By Elizabeth's Cake Emporium (see another closeup here)
No, it's not the peacock, although I can see why you'd be distracted by all that fabulous frothy peacock plumage cascading down this cake. The answer is "the lotus flower."
;)
That's more like it.
Do you know the national animal of India?
;)
Submitted by Allison S. and made by BaylaBoo Cake Boutique. Photo by Nick Caito of CTNow.
That was a trick question; the answer is "tiger."
However, this cake should be the official cake of Things That Defy Physics. I'm holding my breath just looking at it.
Bonus question: what's America's national animal? I didn't even know we had one, but guess what, we do! It's the buffalo.
And I'm not bluffin' about how awesome these next sweets are!
(Worst. Segue. Ever. Allow me to apologize: I'm sari.)
(Worst. Pun. Ever. I'll stop now.)
;)
Submitted by Sabrina; baker unknown.
I looove the intense colors of these henna-inspired cookies. Wowza.
And also loving the more traditional henna colors of this trio:
;)
Submitted by Lucy S. and made by Aurora and Misty Rowan
I bet henna artists are great cake decorators, not only because of their mad skillz, but because they've already come to grips with the fact that their art is temporary. If there aren't already a bunch of henna-tattoo-parlour-slash-bakeries in business, there should be.
And speaking of saris, (we kinda were... a minute ago... oh, just go with it), this cake was inspired by the intricate embroidery on a sari:
;)
By Icing Dreams
Yup, I'd wear that. That flower is rocking my socks off, too. Is it real? Is it fondant? I can't even tell anymore! (Ok, Jen tells me it's gumpaste. Now I'm extra impressed.)
I've seen so many sweets that would be impossible to ever cut or eat, but this one, if you'll excuse the cliché, really takes the cake:
;)
There is no possible way I could eat a thing of such beauty. If I went to the party where this was served, I would steal it, cryogenically freeze it, consider cutting it in half and hollowing it out to use as a jewelry box, change my mind when I realize I own no jewelry that deserves such a box, and then preserve it in an oxygen-free glass chamber instead. And charge people to look at it.
Sweet heavenly goodness, this one, too!
;)
By CakeWorks, pic by Photobolic
It's like a very tidy waterfall.
Of AWESOME.
I don't think Mardi Gras is a big thing in India, but don't tell that to this cake.
;)
Submitted by Jessica A-L and made by Rosebud Cakes
Don't you think it's Mardi Gras-y? And do you also think that that's an abstract peacock on the top, or a set of initials? We are divided at my house.
But no one can be divided on the issue of pink, orange, and electric blue looking amazing together.
;)
By Henna Lounge
Or if you were, (I was) you aren't now. (I'm not!)
Oh, and remember how I said there should be Henna tattoo-parlors-slash-bakeries? Well, Henna Lounge IS one. It's like they read my mind. And have a time machine.
And finally, what could possibly top this amazing elephant cake?
;)
Submitted by Jill L.and made by Heather Barranco
I mean, besides the adorable little groom perched on ridiculously fabulous luggage, authentic right down to his juttis? (I googled that).
Nothing, that's what!
I hope you have a wonderful Sunday, everyone! Namaste!
Have a Sweet to nominate? Then send it to Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com!
Reader Comments (51)
Every time I see the Sunday Sweets I'm always like, "WAAAANT".
I knew it was the tiger.
Wow, all of the cakes are amazing, but those elephants! Particularly the eyes on the first one (not to mention the physics of it all).
Love the blog!
The one way to make the elephant cake better is to place it atop a turtle.
Cake number 10 I think has a cobra on the top.
Hate to disagree, John, but hot pink, orange and electric blue DON'T go together. Never ever.
My husband wanted me to tell you that, while the henna cakes are utterly amazing and awe-inspiring, he's sure they must be stale because, wouldn't it take a WEEK to pipe those intricate designs?! :P Seriously, beautiful work!
Some of the prettiest i've seen :O
I've been reading this blog too long - my immediate answer to "What's India's national flower?" was "DAISY!"
When we got married, my hubby & I lived in India & got married in California. In India our friends threw us a "pre-ception" and in CA we wore our sari & kalwar samiz to our rehearsal & rehearsal dinner. I thought everything was perfect, but now I know, it would have been more perfect with one of these cakes. Simply stunning.
Indians know how to do weddings: up to a week's worth of festivities, up to 1,000 guests, and every extravagance (elephants etc.) one can afford. Now it looks like extravagantly decorated cakes are on the menu as well!
Wow those are some incredibly intricate and beautiful cakes! Although I have to say that one of my first thoughts was to wonder how much dye it takes to get those vibrant colours, and how much of a headache that would induce.
At the risk of starting an epcot, I want to point out that the art of henna tatooing is called mehandi. Henna is just the plant used. Also, the black/white cakes aren't henna-colored. Henna will only produce a red-brown dye. "Black henna" is actually a mixture of henna and indigo. Sorry; I just seem to know a lot about henna. It's a little miracle plant, really.
As for the cakes, I want to be Indian now, so I can have one of those weddings. :D
WOW, these are some of the most beautiful cakes I've seen in a while!!
The jewel box cake looks like it would go well with a stamp of acid.
Just sayin'.
As I perused cake #10 I saw the lotus flowers, paisleys, swirls and whirls, and peacock feather inspired colors all over, but I didn't see a peacock. Until, that is, I scrolled back to the top and saw what I believe is an abstract peacock...and carrying the abstraction further, with a cascading tail the length of the cake. Then I read your comment. Sorry Jen, but I think your hubby is correct on this one.
All of these cakes are spectacular, and I would have a hard time cutting into most of them because it would seem a shame to destroy their beauty. However, that is where photography comes in to save the day!
Words fail me. Almost. WOW! Just WOW!
Those cakes aren't for eating. No way! Maybe wrecks do have a purpose, they let us eat sweet cake and yummy frosting without destroying works of art.
I have to agree with Tammy, I instantly thought it must be the DAISY!! LOL Gorgeous cakes!
How could anyone slice and eat some of these gorgeous works of art? The bakers who made these should do a service to the world and re-create these cakes with non-perishable materials so they can be put on display in a museum. A travelling exhibit would be perfect.
Loves me some Peacock cake------Nicole Peacock ok so some are a lil on the weeeeell, ummmmm lets just say odd side!!
Wow! Simply stunning! I think the one where there's a debate about whether it's a peacock on top or initials (the next to last cake)... I don't know if anyone else above has seen it this way, but I believe that the top is the head and the rest of the cake is the body and feathers of a whole peacock in a sort of abstract treatment. Just amazing.
These are absolutely fabulous. That last one with the elephant - WOW! I want to be shrunk (shrank?) down and sit next to that groom. And I am with you on that heart cake. I literally looked at that for about 5 minutes. Look at the pearls around the bottom - they seriously look real!
Also, I wanted to interject about the color combos (like hot pink, orange and light blue). In these sorts of color schemes, it's all about using contrasting colors to make the intricate designs pop out. it's not about using colors that match.
I do both henna and cake on an amateur basis and would LOVE to have a henna-parlor-slash-bakery. Or work at one. Maybe I should move to San Francisco...
I'm suddenly inspired to redecorate my entire house in an Indian motif. These are truly the most beautiful cakes I've even seen.
Today is my birthday, so I am pretending that these cakes are all for me!! Since I will not be eating cake today (weird allergies) I will have to just feast my eyes. Thank you!
Nitpick: these beautiful designs might better be described as mehndi-inspired, as mehndi is the name of the traditional body art which uses henna paste. That said, I would now like to put on a sari, stick a bhindi on my forehead, and eat every single one of those gorgeous cookie squares.
Just so you know, it was Lindsey from Better After who wrote this post, not John. Beautiful cakes!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!!
Also-- having a little geek-gasm here since OMGoddess!!! Cake Wrecks used the cake I found!!! Yay!
(The groom riding the elephant)
Hi! I'm Aurora, maker of cake #6 - the link should be going to facebook.com/cakesbyaurora.
It's marzipan with chocolate piping - and it actually didn't take much longer than an hour to do the pipework. This is the second time these cakes have been featured, but previously didn't have a watermark.
Hi, I am from India, and I'm a regular visitor and complete fan of Cakewrecks. Thank you so much for featuring these India inspired beauties! I loved them all - especially the two elephant cakes. I was staring open mouthed at the intricate paisley design (we call it mango print in India because of the shape) on cake number 4 for a few seconds... before I scrolled down and saw the elephant.. and went WOW!
I agree with 'Katimomkat' about cake number 10 though... that definitely looks like an abstract peacock.
on the first cake, you can't even tell that the coloring isn't iridescent--it's just solid green, deep blue, and brown done so vividly and finely that you can't tell!
I hate to be the one to bring this up, but the US's national animal is the Bald Eagle. The buffalo is the state animal of Kansas. Just thought I'd mention it.
Thes are beautiful, but I'm dreading the "what they ordered, what they got" cakes that they may inspire from the wreckerators.
Holy Moly!!! LOVE these cakes! I can't believe the details! Love, love, love your humor!!!!
This is among my favorite of the Sunday Sweets posts.
Thank you for sharing these incredible, edible designs. Absolutely stunning!
Actually, the buffalo IS the national animal. The bald eagle is the national bird. I guess there is a difference?
Don't be sari, Jen. (Snort.) This I believe is arguably the most beeeeautiful selection of Sunday Sweets evaaarrr! If it's possible to fall in love with a cake, I'm sooo in love with that Lotus cake! Want one for my next birthday, waaaah!!!
I love all of these cakes, the colors are beautiful and skills required exceptional.....and at the end for a split second before I read further I thought wow who knows words like juttis...did they like google Indian shoes or something ;)
Those mehandi cookies are to die for!! I so want them now.
Marebabe : On the note of time taken, expert Mehendi artists can finish doing in on your hand within an hour, covering all of your arm up to elbow. All you need is practice. :)
Ironic that you send these after I taught in India for five weeks this summer. They are beautiful! Although I'm guessing they aren't really "indian" because I didn't see any cake at the Indian wedding I went to (I wish I had, the sweets were.... interesting). Although maybe that was just because I was in Calcutta (Kolkata).
I have to say, it's "salwar kameez" and I had a "salwar suit (a salwar, kameez and scarf)" as well as a "sari" which are both common suits of clothing for women...
Oooh, I love the henna inspired cookies! I'd take a crack at making them, but my decorating skills are more on par with the caffeine addict than delicate details. xD
I think that cake # 10 is an abstract peacock as well as initials. But no matter what it is supposed to be it is a beautiful cake!
Actually found it, the cookies aren't Haniela. They're by someone named SugarSugarCakes, but they're not active on Flicker anymore.
http://weheartit.com/entry/14682128#
There are some really gorgeous cakes here. I'm really surprised though, that those artists would put so much work into creating such gorgeous works of art and then not bother to decorate the cake drum. Those shiny silver and gold foil wrapped boards make the cakes look unfinished....and I think it detracts from the beauty of the cake itself. It only takes about 10 min to cover a board and it makes the cake look so much nicer.
@house of the Rising cake. The elephant cake on the gold board is my cake... and with just two and a half years cake experience, and that being my second competition, I had NO IDEA that I should be covering that board. I thought the paper was good enough. In fact, Norm Davis was one of the judges and he said the reason I didn't win Best in Show was because of the boards. 1) the bottom board was covered in gold instead of something edible, and 2) the top cake you can see the wilton board it was on.... but that was just really my lack of knowledge... covering the board never even occurred to me until he told me so.
A house divided cannot stand!
How??!?!? Wow!!!!!!! I don't know what to say... :"D
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!
It's just that unbelievably amazing.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHH!!!!
There are some amazing henna tattoo style cakes out there if you do a Google Image search on "henna cake". So intricate.
Ok, these are nothing short of Fabulous !!! : )