Sunday Sweets Visits India

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:

By Heather Barranco

 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."

By Rosebud Cakes

 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:

By Creme Delicious

 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!

Random Weekly Roundup

Every week or so I sort through all the new submissions you guys have sent in. It's pretty fun, flipping through a random assortment of horror and hilarity all at once like that, so today I thought I'd share some of the ones from our latest batch that especially gave me the giggles:

Captain America Flees the Evil Laptop of Doom:

"Look out! IT'S ABOUT TO REBOOT!!"

 (Yeah, yeah, I know it's not a laptop. It's a...um...briefcase? Of doom?)

Call me old fashioned, but I usually like my weddings and baby showers to at least get their own cakes:

Ooh, hey, do you think after they finished playing "dirty diaper," the bride threw it over her shoulder to a waiting crowd of toddlers? (Whoever catches it will be the next one potty-traaaained!)

And speaking of parties, it looks like the Greens did the Time Warp at this year's "runion":

Hey, maybe they know the Browns! (You know, Doc Brown? Back to the Future? Oh, never mind.)

This next one isn't so much a wreck as it is my new favorite baker: Wreckporter Jen ordered a cake, and when asked what she wanted on it, she just said, "Surprise me."

This is what she got:  

SURPRISE!

And finally, if you've ever wondered at what point your baker needs an intervention, this is that point:

That, my friends, is a donut.

A donut with an ice-cream cone filled with solid icing crammed on top of it.

It's basically a sticky, loneliness-laced call for help. 

Better eat it quick, before it gets too depressing.

Thanks to Michelle B., Kayla N., Carlton H., Jen J., and Rivit for the 'screams.