Louis Vuitton Purse Cake - NJ Cakes

http://www.confectionarydesigns.com/

Bogota, NJ

Owning a bakery certainly has it's advantages; one being you have gifts for your friends on hand, only problem being is you need to assemble those gifts in a clever way!

This LV purse cake was made for a dear friend as a gift at her milestone birthday bash. The recipient is a big-time fashionista and her husband asked us to make a purse cake for her, and we were happy to fulfil his request.

The LV symbols were hand-painted (took a lot of time and a really steady hand to do this!). The main lesson I learned in making this cake is to make two sets of sugar paste handles - yes, they do break!!

All the tiers are made with our yellow cake recipe and a delicious coffee buttercream (see recipe below - use caution as you will be working with very hot sugar!)

Coffee Buttercream:

Ingredients:

6 large egg yolks
1 cup sugar
4 fluid ounces water
2 cups unsalted butter
1 tsp. Kahlua (or other coffee flavored liqueur)
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 1 teaspoon boiling water

Instructions:

- Beat the egg yolks in a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until light in color.
- Combine sugar in water in a small saucepan bring to a boil over medium heat washing the sides down occasionally with a pastry brush dipped in water (this is to prevent crystallization)
- Remove pan from heat when the syrup reaches 238 degrees F
- With the mixer running, very carefully pour the syrup into the egg yolks in a steady stream down the side of the bowl (do not pour onto the beaters).
- Continue to whisk the mixture until the side of the mixer bowl is just slightly warm; change to the paddle attachment and add the butter pieces.
- Continue to mix for about 5 minutes (the buttercream may look curdled at first, this is OK).
- Add the coffee and liqueur and mix until fully incorporated