I’ve been so inspired this month by the color palettes of natural birch, pinecones and even mushrooms. A gift of fruitcake…hmmm maybe not, but fruitcake cupcakes with meringue mushrooms? Yes, please! I’ve always loved cupcakes but for some reason I’ve been obsessed of late. These kind of details might be left to more advanced bakers but we’re in luck! We can order them straight from the best. Call on the cake expert (co-author of Martha Stewart Wedding Cakes and long time contributor to Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine), Wendy Kromer, who can whip up the most beautiful cake or small details like meringue or marzipan mushrooms, ferns, fiddleheads, ladybugs or chocolate shaved to simulate bark (though the chocolate bark can’t be shipped, better off going to her shop).

“The meringue mushrooms are my all time favs!” Wendy exclaimed when we recently spoke about woodland themes and her gorgeous woodland cake story that appeared in the magazine. “When you make them with red and white caps they are absolutely enchanting. When I think of a woodland theme my mind goes to the Black Forest in Germany… and then immediately goes to Black Forest Cake! Mmmmm! I actually had a chance to visit the Black Forest when I lived in Europe, and of course I then visited many a German bakery. So I naturally think of my experiences there first.” When asked where she finds her daily inspiration for so many beautiful cakes and details she said, “I look to fashion, art, pottery, textiles, wallpaper, nature, food, calligraphy and color combinations.”

Wendy Kromer Confections Shop is located at 137 East Water Street, Sandusky, Ohio. Phone: 419-609-0450. Visit www.wendykromer.com for information and class schedules. Facebook: Wendy Kromer Confections

Photo above by Con Poulos via Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes book. (there’s also a detailed recipe in the book on how to make these cupcakes & mushrooms at home) Photographs below appeared in Martha Stewart Weddings and were photographed by Dana Gallagher.