79 years young: red roses for Mom

No fondant, no toppers, no printed anything. Just buttercream and a piping bag, the way birthday cakes were done long before any of the rest of it existed.

Roses, one petal at a time

Each rose is built on a flower nail — a cone of buttercream first, then petals piped around it one at a time, turning the nail a little between each. Then it's lifted off and set onto the cake.

They're clustered rather than spaced out: a heavy group in one corner, a lighter one opposite, with buds and green leaves filling in around them. Red scrollwork loops between the clusters and ties the two corners together so the middle doesn't look empty.

A row of small red hearts runs the whole way around the border.

Why it still works

Buttercream roses are old-fashioned and I don't think that's a criticism. They look like a birthday cake is supposed to look, and for a 79th birthday that's the point — not a trend, just something that has always been right.

What's inside

Marble cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Happy 79th

Seventy-nine years young and still blooming beautifully.