Desserts by Vanessa

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Desserts by Vanessa

Desserts by Vanessa Professional Pastry Chef 20+ yrs. Recipes, Tips, Techniques. Teaches classes & consults

03/10/2025

Ever wonder what type of chocolate to use? I got you!!

Chocolate is by far my favorite ingredient to work with.

As a pastry chef specializing in chocolate, it’s essential to understand the differences between couverture and compound chocolate.

These two types of chocolate have distinct characteristics that make them suitable for different applications in baking and pastry work.

Here’s an in-depth look at the differences, followed by some brand recommendations for each.

02/17/2025

Last week was a little crazy, so here I still posting Valentine’s Day cakes.

February is always crazy with my husband’s birthday and Valentine’s Day. But this year we threw in the Eagles Super Bowl win, an unexpected trip to the ER, kids school delays and countless doctor appointments.

I’m living for this sweet little L❤️VE cake. It has hand painted gold writing and red rice paper sails as accents.

02/16/2025

Raspberry Macaron Cake filled with Raspberry jam, fresh raspberries and Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream.

02/12/2025

Textures of LOVE

02/02/2025

💚🏈🦅 Order your Super Bowl Cupcakes!
Profits from this sale will be donated to the Eagles Autism Foundation 💚

All orders must be in by Wednesday Feb 5.
Pick up is Sunday Feb 9

To order, please fill out the Google form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8D8wa27wxd-iJgvy971dgS3Wo4IX6Zbh1h0f9ZKLQuGXvoA/viewform?usp=dialog

🦅🏈💚Go Birds! 💚🏈🦅

01/27/2025

🦅🏈💚 Super Bowl 2025!!! 💚🏈🦅

01/23/2025

🦅💚🧁 Join us February 23, 1-3 PM
For an afternoon of Cupcake decorating fun!
Markley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
550 E Fornance St
Norristown, PA 19401

For tickets
Venmo: Stephanie-Ennis-01
Please tell us how many tickets you are purchasing in the notes.

All money raised will be donated to Eagles Autism Foundation

12/25/2024

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! 🎄

✨ May your day be filled with love, joy, and warmth. I’m incredibly grateful for my friends, family, and all of you here. Wishing you a season full of happiness, laughter, and unforgettable moments! ❤️🎁

”

12/21/2024

After all these years, these are still some of my favorite Christmas desserts I’ve made.

These desserts would light up a dining room creating so much joy for guests.

They were a collaboration of many many talented culinary minds. I truly believe that is how you make the best dishes.

These desserts remind me of a time that I can look back on my career with joy and a lot of fun memories.

12/12/2024

50th birthday parties call for a little something extra!

This Great Gatsby inspired two tiered cake was a showstopper for sure.

This is a four layer 4 inch cake on top of a six layer 8 inch cake. For ease of serving I always split the six layer into two 3 layer cakes.

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!

8 months ago, I have 200 followers on this account. Now there are almost 28,000 of you!!

I’m so thankful for all of you who have joined me on this crazy journey of sharing my love of pastry.

❤️ Vanessa

11/23/2024

💫Galaxy 40th Cake 💫

8” Chocolate cake filled and iced in Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream.

Gold hand painted moon, stars and 40 .ice fondant. Mini white sprinkles, and gold stars from . I got the most amazing deep colors by always using gel colors.

✨Pro Tip: When using dark colors to ice your entire cake. Fully ice your cake in the flavored buttercream. Then come back and do a final thin coat with your dark colors. Your guests and clients will notice and thank you.

‼️No one wants to have a weird colorful mouth at a party, except if you are 10 and under. 😂

11/08/2024

This Apple Almond Tart is perfect for fall and winter.

Almond cake baked into a Pâte Sucrée tart shell. Layered with Granny Smith apples baked and brushed with spiced apple cider butter sauce. Served with mulled wine reduction and vanilla whipped cream.

Grab it at

11/06/2024

The funnest kids cake I’ve made for a very special little man turning 5!

Bowl of isn’t complete without a milk!

Both cakes are vanilla cake filled with cookies and cream buttercream, and iced in Swiss meringue buttercream.

Mini vanilla cupcakes with cookies and cream, buttercream and Apple Jacks garnish.

10/28/2024

The cutest little ghost s’more cookies ever!

Perfect for any Halloween party.

Graham cracker cookies, dark chocolate ganache, toasted vanilla bean marshmallows.

10/24/2024

🕷️ Nightmare Before Christmas Sugar Cookies with Skelton Jack 🕷️

I’m not the best with royal icing so I cut fondant circles out, used edible markers to draw the face, and set them on top of American buttercream.

🎃 Such an easy way to make a Halloween treat! 🎃

10/23/2024

Fall colors make the prettiest cakes.

This is one my favorite flavor combinations, pumpkin cake iced and filled with mascarpone cream cheese icing.

It’s ridiculously good!!

10/21/2024

Mermaids aren’t just for kids!

Elevating this mermaid cake to the next level with what else but gold ✨

Chocolate mermaid tails and shells were hand painted in gold, macarons were filled to look like a oysters, piping was added for depth.

10/19/2024

Every super kid needs a super hero birthday!!

Spidey is just hanging out with his best friends, fighting crime.

10/16/2024

Fall menu dropped this past week. It embraces all that is fall. A few additions are:

The Crow’s Nest:
Coffee mousse, candied almonds and coconut, with a chocolate cookie and chocolate pearls

Apple Almond Tart with Mulled Wine Reduction and Vanilla Whipped Cream

Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust and Vanilla Whipped Cream

Blackberry Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

10/15/2024

Great Scott this was a Great Cake to make!!

4 layer 6” cake on top of a 4 layer 8” cake.

Covered in blue fondant, hand painted lightning bolts, with edible image graphics.

Fondant: .ice
Board
White food gel
Car

10/14/2024

🔥 When a cake is too hot to handle!! 🔥

Usu no pallet knifes to create flames is one of my favorite looks.

10/11/2024

When you have a tiki party, you need a cake equally as cool. This 5 tiered waterfall cake even has a grotto. It wouldn’t be complete without a tiki head on top.

The rocks and sea shells were made from fondant, while the flowers were made from gum paste. My favorite part are the tiny torches.

10/10/2024

This caramel drip is everything!

If you are looking for flavor this Vanilla hazelnut caramel cake is where it’s at!!

Vanilla sponge cake with layers of hazelnut and caramel buttercream. Finished with this beautiful caramel drip. Garnished with toasted hazelnuts, caramel pieces, , and cookies

10/09/2024

Baked Chocolate Mousse was one of the first desserts I learned to make as a pastry cook. I’ve paired it with a Hibiscus Pour, Raspberries, Whipped Chocolate Ganache, Stracciatella Meringue, and Vanilla Microwave Sponge Cake.

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Videos

Do you wanna bake like the best? Then you need recipe recipes from the best!Welcome friends!!2025 is a new year and I’m dedicated to bring you more of my professional pastry recipes. All my recipes have been used in restaurants, cafes, bakeries and hotels. They are staples I have used over the past 20 years of my professional pastry chef career.Make sure you Follow @desserts.by.vanessa so you don’t miss anything.#baking #recipe #bakingrecipes #cakedecorating #pastrychef #bakingtips

When making buttercream flowers, I always use nature’s rule of odd numbers. I start by making the middle then add 3 petals, 5 petals and end with 7 petals. Depending on The size of flower I want I may add or eliminate one of these layers. For this rose, I’ve used an @ateco 104 rose piping tip.Follow @desserts.by.vanessa for more baking & pastry tips, tricks and recipes! #baking #cakedecorator #cakestyle #roses #buttercreamroses #baking #bakingtutorial

I Love You is always sweeter when it’s written on a cake ❤️💕I’m constantly laughing at myself in these videos. Just a reminder, to never take yourself too seriously. #cake #ValentinesDay #ValentinesDayChallenge #valentinescake #cakestyle #cakedecorator #baking

Red Velvet Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream is on the menu at our house this Valentine’s Day! ❤️#valentinesday #valentinescake #kidscake #cakedecorating #cakestyle #bakingtutorial #cake

Please tell me I’m not the only one!Yet again I’m reminded I am a pastry for a chef, and creator second.#oops #pastrychef #cakedecorating #cakeicing #buttercream #baking #creator

So satisfying, follow for more baking snd pastry content! 🤍💕#cakedecorating #cakedesign #cakesofinstagram #baking #pastrychef #pasty #buttercream

Your lava cake doesn’t have to be boring anymore! Flavor it with your favorite jam, ganache or puree! #lavacake #pastrychef #bakingtips #cakedecorating #bakingtipsandtricks #cakedesign #bakingtutorial #lavacake #valentines #valentinesdessert

Handmade chocolate truffles are so easy to make! 3 ingredients: dark chocolate, cream, cocoa powder. #chocolatelover #chocolate #chocolateganache #valentinesday #valentinesdessert

🍋🥐 I’m a girl who loves these Lemon Meringue Croissants. They make the best breakfast, once you make them you’re never going back to plain croissants again!#bakingrecipes #lemoncurd #foodmadefromscratch #baking #lemonmeringue #lemoncurd #easyrecipe #pastries #croissant

💫 These Cosmic Brownies will take you right back to your childhood! Soft brownies topped with chocolate ganache. #bakersoftiktok #cheflife #yummydesserts #nostalgia #cosmicbrownie #ganachebrownies #easyrecipe #easytomake