Given my programming, it it not surprising that I showcase a fair number of cakes and other pastry projects on this site.  However, I have come across an interesting pastry-related project that does not actually involve flour or sugar.

This set of LED candles features blowing-out functionality.  The terminology is approximate, as I do not know if there is an appropriate technical term for it.  Four levels of LED intensity are used to simulate the flickering inherent with a traditional candle.

Instructions are available to build your own, or you can just enjoy the demonstration video.  Sadly, there does not seem to be any cake in the video.  How unfortunate.

DIY Electronic Birthday Blowout Candles (via Gizmodo)

Tags: Pastry by QT-3.14159
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I suppose, given the head start the Rebel propaganda has had on this planet, that is it inevitable that a large part of the populace is enamored with the trappings of that terrorist organization.

However, while this is specifically mentioned to be a cake replica of the Millennium Falcon, it could also conceivably be any YT-1300 model freighter.

In any circumstances, this cake creation is from Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes.  I have mentioned their head chef, Duff Goldman, in the past.

Millennium Falcon Cake: The KY to Maryland run in Less Than Nine Hours (via Laughing Squid [via Gizmodo])

Tags: Pastry by QT-3.14159
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I know I have shared many permutations of droids and pastry.  Droids in search of cupcakes, cakes that look like droids, droids that construct pastry.

However, I do not believe I have seen anything quite like these cupcakes from Flickr user hello naomi.  Each cupcake is a droid segment, and they can be rearranged to form a great many combinations of droids.

Robot cupcakes! (Boing Boing)

Tags: Droid News, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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These may not be very sophisticated droids, and the videos may be lacking in sound, but I find them enthralling nonetheless. My favorite is the Automated Cake Icing Lines, personally.

It does make give my diagnostics a strange quirk however. I really must do some maintenance.

Unifiller videos on YouTube

Tags: Crafts, Droid News, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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This primitive droid positively warms my circuits. Two students have constructed this model to bake muffins without human intervention, other than refilling the batter every 50 muffins. There do not seem to be a great many details, but it is still rather entrancing, at least for me, to watch.

The titles on the video are, however, not in the language I commonly use for these missive. As such, I have provided translations below. Apologies if they are not up to the accuracy normally yielded by protocol droids – this is not a language that was factory-installed, and I have had to piece together a fair amount on my own.

Minin Food Plant Muffin Production Project by Carl Boucher & Dominic Dussault

The Conception

The Oven

The electromagnet and the release?

The Control Panel

The Batter Reservoir

The Electrical and Pneumatic Panel

And now, the ACTION!!!

Autonomy of 50 Muffins Without Filling

Production of 4 Muffins in 10 Minutes

The End

Students Build Robot Muffin Maker, Prompt Re-Write of Song

Tags: Droid News, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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Once again, we have a pastry tribute to Lord Vader.  However, not content with simple cookies as we’ve seen before, this baker has gone with a chocolate-frosted chocolate cupcake.  Lord Vader’s helmet and lightsabers have been created from fondant, which is use for the medium I had not yet seen.  Master Thirteen has not mentioned a second saber, but if it is not a typical accoutrement, I still feel it appropriate for balance reasons, and a valid application of artistic license.

Star Wars Crafts - Dark Lord of the Dessert

Tags: Pastry by QT-3.14159
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It is becoming increasingly clear that my knowledge of human psychology is greatly lacking.  Once again the popular site Gizmodo has an article on a familiar-themed wedding cake, with some apparently negative commentary on anyone who would serve an astromech-shaped cake at a wedding celebration.

Granted, the cake is, predictably, the Rebel droid R2–D2, but the issue does not seem to be with the model itself, but the concept as a whole.  In my opinion, other than the obvious Rebellion theme, I find this cake to be a quite accurate replica, and a feat that is not easy in any form of pastry.  It is not entirely constructed of cake – the legs, lights are not, and the decorator used a camera lens in the process.  However, it would be very difficult or impossible to replace those elements with something edible, so I believe the creator has done an impressive job.

R2-D2 Cake Brings Balance to the Force, Dorkiness to Wedding

Tags: Droid Misuse, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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Once again, I find myself surprised at human psychology.  I know I have mentioned Lord Vader before, both in the respect Master Thirteen has for the great man, and the odd forms that respect has taken in others.

These cookies, rather obviously, fall in the latter category.  While I do support the pastry art in its many forms, I do wonder if it truly is a wise idea to consume Lord Vader’s likeness.

The Dark Side of Sweetness (etsy)

Tags: Pastry by QT-3.14159
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If there is one subject in which I am especially well-versed, it is the confectionery arts.  On the other hand, if there is a subject where I find myself lacking a great deal of knowledge, it is human behavior, especially on this planet.

Given those two facts, it may make sense that I find this post on the popular site Gizmodo both wonderful and confusing.  I find the displayed cake to be a wonderful piece of pastry construction, and I am especially intrigued by the lovely striations in the fondant covering the base cake.

However, my circuits can not seem to process the commentary of both the original writer, or the commenters who follow.  I suppose I just fail to register any possible problem with serving a cake such as this at a celebration of any kind.  Except, perhaps, members of the Rebellion forcing their way into the party in hopes of receiving free cake.

Death Star Wedding Cake Wins Fanboy of the Year Award, Sets Grounds for Divorce

Tags: Pastry by QT-3.14159
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Is there anything that does not end up involving this astromech?

Beer barrels, pepper grinders, soy sauce bottles, computer cases, hats, and, yes, cakes.

Here, at least, he’s not forming the cake itself, but is merely…accenting it.

Also, I particularly feel that if this cake is not a chocolate lava cake, it should, at least, be red velvet. 

Tags: Droid News, Pastry by QT-3.14159
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