Dear lists,

I need ideas to decorate a cake for Chinese New Year. Something simple and yet has the festive feel , as I will have to carry the cake with me in the bus for a two hours ride to another town . I am thinking of bright red colour with a golded touch. Help.

Stella
NZ

this is based on a particular Wilton pan only to get image of dog holding something.

I envision a sheet cake (easy to carry on bus) with dog image (the next chinese year is the year of the dog)

make the dog look like a pekinese if you can.

scroll is red

lettering should be in gold

here are the characters larger

Doug, you never cease to amaze with your ability to 'whip something up'!

This is a wonderful idea! Even the dog is perfect! I have some Chinese scrolls that have similar dogs on them, with the big eyes and all.

This one is over the top, but still
http://www.wilton.com/contests/yourtakeoncake/2005/index.cfm

I have a few photos saved for wedding cake ideas...

From Just Fabulous Pastries

I always bring an orange to my Chinese restaurant for their new year. They say it brings them good luck. Could do something like that.

Being that 2006 is the year of the Dog, why don't you make the cake red with chinese lettering on the side that says the year of the dog in gold and then put a figurine (edible or non edible) of a dog on top of it or just make a cake in the shape of a dog with red color and gold highlights.
There is a custom of giving red coin packets to kids for the chinese new year. You can make a cake in a rectangular shape (shape of the red coin packets) with red fondant (they sell fondant already red color) and have some coin (chocolate coins) coming out from the packet. then add a chinese symbol on top center of the cake in gold (you can get gold dust for the lettering). I've attached a picture of one of the lucky symbols used for chinese new year. This symbol means "Blessing, Good Fortune, Good Luck"

Thanks folk. I do like the lattern and red envelope ideas, and the mandarin orange as well. The dragon and peking dog probably out of reach for me. Well, I do have two weeks to plan and prepare the cake. I will post the final product on the site.

fyi: the pan I used in my illustration is available on eBay -- some for bid and other Buy It Now. it tends to be "pup"ular so, I'd look for BIN price that is affordable. search on: cake pan puppy