Monogram Cake

As promised, here is my latest cake! It's okay. Nothing too amazing but hey, it was just for practice. I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do (like string work) but I did get to try a new technique, called scroll work. Scroll work is drawing intricate designs on the cake with royal icing. I used tip 2, but I wonder if it would have looked better if I used tip 1. I couldn't think of anything creative for the center so I just did a monogram of my last name. I'm not too sure that it works. Oh well.
I also for the first time tried using what's called "moistening syrup." It is meant to add moistness as well as extra flavor. You can used liqueur, extract, or juice. I used apricot juice (I have a TON of them!). I just brushed the syrup on two layers with a pastry brush the before frosting them. I guess my syrup was too thick (it was as if I put jam on) plus apricots tend to have a mild flavor so I couldn't taste much of a difference. I want to try strawberry syrup next time! And I'll be sure it is more runny than the syrup I put on this cake was!

Yum! French Vanilla cake with apricot icing and moistening syrup.