Christmas Cakes

Here are my Christmas offerings.  I baked 4 fruit cakes at the same time in my Alan Silverwood folding 12" square tin and used the dividers to batch bake 4 x 6" squares.  I left them a few weeks before putting on my marzipan and then, after a few days allowing that to dry a bit, applied white sugar paste to 2 and navy blue to the other 2.  This is the result.  Hubby did the snowflake one which I think was simple but effective.  Square cakes are trickier to cover than round ones, but I didn't do too badly.  Santa and his sleigh were made using a patchwork cutter.  My Mum sat and patiently cut that out and so the pieces had dried out and were ready to assemble so I had the easy bit.  Christmas candle cakes were inspired by a bigger design in Cake magazine from a couple of years ago.  I added a few ideas of my own, but I think it turned out to be quite effective.  Hubby picked up some really nice boards and presentation boxes from A Piece of Cake so that cakes could be presented to Grandmother's and parents.

Angry Birds

Another year has passed and another party for Leo.  This time, the theme is Angry Birds as I suppose that must be all the rage.  I just about know what it is although I'm not down with the kids of today, so some Googling was required.

This is what I came up with in the end, although my piping went somewhat wonky.  Not my strongest point my piping!  Leo was happy with it and so was his Mum and the guests at his bowling party so I guess mission accomplished none-the-less.  It was a chocolate sponge cake which was apparently tasty, so it's all good.  Fancy being 5 already! Wow!

Under Pressure

Wedding cakes are always a bit of a worry because they have to be just so for that special day.  Agreeing to take on a commission to make the Managing Director's daughters wedding cake probably wasn't all that wise a move for a stress free wedding cake was it?  I think it turned out OK.  Hopefully the bride and groom will be happy.

Oooh Baby!

Zoe's baby shower cake.  Go faster pram!  ha ha!  Mum to be was chuffed with this.  Nice!

Ma & Pa's Ruby Wedding

Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad.  40 years!  Imagine that.  Pleased with this one.  Tried a few new things that I somehow managed to pull off, so that's good!  Recessed jelly gem hearts were a bit of a gamble, it's a bit scary gutting through the sugar paste, but it worked well in the end.  Not sure I'd be so confident to try that with a sponge cake though.  This one was fruit so had marzipan underneath.  I guess I'd have to put a thin layer on underneath on sponge then cover and cut through.

Wedding Lace

Phew!  I've finally finished my cousin's wedding cake.  I do hope she likes it as she has given me a pretty free rein to do what I think.  Creative control let's call it.  I hope this should fit in with the colour scheme and have a good nod to the themes and personal touches of their wedding day.

I'm pleased anyway, so fingers crossed!  Just has to get down to Bath without incident now.  Should be OK.  I can recommend the big sturdy boxes for stacked cakes.  I think Culpit make them and I've used them before when I've had to transport a cake myself.  They're expensive but it means that the cake can be protected and carried safely.

Raise a glass to Sara & George!

Jo xxx

Flower Power

This week has been sugar flower mental!  I've been busy making flowers for this pink rose spray for me old china Paul's Silver Wedding Anniversary and also making even more roses for my cousin's wedding cake.  It's fiddly stuff but the results were quite pleasing.  He's just been to collect the cake (which is  pretty heavy as it's a fruit cake but then it should be OK - not like he's going to bench press it!) and he seemed to think it was alright, typical bloke reaction really.  ha ha!  Anyway, not the best at piping lettering etc, but on the whole the cake looks good I think.  Hopefully it'll taste good too.  Many congratulations guys and have a cracking party tomorrow!  Hopefully I'll get the job for your Ruby Wedding Anniversary too eh?  ha ha!  Right!  Best get busy again with wedding cake decorating.  Cakes are like buses........  xx    More pics on flowers and toppers page.

Happy Birthday Lauren

This 21st cake was today's completed project.  It's chocolate sponge in 2 layers with a chocolate butter cream filling.  Squares are the worst to cover but they went reasonably well.  Just hope that Lauren likes her cake for her big Birthday party.  Making the bow was tricky and I'm sure there must be a better way to do it.  Some research may be required.  Overall I'm happy with how it turned out and hopefully it'll taste nice too.

Show & Tell

I've set up this blog with a view to showing, those who are interested, my creations as they evolve.  People do ask me to make stuff and I generally do cakes for friends, family and folks associated with those circles.  I did set up a website with a proper "web" address but doing that costs money so, since this is more a hobby than a commercial venture, I figure that a blog will do the job just as well.

Jo xx