Baking Blog

The Birthday Girl

Like me, you may be thinking with the colder weather and dark nights coming in that you might take up a hobby to get you through the Winter. Lately, thanks to a persuasive friend, I've been inspired to get baking, which I may make my new hobby as I really enjoyed it! Don't get me wrong, I've been baking since my school days but always stuck with safe and not too fiddly bakes. For example, I think I can safely say I can whip up a pretty decent batch of scones or a Victoria sponge but something I have always avoided is cake decorating...a dusting of icing sugar was my limit!

My recent baking adventures all started when my daughter's first birthday was approaching and I was bemoaning the lack of exciting birthday cakes out there (within my budget) for a little girl's first party. My friend who could easily be crowned Bake Off's "Star Baker" suggested I make one! My instant reaction was 'no way'. I had flashbacks of some gingerbread bears and cupcakes I once made for a Children In Need Bake Sale. I got so fed up with the decorating part (lack of patience for anything that's not "convenience") that they looked a sight!

Cupcake decorating

Happy with the finished product...and tasted great too!

After much convincing I agreed to the said challenge. I was pretty nervous, yet excited about this venture and turned to Pinterest immediately. We narrowed down the cakes we liked the look of and somehow I picked what looked to be the most complicated, although I was assured it would be easy.

Nearly there!

...and we did it!!

Mallow pops

chequerboard vanilla & chocolate sponge

After two marathon baking sessions and more eggs and butter than I've seen before, we had created two vanilla and chocolate chequerboard cakes. These were layered with buttercream and smothered in Italian meringue. The hardest part was to come, after colouring it, the icing had to be rolled and put on the cakes then the fiddly, time consuming decoration would take place. Like I said this was the part I dreaded and have to confess I ended up avoiding that as my friend was left with said job (I think she was secretly relieved! haha) I was disappointed in a way that I hadn't conquered this part of my baking fears but the first part has motivated me to do it all again and tackle it all.

We also managed to produce 36 pink sparkly cupcakes.  This was down to a measurements mishap as it was supposed to be 12 cupcakes but obviously 36 was a much better outcome. These having been in my existing repertoire were fine, in fact very tasty. I did ice them with a piping bag which was a first though.  As if I hadn't had enough of all things sugary I made some mallow pops late the night before the party. These were nice and easy but effective. I melted some milk and white chocolate, dipped the marshmallows in the chocolate then into different sprinkles. Although a bit too sweet for me, I really like the look of these for a kids' parry so will make them again.

My auntie made this cake for her granddaughter
just days after my cake. It seems it wasn't
just me who was feeling adventurous!

So all in all a very worthwhile and successful feat. I probably won't be buying birthday cakes again in the future and I may even attempt some more complicated treats during these long dark nights.  The DWS team will be pleased I'm sure :-)