Cake Club: A Slice Of Summer & More!

The summer sun has arrived and before the Cake Club took it’s annual summer break, we indulged in an afternoon of cakes (yay!)

Following my latest cake decorating class, I wanted to practice my new icing skills and practice it certainly was! I also wanted to bake a new and different flavour cake and after some summery thoughts, I decided I wanted to incorporate strawberries. This lead me to think about what went well with strawberries…and basil sprung to mind! Strawberries and basil cake it would be (recipe to follow in a separate post I promise)!

Everyone made a terrific effort in their cake ideas, and as well as my strawberries and basil cake there was a choice of chocolate ganache cake, coconut cake, disaronno cheesecake, cupcakes and scones (with jam and clotted cream). We all enjoyed the offerings and I think everyone likes the idea of not knowing what will be on offer at each (home) Cake Club.

Once again we weren’t without topics of conversation and as the next Cake Club won’t be until the Autumn there will be a lot to discuss by October 😉

Cake Club: The Longest Yet…!

We achieved a new all-time record at this Cake Club…

This month’s Cake Club was lovingly suggested by a fellow Cake Clubber and I was very happy for the suggestion! We went to the Aspers Casino in Westfields for afternoon tea, and we were even more delighted on arrival that it was on an introductory offer at half the price – result!

There was a nice-looking spread of cakes, sandwiches and scones for us to share and although it wasn’t the most appealing afternoon tea in taste – the company and atmosphere more than compensated for it! We were enjoying ourselves so much that time escaped us and we ended up staying for cocktails too!

And what a treat they were! By the time Cake Club called it a day, the sun had gone to sleep and nightlife was beginning to get started! 😉 We had a great time and cannot wait for the next time when we get to put the world to rights again.

CAKE CLUB RATING: 3/5

Cake Club: Cheesecake Battles!

Okay so I’m a week late, but it doesn’t change what a delightful Cake Club it was…

Once again the spread was plentiful and appetising. Everyone made an effort to bring something different and decadent to the table. This time I decided to opt for a cheesecake! So I thought a Chocolate and Baileys cheesecake (far right) would be well received by the ladies – recipe to follow in another post! It was one of the easiest cheesecakes to make and was very tasty – a definite crowd pleaser. However I wasn’t the only person to bring a cheesecake along – novice baker Tracy (her words not mine!) also delivered an Oreo Cookie cheesecake – which got just a lot of Mmmm’s.

There was also Carrot Cake, Banana Cake, Cherry and Almond cake, Lemon and Strawberry cake, Pineapple Cake and Banoffee tarts – the choice was again overwhelming, even for me! However the supreme winner this time was Tracy and her Oreo Cheesecake. I also kept my promise and delivered the last winner’s (Julie) chosen Malteaser cake. This time the prize for Tracy is that we’ll be treating her to a cake at our next “Restaurant” Cake Club. Well done Tracy – can’t wait to taste your next creation! 😉

Hello Spring…Goodbye Winter’s Treasures (Cakes)!

Despite the cold days and dark nights, winter brought many pleasures in the cake / dessert form…

As I am never one to miss out on a good dessert, this has still been one of the niceties that I have enjoyed during the winter months. And as well as baking A LOT more in recent months, I have enjoyed my fair share of sweet cuisine made by others. Here’s a few of the favourites which have included cupcakes from Buttercup Cake Shop, cookie dough cake from Bella Italia Restaurant, Levi Roots’ ginger and pecan brownies, salted caramel and chocolate torte and chilli chocolate brownies from The Manor House.

You can probably see there’s a theme of chocolate in a lot of the tasty treats that I’ve had, and I would say that chocolate is definitely an attraction for me, but then I expect a lot from that dessert because of it! Now that we’re having warmer days and nights, my sweet palate will only get intensify – it will now be that time of year when cheesecakes and eton messes will make a grand appearance – hooray!! 🙂   

Cake News: Tenants Contracts Landlord To Give Them Birthday Cakes

This is a very amusing news story  and it relates to cake…

The Mail Online reported this week that some imaginative tenants were sent a rental agreement contract to sign by their landlord – but instead of a locked PDF, the property-owner sent an editable Word document. In turn the opportunistic pair added an extra clause to the contract – the provision of birthday cakes on both of their respective birthdays – which the landlord then unwittingly signed.

The tenants even stipulated that the birthday cakes must not be vanilla flavour – haha!

See a copy of the contract here that has spread like wild-fire online.

It’s a reminder to us all that we should read anything before we sign it. Let’s hope that the landlord knows a good baker!

Mother’s Day Special: Milk Tray Cake

Who doesn’t love the idea curling up with some yummy chocolates…

As Mother’s Day was approaching I wanted to create a “wow” cake for my lovely Mum. My first thoughts were chocolates and but I didn’t want it to be just any ordinary chocolate cake. After some thought and research I decided that this indulgent cake should have as many chocolates as I could possibly fit on it!

I opted for a nutella sponge which gave the cake a slight hazelnut flavour and the chocolate buttons supported my mission of “chocolate overload”.  

She was surprised and delighted by the Milk Tray chocolate cake!

Cake Club:The Christmas Festivities Begin…

The year is nearly at a climax, but the cake indulgence has just began for the season…

This was the last cake cub of the year, and it wasn’t too difficult finding the right venue. Leytonstone’s Horizon Patisserie catered for our every need and the staff were friendly and accommodating. We were spoilt for choice on the dessert and food offerings, and I had no choice but to take a “doggy-bag” with me!

Once again this was a place that many of the cake clubbers have pass before, but never realised what was inside…Everyone enjoyed their sweet treats – including my toddler! It was a nice venue to start the Christmas celebrations in and somewhere I would definitely visit again. Merry Yum!! 🙂 

CAKE CLUB RATING: 4.5/5

Cookies & Cream Brownies – Recipe

This recipe is a hit with any oreo cookie lover…!

I recently needed a “quick” brownies recipe, and rather than sticking to my tried and trusted Hummingbird Bakery recipe, I turned to another favourite chef – Lorraine Pascale. The idea of the oreo cookies submerged in this chocolate moistness seemed ideal! Although in reality this recipe wasn’t much quicker, it did still please the hungry brownies crowd, and made a nice change with it’s slight twist! 

Ingredients
165g/5½oz butter, plus extra for greasing
200g/7oz dark chocolate, grated or finely chopped
3 free-range eggs
2 free-range egg yolks
1 vanilla pod, seeds only (or alternatively 2 tsp vanilla extract)
165g/5½ oz soft light brown sugar
2 tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
pinch salt
154g/5½oz pack chocolate biscuits, such as Oreos, broken into quarters
icing sugar, for dusting

Equipment
You will need a 20cm/8in square baking tin.

Preparation method
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease a 20cm/8in square baking tin with butter, then line with baking paper with the paper overlapping the sides a little.

Melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat. When the butter has melted, remove the pan from the heat and add the grated (or chopped) chocolate. Leave to stand for a few minutes, or until the chocolate melts, and then stir together. Alternatively, you can put the chocolate and butter in a bowl and melt in the microwave in 25-second blasts, stirring well each time.

Whisk the eggs, egg yolks and vanilla together in a large bowl until the eggs begin to get light and fluffy. Add the sugar in two additions, whisking between each. Pour it around the side of the egg mix so as not to knock out the air that has been whisked in. Keep whisking until the mixture becomes stiffer. Once the egg mixture is ready, pour the chocolate into it – again around the sides so as not to knock the air out.

Add the flour, cocoa powder, salt and a third of the biscuits and stir until fully combined, then pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Scatter the remaining biscuits over the top, pressing them in slightly. Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25–30 minutes. The middle should be very so slightly gooey. Leave the brownies to cool in the tin – the top will sink and crack a little.

Pull the brownies out using the overlapping paper and cut into squares. Dust with icing sugar.

Club Cake: Amour De Gâteau (Cake Love) at Nice Croissant!

The Cake Club were treated to a delightful range of cakes and mouth-watering pastries at Nice Croissant (Wanstead) recently…

Once again we were given a taste of a continental life at this french patisserie! We enjoyed the home-baked goodies prepared on the premises by the very charming and accommodating chef and staff.

The chef was so keen on our club gathering that he gave us samples of his best cakes (see above), and they were indeed so moreish that the entire group bought treats to take home. The other show-stopper of the day was the “Ultimate Sausage Roll”, and  this was in such huge demand by all the visitors that it had sold out before we had even finished our delicacies.

My toddler was a honorary and “very welcomed” guest at Cake Club this time, and approved greatly of the chocolate brownie (see the evidence below).

This place was a gem of a find, and somewhere that definitely requires more than one visit…! 

CAKE CLUB RATING: 4.5/5

Cake Club: This Is Not Just Any Cake…This Is M&S Cake!

Although I have been tardy with my blog posting lately, we did have another “Cake Club Adventure” last month…

This time we took over the plush sofas at the M&S Cafè in Westfield, Stratford City. Once again we had a blast of a time eating all of the sugary and savoury treats that were on offer. As well as amusing ourselves with topical discussion and critiquing our choices of cakes. Although the M&S Cafè didn’t have the same elaborate choices that other venues have had, they were simple and tasty…

The “Cake Of The Month” – chocolate cake seemed popular amongst the group, and the carrot cake was a close second favourite. We all agreed that cost wise this has been the cheapest gathering yet, however this was the first one where I needed dinner afterwards. -_- With days until the next “Cake Club Outing” this one will be remembered for it’s coziness, and having the ‘M&S Factor!’

Cake Club Rating: 3/5