Naked Wedding Cake

For my first wedding cake of the year I was asked to create a "naked" cake. This is a cake that isn't covered in sugarpaste so you can see the sponge layers underneath. It's typically decorated with fresh fruit and flowers. This style of cake produces a perfect rustic cake and in this case it was just perfect for the beautiful barn location. 

After the usual cake tasting the couple decided to go with vanilla, chocolate, lemon and red velvet, from the bottom up. As the cake isn't covered it's essential to have the sponge as fresh as possible to prevent them being dry. Usually the sugar paste will seal the cake in and you have a week, in this case I baked the sponge the day before. In some ways this is nice as the cake is done over a short time, however, I describe it as high stress over 2 days rather than medium stress over a week!! 

The day before I went out and purchased all the red fruit I could find, this was strawberries, raspberries, cherries, red grapes and blueberries. My first task was to wash all the fruit and leave it to dry. I didn't have much!! 

All my fruit drying

Once my sponge was made and cooled I sliced and filled each layer with butter icing. I also cut a small dip out the top so that each layer sat flush on each other, otherwise you'd see a silver board between each layer which I didn't want. I also dowelled each layer making sure that it would support the cake above.

Vanilla cake, sliced and filled with butter icing and jam. 

Remaining 3 cakes ready to go. 

Once I got to the venue my task was to assemble it all. I was relieved that the cakes all slotted on to each other beautifully and flat. I then set about putting all the fruit around the cake. I used cocktail sticks to support the larger fruits and balanced the smaller ones around. I had also previously made some sugar roses to put on the cake. So I slotted these around as well. 

Finished Cake at the venue

View of the top of the cake

I was really pleased with this cake and it turned out the best I could imagine. I drove away from the venue feeling great pride. I also got a lovely thank you card from the couple and some really lovely comments. I couldn't have asked for any more. 

If you're looking for a cake for any occasion please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Anniversary Cupcakes

I was asked to create some cupcakes for a 60th wedding anniversary. I was asked to make red and white roses and to use edible lace in the design. I drew up a few designs and after some discussions we agreed in 4 main designs and 3 different flavours. 

So I created 20 cupcakes which were flavoured lemon, chocolate and vanilla. 

Using edible lace mats I made up various designs and used these to decorate the cupcakes. I piped along the edges of some to add more definition. I had made the roses out of flower paste, this was more of a challenge than usual as they were so small but after a few practices I got it sorted. I made red and white roses. 

Those cakes with roses I piped in the opposite colour in a "birdcage" effect. 2 of the cupcakes I decorated with edible diamonds to represent the diamond anniversary. 

Vintage Cupcakes

I was pleased with how these cupcakes came out and I hope my customer enjoyed them. I believe they fit the brief. I'm pleased to have this order so I can show that I can make cupcakes too. 

If you're looking for cakes, for any occasion including weddings to birthdays, please get in touch to discuss your requirements. 

Edible Lace and Roses

Bows and Swags

For my 3rd display cake I wanted to introduce some colour so I decided to go for a yellow/orange cake. I used 2 dummies, 8" and 10", and covered them in coloured sugar paste. 

To trim the cake I first decided to try with a shell pattern along the bottom of the cake, but I didn't like it so off that cake and I replaced with with some ribbon. I actually used 2 ribbons on this cake, a cream underneath and then a white ribbon on top. 

To decorate the cake I decided to make some swags out of modelling paste. I marked up the cake to ensure they would be even, marking the bottom with 8 swags and the top with just 6. I wanted the top layer to not be lined up with the bottom so I shifted the pattern around slightly on that one. Once the lines were marked I stuck the swags on top and left them to dry. 

Swags with a button

To cover up the joining of the swags I made some buttons using a mould. I then sprayed this silver and stuck them on top of the joins. 

For the top of the cake I decided to make a large bow. I used my ribbon cutter to make strips of icing with a stitching line down the edges. I then stuck and shaped on the top of the cake. 

Bow with a button

This cake is relatively easy to make but I think the design is very effective and not something I'd normally do. What do you think? 

Finished Cake

Finished Cake

Finished Cake

Cascade Wedding Cake

I needed to make 4 display cakes for the upcoming wedding fairs I'm attending and I decided I needed to try and choose a few different styles. This cake was to showcase my flowers and to be quite luxurious. 

I used 3 tiers of polystrene dummies, 6", 8" and 10",  and covered them in white sugar paste. I trimmed each layer with some purple ribbon to cover the edges and bring a little colour on to the cake. 

I then set about making the flowers, these took me 3 days of work as I made several. I wanted to make a variety so I made Ivy Leaves, Rose Leaves, Roses, Carnations, Freesia and Jasmine. 

Lots of flowers in the making

I then started to make the topper of the cake, so I taped together some of the flowers and placed these in a flower pick on the top. 

Cake topper completed

Next job was the cascade down the side. I started by lining these up on the table in roughly the right arrangement. 

Trail of flowers

And then the biggest challenge was taping this together. I started with the Ivy as the bottom layer and held this against the cake to check it was ok. 

Checking out the Ivy

And then I fitted everything else into this. I built it up flower by flower trying to make sure everything was solid and a strong structure. I did place a couple of flower picks to support the roses as these were really heavy and toppling slightly. Once it was all taped I then attached it to the top and placed it on the cake. 

Cascade attached

I then needed to cover the board at the bottom, place ribbon on the bottom layer and put some flowers on the bottom. These were attached to the board so could only be done last. The final job was to place a few unwired ivy leaves on the cake to cover up the plastic flower picks and finish the cake off nicely. 

Cake all finished. 

The Future

Now that I'm back on my feet and able to do much more baking, my mind has now naturally progressed to the future. I would love to use my baking as the basis to a small business with either baked goods or creating celebration cakes. I have now added an enquires page to my blog so that people know I available for orders in the Sussex area. I'm willing to make whatever is requested and, for the time being, it'll be at the price of the ingredients. 

I need to raise my profile and do more practice,this is why I'm taking every opportunity to practice designing cakes and learning new skills. I would love to take some courses but for now I'll continue working on these things myself from books and magazines. I hope that some of you think that my cakes have potential and would be willing to buy these in the future. 

Along these lines, Gary and I have been designing logos this weekend and we'd like some input. There are 4 below and we'd like to know which is your favourite and portrays my baking business. If anyone has some better ideas, please feel free to send me that too.

Top left is 1, Top right is 2, bottom left is 3 and Bottom left is 4.