Baking and Cake Decorating 2

Having found a few more photographs of my bakes, I thought I'd share them with you over a bowl of British Strawberries and a dollop of Nutella, yum!

My Birthday Cake: Based on the design for my 21st Birthday, I decided to do a similar cake for my 22nd. The cake was a chocolate and vanilla marble flavour with a chocolate buttercream filling. I then covered the cake with white icing, and then used the flowers, leaves and decorations to create a country garden theme. I then finished it with a vintage ribbon and lace, and voila! One very tasty birthday cake!

Millionaire's Shortbread: A delicious combination of shortbread, caramel and marbled chocolate, this shortbread is absolutely delicious. We generally only make it at Christmas, however this year I made it for my Boyfriend's Birthday too. He counts himself as a bit of a connoisseur, and happened to say mine was the best he had ever tasted...! But then he would!

Cupcakes Boxes: I had a couple of requests for cupcakes to be given as presents, and bought some pretty pink gingham boxes to display them in. I decided to make simple but beautiful vanilla cupcakes and concentrate on the decoration. I used swirls of coloured buttercream, and then sugarpaste decorations and edible glitter to finish my cupcakes. 

Christmas Cakes: I made some christmas cakes for prezzies last year, and decorated them with frosted cranberries and holly. I bought some pretty gold foil starry boxes to display them in to make pretty gifts. I also made some individual ones for my colleagues, and put them into individual perspex boxes with ribbon ties.

Nigella's Sticky Chocolate Gingerbread: I made this Nigella recipe for my Grandpa's Birthday, and I think it was met with lip-smacking approval. It is a very dark and soft gingerbread, flavoured with cloves and chocolate chunks to counteract the christmassy taste of the Ginger. The icing is a mix of chocolate, icing sugar and ginger ale, and the sweetness is a lovely contrast against the sticky cake. Nigella said that this cuts into 12 pieces, however I cut mine a lot smaller, and I think a taste of this cake is really all you need.