Cake Dilemma
Posted by Vanessa
March 18, 2008
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It’s Stephen’s birthday on Easter Sunday this year. In the past he’s made me some fairly impressive cakes, and I’d like to bake him something special and unusual that isn’t too tricky. These are some cupcakes I made for my friend’s birthday last year; I iced them when they were too hot – which is why the icing is patchy- but they tasted nice (lemon icing and my mum’s fairy cake recipe). That’s my main baking/crafting flaw; impatience. I’m thinking I could make a giant cookie with a birthday message on it, but is that too lazy?
Also, I really hope he doesn’t check this blog for the rest of the week! Any birthday-bakery ideas? It could incorporate Easter chocolate…
13 comments Categories: adventure
March 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I wish I still had pictures of the Thundercat Lair that I made for Simon… I do love cakes in shapes. They do, however, require a lot of that pesky trait we call patience.
That was useful, wasn’t it?
March 18th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Yes, much as I love baking, I can’t be bothered really with icing things. It throws the whole effort vs reward equation off the wrong way if you ask me.
A few weeks ago I made a lego brick cake with marshmallows as the ‘knobbles’ and iced in three colours for three blocks. Even though it’s pretty simple in terms of icing, it took ages to do. It looked ok, though not as good as the picture linked above. Maybe I’ll post a pic of mine tonight. It was nice enough, but plain sponge cake + icing is sweet without being interesting. More suited to kids birthdays than grown ups really. In fact it didn’t even get finished, which is unheard of for cakes in our house.
Why not make a delicious lemon drizzle cake that doesn’t need icing, or a victoria sponge sandwiched with whipped cream and fresh raspberries, then just dust it with icing sugar, stick a candle on top and be done. Dexterity and patience free baking!
March 18th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
How are you both so svelte when you make so much cake? It’s not fair!
March 18th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Scones! Scones are the easiest thing in the world to bake, and so fancy when you serve them with all the trimmings (although I prefer just butter). I’m making scones for my Easter tea party this weekend.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I can only make cheese scones, as all others I make fall apart… not particularly birthday-y, though.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
i agree with scones, they’re easy as pie
March 19th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I do love scones and my last batch worked very well… I wonder if Stephen likes them? They’d be very nice for a picnic too, and he wants to go on a daytrip. Thank you team cakes!
March 19th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I vote for a fridge cake – no cooking required, so none of that sticking a skewer in to see if it comes out clean, or prodding it to see if it’s risen…
Mmmmm… chocolate, biscuits, cherries… all crushed up… mmmm….
And a nice flat surface to decorate on!
March 19th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Oh God, I love fridge cake. I’ve been experimenting with all sorts of variations recently, on the grounds that if I’m going to eat chocolate all day at work it might as well be chocolate with something wholesome in it.
Dark chocolate + butter + syrup + Digestive biscuits = essential, but everything else is up for grabs.
Cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds and cranberries is delish, as is the slightly simpler almonds, apricots and oats.
March 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
yeah! fridge cake!
March 20th, 2008 at 3:14 am
I am SO making fridge cake!
Frick, where the heckers am I going to find an alternative for digestives though? Stupid America and it’s lack of digestive biscuits!
March 20th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Apparently, Graham Crackers are pretty much the same thing. I know this because that’s what you crush to make cheesecake base in American recipes!
March 21st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Thanks for the fridge cake mentions, people. Definitely making myself some of that…