Sleeping Beauty - A Cake fit for a Princess

Meet Sleeping Beauty, my latest cake to order. A lovely sponge with homemade icing and a buttercream filling. My brief (from my 4 year old client) was 'Princess' and 'Purple'. After some interrogation I discovered that Sleeping Beauty was her current favourite so that narrowed the field a bit. I was under strict instructions to get her hair right though. No pressure.

Do you know how many cake makers cheat when they make Princess cakes? Humph. You wouldn't catch me buying a doll instead of making my own. Which sounds great as a moral stand point - until you start making the icing and moulding it into a little figure.

I'm quite pleased with the end result though. Let me know what you think. And of course if you'd like me to make one for your little princess you know where to find me. Email me here.

The Teddy Bear's Picnic

I've been a little remiss in my blogging. Busy with commissions, and children of course. I'm back though so hello, I'd like to introduce you to my new friends, the Teddies. They're exacting little fellas, when we have them over I have to make everything for them by hand - jam tarts, macaroons, swiss roll, gateau, even the china.

Don't they look good enough to eat? I'm glad you agree as I made this for one of my latest commissions - a 3 year old birthday party. It went down very well (in both visual and digestive terms).
If you'd like me to make you a cake, well, you know where I am (here) so give me a shout.

Stars, Spots, Stripes and Victoria Sponge

The lady I made this cake for wasn't very specific when she placed her order. Usually I'd start with a photo, picture, figure or specific theme. My brief for this one was to come up with something different, original, 'out of this world.'  Where do you start? It's for an adult so little green men and UFO's didn't seem quite appropriate.

Instead I took inspiration from the birthday girl who loves all thing blue, stripey and/or spotty. It was as easy as pie (well cake) after that. I can't help feeling that this could be the inspiration for any Jubilee orders next year. A little bit of red in all the layers and maybe some white in the stars and I think we've got something very special indeed.

White Chocolate Truffle Gateau

White Chocolate Truffle Gateau with Coffee and Kahlua Butter Cream and home-made white chocolate truffles. Not just any gateau, a Mamma Makes Cakes gateau!.

My first Christmas party of the season yesterday and I supplied the cakes. Santa and Rudolf Christmas Cake, Christmas Cup Cakes and a White Chocolate Truffle Gateau with homemade chocolate truffles. I was a bit nervous about the reaction that they were going to receive but it could not have gone any better.

Time is getting on a bit for Christmas orders but if you're in charge of pudding for the big day and would like some help please do give me a shout!

Let it Snow, let it snow, let it snow

Inspired by the lyrics of Sammy Cahn;

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

And here is my snowy homage to Christmas. It's a simple affair but I think you'll agree its got it all, snow, Santa, Reindeer and a Snowman. What a winter wonderland. Again, last orders for Christmas cakes is the first week of December and this one starts at £60. Give me a shout if you need anything :-)

Santa's Secret Christmas Snooze

I've been slaving away in the kitchen like one of Santa's elves making cakes for my Christmas orders. If I'm honest I lost my mojo a bit and was almost crippled with self-doubt. Then my friend (of Kitty-Gate fame) plyed me with copius bottles of Rioja and I as wobbled my way home I realised that the only way to conquer your fears is to confront them head on.

Out came my baking book and before I knew it the Spirit of Christmas was back and the fairy dust was flying. Well the edible glitter anyway. I'm pretty pleased with the results, this first one is for a party next week, I hope everyone likes it.....

By the way its not quite too late to place your orders for a Christmas cake. This one starts at £60. Give me a shout if you need anything.

Shaun the Sheep

I lost sleep over Shaun the Sheep. I loved making him for my latest commission and I was really pleased with the end result. The problem was - the photo! I don't know what was going on yesterday but my friend tells me it was a full moon. I'm not usually superstitious about these things but I'd swear that my Shaun got a bit of the curse of the old were-sheep. He certainly didn't like being photographed.

I took a great photo on my digital camera but the Creative Director got hold of it. How an almost 3 year old can find a way to permanently delete a file is beyond me. She is surely a technical genius. So there I was, all blogged up and no photo to show.

And then Mama Kitty Gate stepped in. Well Papa technically. A little bit of technical wizardry, fairy dust, a 1-2-3 and here we are. I'm really proud of him and I'm pleased to say so was the birthday boy. I'm happy to welcome Shaun to the Mamma Makes Cakes Menagerie.

So, if you need a cake, you know who to ask - email me on mammamakescakes@hotmail.co.uk.

No ewes. lambs or rams were harmed during the writing of this blog update.