Three Tiered Celebration Cake

A three tier cake for any special occasion; a wedding, a birthday or a random celebration.                                     

It has everything you could ask for in a cake. 

The first layer is a simple but delicious vanilla sponge with a glorious butter cream filling and a white chocolate ganche covering. Layer two is a coffee sponge with buttercream filling and milk chocolate ganche frosting and finally theres the chocolate sponge with buttercream and rich dark chocolate ganche. 

The cake is then finished with shards of dark and white chocolate and milk chocolate cigarellos and shavings, then topped with ganche covered strawberries. 

Its exciting but elegant and provides people with a good amount of choice on flavour, suiting even the pickiest of diners. 

Now, I have to be honest here and say, this was not entirely the design I was first creating. I had planned to cover the outside of the cake in chocolate cigarillos. However, I wanted to make them myself instead of buying them. I began making milk chocolate cigarellos, until I quickly realised this may take days to make around 300 that I needed to cover each cake. That is when I changed the design to chocolate shards. 

Ingredients:

Small vanilla sponge:

100g Butter

100g Sugar

2 Eggs

100g Self-raising Flour

1/2 tsp Baking powder

1 tsp Vanilla extract

 Medium Coffee sponge:

150g Butter

150g Sugar

3 Eggs

150g Self-raising Flour

1/2 tsp Baking powder

2 tsp Strong Coffee

Large Chocolate Sponge:
300g Butter

300g Sugar

6 Eggs

300g Self-raising Flour
1 tsp Baking powder
50g Cocoa Powder

 Buttercream:
140g Butter
280g Icing Sugar
1-2 tbsp Milk

Method

1) Make each cake by creaming the butter and sugar, adding the eggs one at a time then folding in the flour (add in the extra ingredient for each flavour) then bake at 180C for around 20 - 30 minutes.

 2) Then, leave each cake to cool and then add the butter cream filling in the middle. 

    3) Add the Chocolate Ganche to each cake (white chocolate on the vanilla sponge, milk chocolate on the coffee sponge and dark chocolate on the chocolate sponge). Apply two layers, then stack the cakes.

 4) Create the dark and white chocolate shards, by melting chocolate onto acetate, spread evenly out and then freeze for 20 minutes and then break up.

5) Add the milk chocolate cigarillos/flakes and strawberries and viola the cake is finished. 

Oatmeal and Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

The perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. 

These are fun treats that combine a sweet fluffy filling with chewy textured biscuits. Use this recipe for the oatmeal biscuits without the filling and they are just as delicious. They are perfect for a sweet snack, lunch boxes or even long dog walks as I found out! 

What's more, if you're not a fan of chocolate fillings, there are plenty more options to choose from, such as, peanut butter filling, marshmallow filling, white chocolate and cream cheese. Creating a variety of fillings would make a more exciting and attractive array of biscuits for guests or parties. 

Ingredients

Oatmeal biscuits:

- 175 g self-raising flour

- 75 g porridge oats

- 175 g granulated sugar

- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 175 g butter

- 2 tbsp golden syrup

Chocolate Fudge Ganche (used in previous recipe)

Method:

1) Put the flour, oats, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into a mixing bowl.

2) Put the butter into a bowl and melt (either in the microwave or on the stove), add the golden syrup.

3) Combine the dry and wet ingredients, to form a dough. 

4) Make 2 pound coin sized circles, place on baking tray and cook for 10mins at 180C.

5) Place cookies on cooling rack and leave till completely cooled. Make the chocolate fudge ganche. 

6) Once cooled add the filling to one side and place another cookie on top.

Vanilla, Coffee and Chocolate Cake

Its here..... the solution to choosing what type of cake you fancy eating. 

This cake gives you everything in one; vanilla, coffee, chocolate and chocolate fudge ganche icing. Believe me, it's irresistible. 

Thankfully, I had a couple nieces who spotted it and instantly wanted a piece. 

Don't expect this cake to stay around for long!

It's perfect for a special occasion such as a birthday celebration or even just a sunday afternoon tea treat with friends or family. 

What's more, its not difficult, there's no complicated ingredients, it's your average sponge cake with added flavours, so why not give it a go, it's eye catching and very tasty!

Ingredients: (need another half measure of all ingredients)

• 120 g / 4 oz Self raising flour
• 120 g / 4 oz Butter - softened
• 120 g / 4 oz Caster Sugar
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 2 medium eggs

Method:

(Make one mixture and half it before adding the 2tbspns cocoa powder to one half and 2 tbspn strong coffee to the other half.)

1) Cream the butter the sugar until light and fluffy

2) Add the eggs one at time

3) Fold in the flour.

4) Separate the mixture, add 2 tbspns cocoa powder to one half and 2 tbspn strong coffee to the other half

5) Put into greased cake tins.

For the Vanilla sponge, just half the ingredients above and follow the same method. 

6) Put all cakes in the oven for 30 minutes at 160C.

7) Take out and remove from tins to cool completely.

 Chocolate Fudge Ganche Filling

• 125ml double cream
• 150g good quality plain chocolate
• 100 grams Fudge (optional) otherwise just add 50grams more chocolate and 50 grams butter.

1) Melt together in a bowl over a low heat.

2) Leave to cool for 30 mins

3) Layer the cake with frosting as below:

Start with the chocolate cake on the bottom, then add a layer of frosting on top. Then add the coffee cake and frosting.

Top with final layer of Vanilla cake 

Add the frosting to the top of the cake. Then using a palette knife, apply to the sides of the cake.

Double Chocolate Shortbreads

Wanting a chocolate fix at Easter time but you're sick of chocolate eggs and easter bunnies??

Why not make these delicious chocolate shortbreads?!

They require only 5 of your basic store cupboard ingredients and I'm sure at this time of year you could find some chocolate somewhere if you're quick! 

They are melt in your mouth beauties that go perfectly with a glass of warm milk.

Coffee and Chocolate Marble Cake with Marzipan Surprise

Marble Cake..... what a beauty!


You get both chocolate and vanilla sponge = perfect, no compromise.


I decided to adapt the recipe to add a hint of coffee into the chocolate sponge and add marzipan into both layers to make it that bit more exciting. 


This cake is perfect for a lazy sunday afternoon with a cup of tea or coffee! 


Ingredients:
                                                   Serves: 10

250g- Plain flour

2 teaspoons- Baking powder

1/2 teaspoon- Salt

200g- Caster sugar

125g- Butter, softened

2- eggs

1 teaspoon- Vanilla extract

250ml- Milk

2 tablespoons- Cocoa powder

2 tablespoons- Intense Coffee

50g- Marzipan (cut into chunks) 

Gooey Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

aka "Boyfriend Birthday Cake"

Call me old school, but I just love baking someone a birthday cake and isn't the way to a mans heart through their stomach? or is that just an old wife's tale??

Either way, when my friend suggested baking her boyfriend a cake (Happy Birthday Will) I jumped at the chance.

Now, in my experience theres not many people who can resist a good chocolate cake; men and women alike. However, I have noticed a huge difference between the sexes and this sweet ingredient. 

Men eat chocolate like its no big deal; a chocolate bar in two bites, a box of chocolates in one sitting. Whereas us women, well the evidence is currently sitting in my bedroom; a selection box still intact from christmas.  We like to saver it, eat it slowly and have it there for "just" that moment when we need it. 

Either way, a chocolate birthday cake is always a safe bet. 

I wanted the cake to be dark brown in colour with a contrasting filling, so I went for a cream cheese frosting and for the top,  piped royal icing with dark chocolate drops. 

It went down a treat with both boyfriend and girlfriend and we had a laugh making it too.

Read more for the recipe and try it next time your man... or woman turns that bit older (sorry Will) or just when you need a good chocolate fix.

Chocolate Fudge Ganche Filling

 Chocolate Fudge Ganche Filling

• 125ml double cream
• 150g good quality plain chocolate
• 100 grams Fudge (optional) otherwise just add 50grams more chocolate and 50 grams butter.

1) Melt together in a bowl over a low heat.

2) Leave to cool for 30 mins