New cake adventure

I decided that I need to start being a bit more experimental with my baking. I have been sticking to the recipes to I know and not trying anything new. I saw a new idea from the States and wanted to give it a go.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/surprise-on-the-inside-gender-reveal-cake/cbda6a71-5169-4cf0-8e21-fb01c86160ba

I decided to make it a bit different and make a plain and chocolate sponge with chocolate icing and filled with M&Ms

Unfortunately my chocolate cake was a bit too crumbly and so I ended up with 3 layers instead of 4. I cut out a hole in the middle layer and iced the other two layers 

I started to layer the cake and filled the hole with M&Ms then covered the cake with chocolate icing and decorated with white chocolate buttons 

It looks good and there is no hint of what is inside until you cut into it 

Unfortunately my icing on the inside was slightly too runny so it mixed with the M&Ms so they didn't pour out as the cake was cut but for a first go I am happy with it. 

I will keeping experimenting with different flavours of sponges and icing. I think you could fill it with anything 

One small step

If I was asked what I wanted to be doing in 10 years time, my answer would be running my sweet shop.

After a lot of thought I have decided to take my first steps towards this by starting to sell a small selection of sweets on my website. I am now busy testing a lot of sweets to work out which ones I am going to sell.

I am hoping that this will be the start of something and I will be able to open my own shop in a few years and then I will be a very happy lady!

Giant Cupcakes Adventures

A friend has asked me to recreate an amazing looking giant cupcake for her birthday at the end of March.

I bought a giant cupcake baking tin about 5 years ago and it has sat on to of my kitchen cupboards unused. I had thought about getting rid of it in the last house move but am glad I didn't.

I thought I should have a trial run to see how easy it is to make before the actual day. I am making myself and my mother in law a special Mothers Day treat today and making a victoria sponge cake and thought I would go crazy and use another kitchen gadget that I have bought and not used yet, the double piping bags from Lakeland and see how things turn out.

Will post the photo of the finished article later