An Apple Cake a Day...

We get lots of requests asking what our recipes are, and normally we don’t like to oblige, you know a magician never gives up his secrets. But today we are making and exception, this light and delicious apple cake is the perfect dessert for a nice warm day.

Ingredients (serves 6…unless someone’s greedy):

·           225 g self-raising flour

·           1 level tsp baking powder

·           225g caster sugar

·           2 large eggs

·           ½ tsp almond extract

·           150g butter, melted

·           250g cooking apples, pealed and cored

·           25g flaked almond

Preparation

1. First preheat the oven to 160C/fan, 140C/gas, after then you should lightly grease a deep 20c loose bottom cake tin
2. Now in a large mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, almond extract, and the melted butter. Mix until well blended and then beat for a minute
3. Now you should have prepared the apples, if not do so, I’ll give you a minute…ok now you need to pour half of the mixture into the prepared tin, and lay the apples on top. Cut them however you like it, but we recommend it be a bit of a thicker cut.
4. Now pour the rest of the mixture over the top, focusing on the middle so that it flows out. Now use a spoon to help make it all nice and even.
5. Now sprinkle the top with the flaked almonds, this is really just a suggestion but its great for given the cake a real nice crunch to it.
6. Finally bake in the oven for at  least 1 ¼ hours, but it may take a bit longer. It should be golden brown and coming away from the tin.
7. Lastly cut, serve, eat, and enjoy.

This little creation goes great with a little vanilla ice cream or really just about anything; chocolate drizzled on top, or even fresh berries. You make it as flavourful as your imagination is able to.

I hope you enjoy it, because I know that we enjoy making them.  

The Half Way Blog Post

Well I have reached the halfway point in my journey as an Intern, and being here at Family Cakes has been an experience so far. It  is always interesting, there really is a bit of something new every day. But I thought I'd share a little more of the behind the scenes stuff.

While I'm sure that many of you who are fans of Family Cakes see the beautiful creations that we produce, you hardly ever begin to know the hard work that goes into thinking them up.But I am the fly on the wall and I see and hear the process and sometimes I'm even involved, you know, because I'm a pretty big deal. Last week, I gave you just the tip of the iceberg in my blog about the bounty cake. That was just the actual decision process, the yes or no. But how did we get there, where did it start?

Really most ideas are just drawn from various inspirations, the Bounty cake is a pretty obvious example of this. We thought, hey, its a popular candy bar, lets make a cake out of it. The result wasn't quite what we all hoped for but that happens.Sometimes though, it's by total accident. There is some chocolate sponge left over, what can we do with it? That is what helped create this decadent beauty.

But other times, it is well thought out. And I mean well thought out. Sketches, price lists, and a distinct examination of different flavours and cake combinations. This does not just refer to the commissions made here, many of the cakes take time and lots of tinkering to make them perfect. It may take months to really truly get the cake  down to where we all want it. This is, might I remind you, all while also filling out the numerous orders for cakes, pies, cookies, cupcakes, etc. that Family Cakes gets every week.

They are in the kitchen in the morning, dreaming up new delicious treats, before most of us are out of bed and have had our morning coffee or tea. So personally I salute that...Granted sometimes beautiful creations, well...flop, but those are the breaks when it comes to cakes. (yes the rhyme was on purpose)

Either way it doesn't stop them from trying and if they ever did, then it just wouldn't be Family Cakes.

Hard at work

Spring is in the Air

Spring has sprung here at Family Cakes! That means Easter bunnies, fresh fruit, and splendid spring themed cupcakes. So far in my time here I have never been at a loss to see a beautiful cake. With Vincenzo working hard to put together some new fresh and delicious cakes I see something great almost every day. These are just one of the wonderful and vibrant creations that I have see this week.

Easter is just around the bend and while we have a playful little bunny cake that we offer, we felt we needed something with a bit more austerity, just as much decadence, and something that is as amazing to look at, as it is fantastic to eat. This is why we came out with the Easter Basket Cake.

This Easter Basket cake is not only a work of art but it is one fine cake. Aside from the golden eggs and the chocolate bunny on top, the cake can be stuffed with an variety of fillings and choice of chocolate or vanilla sponge. So basically what I’m trying to say, is to not miss out on this cake. Its fun for all ages, as delicious as you want to make it, and we will deliver it to your door. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

This post isn't only about Easter however, here at Family Cakes like to simply celebrate the season as well. That is why Vincenzo put together this light and delicious cake for your viewing pleasure. Its topped with a variety of fresh fruits and just like the Easter Basket cake, you can add any variety of fillings. We recommend Italian style because it might give it just that extra bit of flavour that takes it to the next level. 

Finally, we offer beautiful spring and Easter themed cupcakes that are fun and tasty too. We have Easter Bunny Cupcakes, Sheep Cupcakes, Easter Egg Cupcakes, and Butterfly Cupcakes. All toped with your choice of icing colour and with either chocolate or vanilla sponge. 

So whether you have a spring birthday, an affinity for butterflies, or maybe you just want to satisfy a sweet tooth, just order something today and you'll wonder why you didn't sooner.