Happy February everyone . I don’t honestly know where the time has gone , it was just Christmas yesterday , or so it feels .
February always feels like the coziest month in my kitchen . It’s been super chilly outside lately , but inside I have been busy creating new and exciting ideas for classes and Mother’s Day cake & flower boxes (these boxes are so freaking cute and are the perfect gift for that special someone whether it’s for a birthday or Moms day, they are absolutely adorable ( I’ll add more info in this newsletter)
This month we are celebrating all things Love ! It’s the perfect month to showcase a heart shaped cake with vintage buttercream piping which seems to be one of the hottest trends in the cake world . Alongside that I am going to showcase heart-shaped chocolate cookies with a delicious filling and a simple but elegant cake pop . The perfect treats to gift or enjoy for yourself .
Recipes for our Valentines inspired projects :
Chocolate Raspberry layer cake :
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/chocolate-raspberry-cake/
Chocolate sugar cookies
https://naomicakes.com/valentines-chocolate-sugar-cookies-recipe/
Chocolate heart shaped cake pop : use any cake recipe you prefer
Vegan recipe of the month : Red Velvet
If you like Red Velvet then your going to love this as a Vegan recipe , it tastes like a traditional Red Velvet Cake .
http://itdoesnottastelikechicken.com/vegan-red-velvet-cake/
Vegan recipe tips : when looking for vegan recipes it’s important to understand what makes a great vegan cake . It is really all about balancing the ingredients . Look for moisture with recipes that call for vegan yogurt , or applesauce . Egg replacements using flax eggs or vinegar, or apple cider .Leavening agents include baking soda or baking powder .
Baking tip - do not over bake as vegan cakes dry out quicker .
When the right ingredients are used and flavour is balanced , a good vegan cake is so good that most won’t know the difference.
Looking for something a little different for that special someone?
Let me introduce our floral celebration cake box. Make someone’s day special with this elegant , cake / florals experience . Perfect for Mother’s Day , birthdays, anniversary, thank you gift or just to let someone know you are thinking of them .
Inside this stunning presentation is a beautifully decorated 4 inch cake , paired with an assortment of fresh florals. It’s not just a cake , it’s an experience !
Message us for enquiries / ordering .
Recipe of the month : Peanut butter chocolate lava cake
Recently we had company over for dinner and I made lava cakes for dessert . These are super easy to make and make the perfect dessert to impress that special someone .If you’ve never had a lava cake , it’s a rich , individual chocolate dessert with a soft outer cake and a warm , flowing centre. On the outside it looks like a small , individual chocolate cake but when you cut into it , it’s a silky stream of flowing melted chocolate that flows like lava. Simply decadent .
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/peanut-butter-choclate-lava-cakes/
Bake & Blooms monthly tip
Deepen your chocolate flavour
Heart Shaped Cake Pops
The perfect party treat - kids and adults
love these and you can easily decorate them using
sprinkles or drizzling chocolate on them .
The heart shaped cake pops are super easy to make
using a heart shaped cookie cutter ( easily found
at the dollar store when Valentines decorations
come out )
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Bake a cake (e.g., funfetti, red velvet) and let it cool completely. Crumble it into fine pieces. Mix in frosting (about 1-2 tablespoons) until the mixture holds together like Play-Doh.
- Shape the Hearts:
- Method A (Silicone Mold): Press the dough firmly into a heart-shaped silicone mold, scraping off excess with a knife. Amazon carries these molds.
- Method B (Cookie Cutter): Roll the dough out to a half-inch thickness and use a small heart-shaped cutter.
- Method C (Hand Shaping): Form the dough into balls, then shape into hearts with your fingers. ( a bit messy looking )
- Chill and Stick: Place the formed hearts on a wax paper-lined sheet and freeze for 15-30 minutes. Dip the tip of a lollipop stick into melted candy coating and insert it halfway into the cake heart.
- Dip and Decorate: Dip the cake pops into melted candy melts (using, for example, white or red) and
- tap off any excess. Decorate with sprinkles while the coating is still wet.
- Dry: Let the cake pops dry completely in a stand or styrofoam block.
Tips for Success
- Prevent Cracking: Do not use cold cake pops for dipping; let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes after taking them out of the freezer to prevent cracking.
- Easy Dipping: Use a deep, narrow container for the candy melts, and thin the coating with a small amount of vegetable oil or shortening if it is too thick. Always melt chocolate slowly , if using the microwave -melt in 30 second increments .
- Add Flair: Use specialized, high-quality candy melts or edible glitter for a shiny finish( Michael’s has coloured candy melts and edible glitter)
Tutorial - chocolate stuffed heart shaped cookies with a silky smooth buttercream
Tips:
Cut cookie dough using a large heart shaped cutter ( I found mine at the dollar store ) for the cookies with the heart centres simply use a smaller heart cutter to remove the centre piece . Bake and cool completely. Pipe frosting onto the solid cookies ( in our tutorial video I am using an open star tip ). For the cookie top with the smaller heart opening we have used heart shaped sprinkles to add some colour & decorative elements , you can use any sprinkles you like . Bulk barn & the dollar store carry these.
Raspberry Buttercream - https://sugarandsparrow.com/fresh-raspberry-buttercream-recipe/
Piping tips that can be used to create vintage designs & ruffle piping instructions
Tips I used for our tutorial :
I used an open star ( Wilton #32) around the base and used a Wilton 124 tip to create a ruffle around the top edging ( we used the same ope tip to over the edge of the ruffle on top)
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