Valentine Baking Ideas

Feb 1, 2013

With only two weeks to go, it’s time to bring some inspiration to Valentine Baking and purchase some cool baking decorations or cupcake cases before it’s too late! Here is my top 10 list of Valentine Baking Ideas:

1. Make some delicious chocolate cupcakes (aka Hummingbird Bakery) and wrap them in these decadent red cupcake wrappers. Then sprinkle with cupcake decorations like these ones from Just Bake. You can view their full Valentine range here.

2. If you don’t think you can bake then this really is laid on a plate for you. Heart shaped cutter, cookie mix and Emma Bridgewater gift bag from John Lewis – no excuses boys!

3. From today, Peggy Porschen’s Valentine cupcakes are available to buy and feature a heart or a luscious pair of lips, for £3.50 each.

4. Or how about doing a Valentine Baking course together which Primrose Bakery are hosting on Sunday 17th Feb?

5. If anyone made these heart shaped macarons for me then I’d be pretty bowled over. Here’s a video to guide you through how to make them from Vera’s Cookbook blog. Macarons are notoriously hard to make but I think even if you managed to produce 3 perfect ones that would be impressive and show your appreciation for someone!

6. Or you could make heart shaped cupcakes with these silicone cases from Lakeland

7. I also liked the look of these jam filled heart shaped butter biscuits from BBC Good Food and you can buy the cutters here

8. How about baking something in these mini heart shaped ramekins from Le Creuset?

9. If you prefer to bake with cups then this is a useful double chocolate heart shaped cake recipe covered in raspberries and you can buy heart shaped pans from Cakes Cookies and Crafts (BTW they’ve got an updated website since I last went on there – looks good!)

10. And finally…a red velvet cake…here’s a US recipe from SomethingSwanky or try the cupcakes recipe from Hummingbird High. To read my 2015 Valentine Baking Ideas, you can find them here.

Food photographer Jonathan Pollock captures wonderful Peggy Porschen wedding cake

Feb 11, 2012

After first meeting renowned food photographer Jonathan Pollock (you can read his food photography tips here), he has very kindly given me one of his most recent photographs for the blog – a Peggy Porschen wedding cake. Both the image and the cake are exquisite. The gold detail and flowers are absolutely beautiful and I’m in awe! Alas, the cake is no longer stocked through Fortnum and Mason but you can of course contact Peggy if you have any wedding cake inquiries. Hot off the press today – Fortnum and Mason have launched their own range of wedding cakes. The range includes six wedding cakes inspired by Fortnum and Mason’s heritage which began in the 1700s. You can check out the range here and their delightful brochure. I’ll be posting some piccies of the cakes in the next couple of days. I will be making part of my friends’ wedding cake later this year so I will be on the look out for more inspirational wedding cakes. Watch this space!

Peggy Porschen teapot cookie and cafe

Jan 26, 2011

There’s a very cool cookie, cake and cupcake shop in Victoria which I’d recommend – Peggy Porschen Cakes. I’ve just been in there to buy this lovely pink teapot cookie for my friend as it’s her birthday tomorrow and unfortunately, she’ll be travelling back from Switzerland rather than kicking back with a glass of wine. This was a lovely little treat to cheer her up! At Peggy Porshen’s as well as being a cake shop, they have two tables in there and serve a selection of nice teas. I am hoping to try out the cupcakes for myself very soon! I have also spied that Peggy Porschen is running cupcake masterclasses…They also have an online shop which has lovely gifts. Will keep you posted on the cafe review soon!