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ISSUE 3 AUGUST 2012

ISSUE 3 AUGUST 2012

B AKING ~ DECORATING ~ S H A R I N G

Inside: Stenciling Ma!erclass...

Sugarveil
Cheat
Tutorial

Great British
Bake Off
SPECIAL!
THE BATTLE OF THE
MIXERS
WIN
TICKETS!

EXCLUSIVE
The story behind the HUGE Meet Manisha -
gypsy wedding cake! Great British
Bake Off 1
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

B AKING ~ DECORATING ~ S H A R I N G

In this issue...
Vintage Cupcake
CONTENTS
Welcome from Rosie ~ Page 3
Great British Bake Off Obsession ~ Page 4
Competition
WIN Cake and Bake Show Tickets ~ Page 9
Interview with Manisha Parmar ~ Page 10
Scroll moulds feature ~ Page 16
15
Stenciling Master Class ~ Page 20
My BIG fat Gypsy
Snake Cake Craze ~ Page 26
Wish List ~ 28
The Battle of the Mixers ~ Page 30
You and your mixers ~ Page 32 Wed#ng
Pinboards ~ Page 55

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Sugarveil Cheat Tutorial Wedding Cake Special
12 35

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

B AKING ~ DECORATING ~ S H A R I N G
Hello everyone, welcome to our
August newsletter!
For those of you who don’t know, this is what I look like...
and for some of you who do know - I hate having my picture
taken, so you won’t find many of me on my page!

Anyway, enough about me.


Following on from the feedback we received from our last
newsletter, we have decided to move away from the basic
“school newsletter” format to a more glamourous magazine
type format.

We have spent a lot of time on the design and presentation


of this issue, and hope you like the more modern, fresh,
updated look.

Baking ~ Decorating ~ Sharing is the Cake Masters motto,


and we aim to deliver on each of these elements in
everything we do through our Facebook page and magazine.

The aim of our monthly magazines are to highlight all cakey


news over the last month; showcase your amazing cakes;
include informative features and above all, sharing caking and
baking knowledge!

See this newsletter as a bit of a round up, incase you might have missed something on Facebook- let’s face
it, I am not sure Facebook works all the time anyway- I am still having problems seeing my own posts let
alone other post from pages I follow- boo!

I am in awe of all the caking and baking skill out there and I will do my best to “shout out” all the amazingly
talented cakers by featuring you in my magazine.

Enjoy leafing through the featured wedding cake pages in this issue as there are some beautifully designed
pieces and I really enjoyed putting this part of the magazine together.

Special thanks to all our contributors this month, especially Manisha Parmar from the Great British Bake
Off, who gave us an exclusive interview for all Cake Masters fans.

Let me know what you think of our new look, I would love to hear from you!

Rosie x

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

The
Great British Bake Off
Obsession

Every Tuesday evening at 8pm the TV is mine for my GBBO fix.

There is nothing that gets in my way, and the most central spot on the sofa is
reserved for me!

I am sure I am not the only one that behaves like this on Tuesday evenings,
and I am positive that when each episode is over, a small void appears in your
life, that not even a slice of cake could fill!

I love watching the contestants baking under immense pressure, producing


awesome flavour combinations and gorgeous looking cakes.

Not sure if it is something that I would do...not sure that I work so well
under that much pressure, and piercing blue eyes!

Over the next few pages we have gathered the details of the current
contestants and have included their Twitter, Facebook and Blog links so that
that you can stalk them online too :p

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Introducing the Contestants

Stuart
Last year he made his own three-tiered
wedding cake, much to the surprise of his
mother-in-law. He’s a fan of creating new
flavour combinations. His wife admits he
reads recipe books in bed at night.
Twitter
Facebook
Website

Manisha
She came back to live in in Leicester when
she was 13. Her passion for baking passion
began when her mum showed her how to
make a Victoria sponge. Her strengths are
classic English biscuits, cakes and pastry,
but she also makes some Indian biscuits
and cakes too.
Twitter
Facebook

Brendan
To date, the 63-year old has made 90 of
them and is still going strong. He always
dreamt of pursuing a career in baking and
now, semi-retired, bakes as a hobby.
Twitter

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

James

He started baking with his granny and is


currently studying medicine in Scotland. To
James, medicine is similar to baking as it
involves marrying science and nurture.
Aside from his studies, he’s reached grade
eight in classical double bass.
Twitter
Website

John

His love of baking re-started with a


vengeance three years ago, when he left
home to study. His love of French patisserie
is his main inspiration.
Twitter
Facebook
Website

Natasha

She admits that she has a vast baking


portfolio because she gets bored of making
the same things over again.
VOTED OFF: Week 1
Twitter
Blog

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Peter
His love of baking is well known at his
children’s school and, with a reputation for
excellence, the requests flood in for
everything from school fetes to wedding
cakes.
VOTED OFF: Week 2

Ryan
He loves fusing Western baking with lesser
known Asian flavours and new techniques
he’s garnered from his travels.
Twitter
Website
Blog

Sarah-Jane
She mainly makes cakes, biscuits and
desserts and so admits her family’s
waistlines suffer for her hobby. Her husband
is a vicar, so his congregation also benefit
from Sarah-Jane’s talents.
Twitter
Blog

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Danny

She exercises several times a week to work


the baking excesses off. She says that
she’s taking part in the Bake Off because
she really wants to test herself.
Twitter
Blog

Victoria

Aside from baking, she loves needlecraft,


knitting and things you can share with
others. She’s a fan of different shaped
bakes like square or rectangular tarts and
loves a good excuse to buy a nice piece of
baking equipment.
VOTED OFF: Week 3

Cathryn

She once promised a friend an 80th


birthday cake, but had forgotten that she’d
arranged a girl’s night out the night before.
She arrived home at 1.30am, and was
baking till 4am to get it done in time. She’s
also a messy baker - her husband can tell
when she’s been baking because of the trail
of floury footprints to the kitchen
Twitter
Blog

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Win tickets to the


Cake & Bake Show 2012
We loved the first episode of the Great British Bake Off and want see your
cakes with hidden designs for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show
in London.
Please send your entries to bookings@cakemasters.co.uk deadline is the
September 9th 2012.

Below are some of your entries so far...

The Cake & Bake Show 2012


22nd 23rd September
what to expect...

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Manisha Parmar
Great British Bake Off
Series 3 ~ Contestant
Tell  me  a  bit  about  your   Other  than  baking  what  
Even  though  the  days  were  really  
passion  for  baking are  your  hobbies? long,  I  loved  every  minute!
Standing  side  by  side  with  Mary  
“Baking  is  like  floa7ng  on  clouds,   “I  love  baking  with  children  and  I   and  Paul  was  such  a  delight,  
I  find  it  so  relaxing,  even  when   love  going  out  with  my  friends   wai7ng  in  an7cipa7on  for  their  
working  with  the  most   and  spending  7me  with  family.   replies  a_er  each  bake  was  
complicated  of  recipes! I  am  a  lover  of  wine  and  all  cake.” exci7ng  but  very  nerve  
  wracking.”
Baking  has  become  a  passion  for   What  made  you  apply  for  
8  or  9  years  now.  I  remember   the  great  Bri7sh  bake  off   Most  people  like  to  bake  
when  my  mum  showed  me  how  
to  make  my  first  vanilla  tray  
TV  show?   to  relax,  how  did  you  find  
bake,  and  from  then  onwards   it  baking  under  pressure  
“Umm  I  actually  don’t  know  why  
I’ve  been  baking  something  every   and  interroga7on  of  the  
I  applied!  Maybe  because  I  had  
weekend,  ranging  from  very  
small  items  like  biscuits  or   seen  the  programme  before  and   judges?  
thought  I  could  do  some  of  the  
something  huge  like  a  yummy  
bakes  shown.  At  the  7me  I  felt   “I  love  baking  under  pressure,  
chocolate  tart.”
quite  confident  and  friends  and   however,  some  of  the  bakes  
family  encouraged  me  so  I  was   were  disastrous.  The  
Tell  me  a  bit  about   able  to  pluck  up  the  courage  to   interroga7ons  was  quite  nerve  
yourself  background  and   apply.” wracking.  It  is  like  your  heart  is  in  
family your  mouth  and  you  can’t  
Did  you  ever  think  that   swallow!
“In  my  family  there  is  my  Dad,   you  would  make  it   However  when  they  gave  good  
two  brothers  and  my  sister  who   through  to  the  end   comments  it  felt  great,  but  when  
is  now  married.  My  mum  past  
away  4  years  ago...  so  life  has  
stages?   the  bad  comments  came...  you  
felt  very  sad...”
been  difficult  and  a  bit  lonely.  
This  is  where  baking  has  turned   “Oh  my  cupcakes!  Never  in  a   Con7nued  >>>
million  years  did  I  think  that  I  
my  life  around  -­‐  it  just  brings  me  
would  be  one  of  the  12  finalists  
so  much  happiness  even  if  it  
out  of  7000  people  who  applied.
doesn’t  turn  out  absolutely  
It  was  an  amazing  feeling  that,  
perfect.”
YES,  I  am  actually  good  at  
something.”

What  was  the  most  


exci7ng  part  about  being  
part  of  the  show?
“I  thought  the  most  exci7ng  part  
of  the  show  was  the  filming.  I  
absolutely  loved  it!
Manisha’s Mum
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

What  was  the  hardest  part   I  am  very  fond  of  Ryan,  who  is  
one  amazing  baker  with  a  lovely  
about  being  in  the  show?   funny  personality.”

“The  hardest  part  of  the  show   What  are  your  current  
was  when  things  went  wrong  and  
not  really  being  able  to  do   plans  for  now  and  the  
anything  about  it.” future?  

What  did  you  think  of   “My  current  plans  are  to  finish  
Mary  and  Paul?   my  childcare  degree.  Although  I  
would  like  to  work  for  a  famous  
well  known  chef  as  a  baker.
“Mary  was  lovely  she  really  
KNOWS  her  stuff,  very  warm  and   I  would  also  like  to  open  up  a  
loveable. Baking  School  for  children,  which  
would  be  great  as  baking  can  
Paul...  well  he  was  just  adorable!   have  a  great  influence  on  
He  was  very  honest  and  knows   children.”
what  he  is  talking  about.”

Which  contestants  did  you  


get  on  with  the  most?   Manisha and Ryan

“I  got  on  really  well  with  all  the   Next Week E


PISODE 4
contestants.  
The bakers fa
ce three challeng
es all designed
John,Cathryn,  Sarah-­‐Jane  and  I,   sweet tooth. for a
had  a  few  nights  together  with  
the  friendly  help  of  Prosecco. Starting off w
ith a tempting
array of deca
tortes, the ba de ntly rich
kers then face
the technical
This time it's challenge.
a mainstay of F
caramel, and rench baking,
for some ther the crème
e's more wob
expected. ble than

Proceedings
are rounded of
f with a mamm
challenge to pr oth six hour
oduce a might
meringue. But y sh ow stopping laye
who will claim red
Baker and who th e ac colade of Sta
will hang up th r
time? eir apron for th
e last

Follow Manisha online:

Twitter

Facebook

Manisha in the GBBO recipe book


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Tuto$al
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

From Allison at Let’s Eat Cupcakes

Sugarveil
Cheat

Special thanks to Allison from Let’s Eat Cupcakes for being


one of our contributors!

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Let’s eat cupcakes tutorial
Step 1 What u n
eed:
Roll out your fondant thicker than
usual and cut out a disc using a * Rejuve
nating sp
* Small irit or vo
cookie cutter. art brush dka
* Textur
es lace w
Edible C raps from
reators L
* Sugar td
flair whi
* Rolling tener
pin
* Cookie
cutter
* Cupcak
e

Step 2
Place your fondant disc on a texture
mat from Edible Creators then roll
very firmly. This will leave you an
imprint.

Gorgeous lace
imprint!

Mats from Edible Creators

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Let’s eat cupcakes tutorial
Step 3
Use your cutter to reshape the
imprinted fondant and place directly
on to your cupcake gently shaping as
you do not want to stretch the
impression!

Step 4
Mix your whitener and rejuvenating
spirit(of vodka) together and lightly
brush over your fondant which will
bring the lace imprint to life.
Voila!

This technique was


developed by Carinas
Cupcakes using sugar
veil mats. Allison from
Lets Eat Cupcakes
adopted it to use
texture mats from
Edible Creators as a
cheaper alternative.

If you would like to include one of your tutorials


please contact us at bookings@cakemasters.co.uk
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

COMPETITION TIME!
Win 2 sets of lace texture mats
In association with Edible Creators

Win 2 sets of lace texture mats


A massive 7 mats in total by emailing us your best
vintage cupcakes!
Please enter into one of the following two categories:

Bake for Fun

This category is for people who do not sell cakes at all.

Bake for Business

This category is for people who have their own cake Facebook pages and sell
cakes, even if it is not your main source of income.

The reason why we have two categories, is so that we can give everyone with
all abilities a chance to join in.

-Please send only one photo of your entry


-Please email your photo to bookings@cakemasters.co.uk
-Please ensure you give us your name and business name, and Facebook page
name so we can place these details next to the chosen entries in our next
magazine!
-All entires to be sent to Cake Masters by Sunday 16th September
-ONLY ONE ENTRY is allowed

Good Luck!

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Scroll moulds feature!

So  pleased  with  my  sculpted  scroll  moulds  from  Marvelous  Molds.  


Purchasing  just  a  few  of  the  flourish  moulds  allow  you  to  make  fantas7c  
designs  and  are  so  quick  and  easy  to  use.  
Our  video  tutorial  can  be  viewed  here!

Have  a  look  at  the  huge  collec7on  at  The  Cake  Decora7ng  Company.
Scroll  Moulds  Collec7on

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

My big FAT
GypsyWed#ng Cake
By  PETER  ROBERTS  of  Centre  A2rac5on  Cakes  2  
Remember  of  Liverpool  and  St  Helens  

“It  was  quite  a  challenge   up  and  finish  off  at  the  venue.  
The  customer  was  very  happy  
when  I  was  asked  to  do  a  
with  the  proposed  idea  and  
seven  foot  tall  cake  by  a   were  very  excited!
travelling  family.      
We  agreed  on  a  price  and  I  
The  customer  originally   then  set  to  work.  Fruit  cake  
wanted  the  cake    eight  foot   was  for  the  base  as  sponge  
tall    and  four  foot  wide!  My   cakes  around  the  base  would  
head  started  spinning  and  I   be  too  so_  and  would  simply  
said,  “I  don’t  think  that  will  fit   not  hold  the  weight  of  cake  
through  our  door”,when  the   above  it.  Sponge  cakes  were  
customer  simply  replied,   used  for  the  top  7ers.  
“Can’t  you  7lt  the  cake  
upwards?”,  I  just  looked  at  my   Every  one  that  knows  me,  
mum  in  disbelief!  You  can   knows  how  organised  I  am!  I  
imagine  the  visions  going   phoned  all  the  relevant  
through  my  head  at  this  point.   suppliers  and  ordered  all  the  
I  said  that  I  was  sorry,  and  that   equipment,  boards  and  icing,  
I  cake  that  large  would  not   leaving  nothing  to  go  amiss  -­‐  
work.  Instead  I  suggested  a   everything  was  checked  and  
seven  foot  cake(!),  where  I   double  checked!

s t hree would  do  it  in  stages  and  set  


a
s e l f w
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Th c akes a k e w
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Firstly  I  had  to  bake  the  fruit   also  wanted  a  spacer  on  the   There  were  five  addi7onal  sponge  
cakes.  The  problem  was  that  I   boiom  of  the  cake  so  that  she   cakes  to  be  placed  round  the  base  
didn’t  have  a  oven  in  the  shop   could  have  flowers  around  the   of  the  cake,  Hazel  ,  my  sister  and  I  
large  enough  to  fit  the  cakes!    I   board  where  the  cake  was  simng. worked  together  to  get  them  
asked  a  friend  who  I  went  to   covered  with  icing,    
college  with  if  I  could  use  his  oven  
I  used  a  number  4  tube  to  pipe  
in  his  bakery,  he  was  only  too  
swags  under  each  rose,  I  then  
happy  to  help.  
over  piped  with  a  number  3  tube.  
I  then  had  to  make  all  the  roses.   Most  of  the  other  designs  on  the  
As  this  was  such  a  big  cake,  the   cake  was  using  a  number  2  piping  
roses  had  to  correspond  with  the   tube  in  order  to  give  a  more  
size  of  all  the  cakes.  I  thought  that   delicate  look.
five  inch  roses  for  the  boiom  7er  
The  part  I  enjoyed  the  most  was  
and  four  inch  for  the  remaining  
the  top.  I  loved  doing  the  top  vase  
7ers  would  be  the  best.  
as  it  was  completely  made  out  of  
I  found  covering  the  cake  to  be  a   sugar  and  the  customer  had  le_  
challenge  as  it  was  so  deep  which   me  to  create  it  in  my  own  way.  I  
made  it  very  awkward,  but  a_er  a   love  it  when  the  customer  says  
bit  of  delibera7ng,  I  knew  the   this,  and  I  can  allow  my  
icing  would  not  cover  in  one  piece   imagina7on  run  wild.  I  was  
so  I  came  up  with  the  idea  to   originally  going  to  opt  for  just  
cover  it  in  stages,  rolling  out  strips   Luckily  we  have  a  large  sugar  cra_   roses,  but  as  I  was  half  way  
of  icing  and  placing  the  icing  on   shop  and  we  have  designed  our   through  pumng  the  spray  
the  cake  and  carefully  smoothing   own  style  of  spacers,  that  have   together,  I  wrapped  some  sugar  
it  out.  I  am  a  terrible  perfec7onist   hard  tops  and  so_  enough  sides   paste  around  it  and  hey  presto  
so  it  had  to  be  right  as  I  hate   to  place  wires  in  them. there  it  was,  I  can’t  tell  you  how  
seeing  joins.  It  took,  would  you   pleased  I  was  with  the  end  result.
believe  65  kilos  of  marzipan  and   “I  did  most  of  the   The  day  arrived  for  me  to  take  the  
ivory  coloured  icing,  guess  you  
can  now  say  I  am  now  officially  a   decora5ng  in  the  shop,   cake  to  the  venue  and  it  really  
was  all  hands  on  deck.  As  I  was  so  
body  builder!   using  royal  icing  for  a   busy,  I  got  my  mum  Joan  to  dust  
A_er  three  extremely  wide  and   lot  of  the  finishings,   the  rest  of  the  roses  green,  she  
high  cakes  I  needed  a  cup  of  tea!   looked  like  the  jolly  green  giant  
My  arms  were  like  jelly  a_er  all  
trying  to  keep  it  from   when  she  had  finished!  
that  rolling  out.  The  boioms  of   looking  tacky!  The  
Jayson  and  Josh  from  the  shop  
each  of  7er  were  polystyrene  
dummies  with  cakes  placed  on  
design  itself  was   helped  me  carefully  load  the  cake  
in  to  my  van,  it  was  so  heavy.    I  
top,  this  helped  keep  the  weight   mostly  my  input...  you  
needed  two  vehicles  to  carry  
down;  I  also  baked  a  lighter  fruit  
cake  which  also  helped  with  
don’t  want  to  know   everything  as  we  had  a  lot  of  
equipment  and  all  the  cakes,  
keeping  the  overall  weight  of  the   what  she    originally  
including  the  five,  12”  round  
cake  down.
wanted...  I  tell  you,  it   sponge  cakes;  all  the  iced  roses  
I  had  three  specially  made  drum   and  petals,  including  the  extra  
was  tacky  galore!”
boards  reinforced  to  take  the   large  reinforced  drum  boards.
weight  of  the  cake.  The  customer  

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

When  we  arrived,  we  set  to  work   stood  on  the  table  as  Mum  and  
at  once.  First  I  set  the  largest   Jayson  passed  me  the  finished  
           
drum  board  which  had  flowers  all   flowers  and  the  crystal  pearls.    
they  way  around  it.  We  then    
Once  finished,  the  customer  
placed  the  first  7er  on  top  of  this.  
agreed  to  view  the  cake  at  the  
Next  we  placed  the  second  7er  -­‐it  
venue.  She  was  completely  
was  so  heavy,  I  was  lucky  to  have  
delighted  with  the  cake  and  all  
Jayson  and  Josh  there  to  help.  The  
the  7me  and  effort  I  had  put  into  
top  7er  was  placed  by  myself.    I  
crea7ng  her  cake.  I  got  a  hug  and  
really  thought  the  cake  might  
was  told  she  wanted  another  cake  
collapse  with  all  the  weight!
in  two  years  7me  if  the  price  was  
All  that  was  le_  to  do  was  finish   same,  I  NEARLY  FAINTED!“  
the  cake  with  decora7ons.    We  
had  a  good  rou7ne  going  while  I  

See more of Roberts work at Wedding Cakes Liverpool or visit their


online shop at http://www.centreattraction.co.uk/n_shop.php

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Stencil tutorial ~DUSTS
It is really easy to stencil on
cakes to make fabulous What u n
designs. Follow our easy eed:
tutorial to have a go yourself! * Fondan
t
* Soft pa
int brush
* Rolling
pin
* Trex
* Sugar
flair dus
* Stencil ts
* Cookie
cutter

Step 1
Soften some fondant and roll it out
to about a pound coin thickness

Step 2
Place the stencil on top of the
fondant and roll over the stencil
to secure it to the fondant

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Stencil tutorial ~DUSTS
Step 3
Take a tiny amount of Trex and
rub over the stencil

Step 4
Take some edible dust on a soft
brush and lightly dust over the
stencil

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Stencil tutorial ~ DUSTS

Step 5
Gently peel away the stencil

Step 6
Cut away excess fondant using a
cookie cutter and place onto a
cupcake ~ SIMPLES!

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Stencil tutorial ~BUTTERCREAM

Step 1
Soften some fondant and roll it out
to about a pound coin thickness.
Place the stencil on top of the
fondant and roll over it to secure
the stencil to the fondant.

Step 2
Take a small amount of
buttercream and spread over the
stencil.

23
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012
Stencil tutorial ~BUTTERCREAM
Step 3
Apply only a very thin layer of
buttercream to the stencil,
scraping off any excess
buttercream that is not required

Step 4
Taking one corner of the
stencil, peel away from the
fondant

YAY!

Step 5
Finally cut away any excess
fondant with a cookie cutter
and place on top of a
cupcake!

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Chandelier
Stencils
Stencils set of 3
£9.99

Damask Stencils
£12.99

Scroll Stencils
set of 5
£19.99

25
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Snake Cake Craze!


So you must have seen this awesome cake from North Star Cakes-
incredibly realistic, superb attention to detail and even a tweet from
the Ace of Cakes man himself!

Is there anyone out there who hasn’t seen this cake!? Photos of this
cake have been shared right across the globe and we caught up with
Francesca Pitcher, the creator to find out more.

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Meet Francesca...
Tell  us  about  North  Star  Cakes...
North  Star  Cakes  is  a  bespoke  baking  business,  
my  client's  tend  come  to  me  if  they  are  looking  
for  something  unique  and  personal  to  them.  
I'm  very  par7cular  about  the  ingredients  I  use  as  
I  firmly  believe  that  great  ingredients  produce  a  
great  tas7ng  cake.    The  cakes  not  only  have  to  
look  beau7ful  but  the  flavour  is  equally  
important  and  should  meet  with  expecta7ons.    I  
also  cater  for  food  intolerances  and  some  of  my  
clients  come  to  me  specifically  for  that  reason.  
I'm  very  lucky  to  have  a  loyal  clientele  of  repeat  
and  referral  business.

Tell  us  more  about  the  cake  and  who  it  


was  for...  
The  snake  cake  was  made  for  my  daughter  
Claudia,  her  birthday  was  on  29th  July  and  she  
wanted  to  have  a  Halloween  themed  party  and  
she  wanted  a  cake  to  match  the  theme.  I  was  
racking  my  brain  as  to  what  I  could  make,  then  
on  a  recent  visit  to  the  zoo  I  suggested  a  snake.  
Tell  us  a  bit  about  yourself... She  loved  the  idea,  and  when  we  got  home  we  
“I  trained  as  a  fine  ar7st  with  a  specialism  in   looked  at  images  online  and  decided  on  a  yellow  
pain7ng  and  sculpture.  A_er  leaving  university  I   snake  -­‐  the  Burmese  that  everyone  now  knows.  
worked  for  a  private  art  collector  before  moving   The  interest  in  the  snake  cake  really  took  me  by  
into  fine  art  auc7oneers.  I  feel  privileged  to  have   surprise-­‐  there  was  so  much  discussion  about  it  
worked  for  a  couple  of  the  top  fine  art   and  so  many  shares,  I've  no  idea  how  many  
auc7oneers  in  the  world  based  in  London.   blogs,  posts  and  newspapers  its  been  in  all  over  
the  world,  I'm  s7ll  trying  to  find  them  all.  The  
I  le_  the  art  world  behind  when  I  had  my  first   buzz  about  the  cake  was  overwhelming  and  the  
child,  a  daughter  Claudia  who  is  now  six,  and  I   comments  have  been  brilliant  but  the  real  high  
have  since  had  a  son  Dylan,  three.  During  those   point  for  me  was  when  Duff  Goldman  of  Charm  
late  night  baby  feeds  I  used  to  watch  'Ace  of   City  Cakes  -­‐  the  owner  of  the  bakery  in  the  'Ace  
Cakes',  a  fabulous  TV  cake  show  based  in  the  US   of  Cakes'  TV  show  tweeted  out  a  picture  of  my  
and  wished  I  could  have  that  job.  I'd  always   cake  on  7th  August  to  his  40,000  followers  with  
made  birthday  cakes  but  it  wasn't  un7l  last  year   the  word  'AMAZING!!!'  -­‐  I  joined  twiier  just  to  
that  I  started  to  take  my  cake  making  more   see  it  for  myself!
seriously  and  tried  to  make  as  many  cakes  as  I  
could  to  prac7ce  my  skills,  in  fact  my  daughter's  
Rapunzel  birthday  cake  last  July  was  my  first  
proper  cake.  
My  company  North  Star  Cakes  began  trading  in  
October  2011.

Photo credit:
Kerry Ann Duffy Photography
27
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

WISH LIST

Oven thermometer £5.79

Most ovens are not really ever


at the temperature that they are
displaying- they tend to be
several degrees out. This
problem can be easily fixed with
a cheap and cheerful oven Blue Union Flag Apron £7.49
thermometer which can be hung
on your oven shelf. With the Paralympics starting it
it going to be Olympics fever all
over again! We are so looking
forward to it and even have
closing ceremony tickets- so
exciting!
Set of three dove cutters £8.50

Buy a set of three PME dove


cutters, perfect for vintage and
wedding cakes!

100 disposable savoy 21” piping


bags £3.50

These are the piping bags that I


use for piping buttercream on
my cupcakes. Good quality
and100 on a roll which lasts you
ages- cheapest we could find are
on good old ebay!
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

WISH LIST

Clear Isomalt sticks £10.99

Easy melt isomalt which can be


poured into moulds creating
clear sugar decorations. Pink Cupcake Courier £24.99
Awesome stuff!
Pale pink cupcake courier which
officially holds 3x12 cupcakes
but I manage to squeeze in an
extra 18 cupcakes in between
the spaces!

10 Gourmet Food Pens £18.99

A set of 10 pens that can be


used for finishing touches to
sugar decorations. Best used on
dried fondant.

29
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

The Battle of the


MIXERS

KitchenAid
vs.
Kenwood

30
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Our opinion....
I am still deciding which mixer to buy.

Can you believe it...I have never owned a stand mixer because I simply don’t know which one I
want. Before carrying out the research for this article, I felt that if I bought the Kenwood over the
KitchenAid I would be disappointed when I got home...and vice versa!

Yes, I drive myself insane when going shopping! I am one of those people that will think about
purchasing something...but then wont buy it- come home and be so annoyed at myself for not
getting it! So enough about my weird shopping habits and back to mixers.

I scoured the internet for hours looking through many different reviews and reading through what
seemed like thousands of testimonies on Amazon regarding personal customer experiences.

Having gone through so much content, it appeared to me that one mixer did come out slightly on
top each time. I was on a mission to find out some of the differences and here is a summary of
things that might help you choose which one you will go for, and YES ,I will be letting you know my
final decision on the Kenwood vs KitchenAid debate.

KitchenAid Kenwood
- Available in 28 colours
- Mainly silver although the KMix is
- Retro look
available in approximately 11 colours
- Mixer bowl comes with a handle
-Sleek modern design
- Blender attachment needs to be
- Mixer bowl has no handle
bought separately
- Blender attachment comes included
- Used in pretty much all cooking
- Better customer services and easier to
shows on TV- just good product
find parts for machines, even the ancient
placement marketing though?
ones!
-There are said to be complaints about
- Power cable runs through the machine
after sales service with KitchenAid
- Cheaper
- Power cable sticks out of the machine
- Expensive
So from the above, there isn’t really much in it.

There isn’t really anything there that makes one machine stand head and shoulders above the other.
A lot of the reviews said that the first machine you start with, tends to be the machine you stay with
forever.

However, the thing that pushed me more towards one machine over the other were the MANY
reviews regarding people using Kenwood machines dating back to the 70s and 80s - even the 50s and
were still going strong making the odd replacement for parts which are amazingly still readily available.

I think design is a big thing as the machines look so different. There was a lot of love hate going on in
the reviews that I read and it is just down to personal preference.

I personally feel you get more value for your money with Kenwood, and I like the modern design over
the retro look. Also that face that so many ancient machines are mixing away gives me some comfort of
reliability.
Overall, I feel a sense of relief that I have made up my mind that it is
KENWOOD all the way.
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Some of you and your mixers...

Emma’spongecake
Jess Moss Constant Kelly’s CakeAway

Mamma Jamma Cakes


My Cake Away

Mon Cottage Cupcakes


Suhaav

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Some of your mixers...

Sweetie’s Cakery Signature Style Cakes


(Cake of Trowbridge, Wiltshire)

Lynda’s Celebration Cakes

Thanks for letting us


share some of your
mixer pictures!!!
33
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

OUR
CLASSES
Recent student cakes from Rochelle!

Môn Cottage
Cupcakes
Cupcake decorating classes
ON ANGLESEY
Learn to decorate beautiful cupcakes in
our classes suitable for all skill levels.

We run lots of different themed classes


and would make the perfect gift for
someone.

*Kids parties and groups catered for too*


07811783901
enquiries@moncottagecupcakes.co.uk
www.moncottagecupcakes.co.uk
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Wed#ng Cake Special

FEATURING YOUR BEAUTIFUL CAKES

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Cakes by Minel

I have been following the stunning


bespoke wedding cakes from Cakes
by Minel for some time, a worthy
cover photo for our feature.

These cakes have been clearly made


with careful thought, combining detail
from wedding dresses to make
beautifully bespoke cakes.
Cakes by Minel
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

&e li'le Cherry

Cake Company

Stunning simple design with bold


peacock colours cascading
delicately down three deep tiers of
cake.
The Little Cherry Cake Company

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

**W(h upon a cupcake**

Pretty in pink, with perfectly


perched beautiful bold roses.
Wish Upon a Cupcake

38
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Sweetcheeks Bakeh)se

Lovely beach related three tier wedding cake.


Just the right number of shells dotted around, with
delicate royal iced piped nets cascading all three
tiers. Beautiful work!
Sweetcheeks Bakehouse

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

&e Hazelnut Bakery

One of my all time favorite wedding


cake designs. Love the use of deep
purple for the flowers and clothing
detail for the groom.
The Hazelnut Bakery
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Bella To+a

Beautiful hand painted floral design,


on top and bottom tiers of cake.
So elegant and beautifully
sophisticated.
Bella Torta
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Cakes by Nina Camberley

I love different designed weddings


cakes, especially this one. Focal
teapot with hand crafted teacup
cakes. Beautiful work!
Cakes by Nina Camberley

Iced Dreams DOWNHAM

Elegant and sophisticated three


tiered cake with beautiful pink
blossoms decorating the tops of
each tier.
Iced Dreams Downham

One of my all time favorite weddings


cakes.Love the use of deep purple for
the flowers flowers clothing detail for
the groom.
42
Scrumpti)s Cakes
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Beautiful chocolate wrapped


layered cake decorated with fresh
berries and flowers.
Scrumptious Cakes

43
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Ka,ryns Cakes

Beautiful and elegant three tiered


cake, decorated with a fantastic
spray of sugar flowers. Lovely!
Kathryns Cakes

44
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Roxy Rara

Chocolate wrapped cake, adorned


with beautiful fresh berries.
Gold detailed chocolate rose finishes
off this fantastic cake!
RoxyRara

45
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Rosebud Cakes

My favourite indian inspired wedding


cake. A beautifully decorated saree
cascading down three tiers of cake.
Love the gold detailing around the
cake and saree too - Stunning!
Rosebud Cakes

46
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Fancy Cakes by Linda

Action packed and fun James Bond


themed wedding cake. Love the
crashed plane in the side of the
cake. Another favorite of mine, just
fantastic!
Fancy Cakes by Linda
47
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Fancy Cakes by Linda

Another cake by Linda, superb design-


bride and groom combined cake.
Clever and beautifully created, I just
love the way the board has been
decorated and incorporated into the
design of the bottom cake- fantastic
work!
Fancy Cakes by Linda
48
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Coco Blossom Chocolates and Cakes

Chocolate and fresh fruit combination


with transfers used for detailing the
corners. Lovely alternative to the
usual chocolate wraps!
Coco Blossom Chocolates and Cakes

49
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Cupcakes by L)(e

Beautiful shades of blue pastels


with gorgeous vintage sugar pieces
and beautiful ruffles cascading
down four tiers of deep sponge.
Gorgeous!
Cupcakes by Louise
50
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

PetiteSweet ~Cake B)tique

Love the colour combination on this


cake. Beautiful green hand painted
leaves with deep garnet coloured
painted flowers and sugar roses - just
a stunning cake.
PetiteSweet - Cake Boutique
51
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

GemCakes

Three tiers of white chocolate


cigerellos finished with chocolate fans
and roses.
Uniform colour creates a beautiful
finished cake!
GemCakes
52
CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

Doro’s d (cup cakes)

Something different but refreshingly simple-


NAKED sponge decorated with fresh fruit
and flowers, finished with a dusting of icing
sugar. I love this!
Doro’s d. (cup) cakes
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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

&e Chocolate Strawberry

Last and by no means least, one of my


favourite wedding cake designs with
beautiful words adorning the sides of
a three tier wedding cake.
Love all the work from this business-
Excellent!
The Chocolate Strawberry

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CAKE MASTERS MAGAZINE ~ AUGUST 2012

are you following our boards?

Cake Masters Boards


55

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