Just a Quick Word About Booking

We are now fully booked for Summer until September. We hate having to say no and really advise that bookings for wedding cakes are made as early as possible. We already have bookings for next year so to guarantee your date please give us a call soon. You can sort out the design etc. nearer the time but at least that's one thing ticked off your list!

Email:       thecaketree@hotmail.com
Mob:         7711580407
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theoriginalcaketree
Twitter:     twitter.com/jojocaketree
Website     www.caketree.co.uk

See you soon....The Cake Tree folk

Baby Cakes

Phew! We've been very busy here at The Cake Tree these last six weeks as the wedding season gets going. there has also been a lot of christenings too! two of our wedding clients have returned with christening orders this year which is so lovely and a real privilege!!

One such cake was almost as big as his mummy's wedding cake! Our lemon cake for the top tier and the ever popular vanilla sponge for the base.

The lemon cake is a lovely, dense concoction layered with buttercream and handmade lemon curd which is drenched in our own syrup made from organic sugar and lemon juice. Its more a pudding really and has almond included for an even yummier texture.

Of course we make a little extra just in case....which was not required so it went very well with a welcome cuppa for the workers. You have to keep them happy because happy workers means gorgeous cakes! {The lemon cake recipe will be available in the next post along with the baby elephant tutorial which uses a technique that makes such pieces lighter.}

Baby Leon's christening cake

Latest News

Our new website is nearly ready and we're really excited that our cakes are being photographed by the professional photographer Paul Karalius {www.paulkaralius.com} who has worked with many high profile clients such as the Open Eye gallery on Liverpool's waterfront. 

Of course we need to mention our web designer David Lenderyou who developed our first site and is now putting the final touches to our updated version which we are delighted with. 

So it's a bit of a face lift for The Cake Tree and with all this 'refurbishment' comes a new collection of wedding cakes we hope you will love. We'll keep you posted!

Vegan Cake Options..Bananas and White Chocolate

Vegan cakes are just as delicious as the non vegan and to prove it The Cake Tree folk have been experimenting with various recipes.

Some have been downright disasters!! {The white chocolate mud cake that you could build a house with!} Others however have been a delightful surprise and have joined the list of successful recipes waiting for a chance to become a wedding/celebration cake.

We've saved one such cake for you…an easy and absolutely delicious banana/vegan white chocolate cake. Beware! This cake is so easy and quick to make that you could be in danger of cake overload. 

We've given both American and British measurements…we used the American measuring cup method  for speedy preparation and these are readily available on this side of the pond now. {don't use ordinary cups please.}

Just so you know: Vegan white chocolate can behave a bit strangely in some recipes and the best we've tried to date is the Humdinger dairy free white chocolate buttons sold in most supermarkets but they're only in 25g bags but two of these is sufficient for the recipe so don't worry about the extra 7g it will not change the cake. {Sorry do not know of a good American equivalent.}

Don't worry about the vinegar or lemon and lime juice..sounds a bit crazy but they are needed to help the cake rise and you can't taste them…honest!

If you like you can also grease and line the base of four 20cm sandwich tins and cook the cakes for 15-20 mins, again depending on your oven OR….halve the recipe for just two 20cm sandwich tins or one 20cm deep tin. Oh…and you can make cup cakes from the batter too about 24 large ones and you only need a half a paper wrapper full as these rise really well because of the double sifting.

The Cake

We've all had a bowl of these at some time especially when you have fussy individuals who like their bananas only just ripe!! {Jo?}

But they're still good and the flavour is so intense that they are ideal for a cake so here's a cake that takes full advantage.

Vegan White Chocolate and Banana Cake

Ingredients

57g 1/2 cup vegan white chocolate drops

420g/3 cups self raising flour

225ml/1 cup vegetable oil {sunflower}

2 tbsp white vinegar or lemon {we used lime} juice 

400g/2 cups castor sugar

pinch of sea salt

four large or six small bananas

Method

First of all the music

This is very important and it has to be loud!!

Metallica = Cakes that ROCK

{Sorry…Jo's a real 'Metal head'}

Heat your oven to 180C or 170C if fan assisted

Grease and line the bottom of two 20cm cake tins {If not non stick you will need to line the tins completely} This is important as the mixture does stick a little.

In a separate medium size bowl

Mash the bananas well

add the oil and salt

In a separate large mixing bowl 

Twice sift the flour

add the sugar

 add the chocolate drops

Now, add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well to combine {and make sure there are no dry bits}

Do not over do it. The ingredients should be just blended.

Pour into tins equally {you'll need a spoon to help as the mixture is quite thick and sticky}

Make sure the batter is evenly distributed in the tins and pop into oven straight away.

Bake for 35-40minutes depending on your oven until golden brown and pulling away from the sides.

Check by pushing cocktail stick to the bottom and out. If still sticky/gooey leave another five minutes and keep checking there after until the stick comes out clean.

Leave to cool on a rack for 10 minutes and then turn out. {Make sure the cake is cooling on it's bottom side}

When cool, sandwich the cake with vegan "buttercream" and dust with icing sugar

Vegan "Buttercream"

50g soft vegan margarine

100g icing sugar

tsp vanilla extract

Mix icing sugar and margarine carefully until sugar has stopped 'puffing' and then beat until light and fluffy adding the vanilla extract mid way.

A little dash of cherry jam goes nicely when sandwiching the layers just make sure you smooth it on after the 'butter' cream or the frosting will slide all over the place!

If frosting the surface of the cake American style…pop the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up the 'butter' cream and stabilise the cake ready to smooth the frosting on top and sides.

Try a scattering of chocolate drops or decoration of your choice

We would have frosted our cake here but it didn't last long enough!

Easter Chocolate Cupcakes

Easter is always the time for chocolate here at The Cake Tree and today we've been baking chocolate cupcakes with little buttercream nests. They're really simple, fun and delicious so we thought you may like to make some too! So here's a little step by step 'how to'.

First the ingredients: 

Cake

225g of castor sugar 

200g SR Flour {combined with the..}

25g cocoa powder

225g unsalted butter

Four large eggs

Vanilla extract

Mini chocolate eggs {with the sugar coating} 

Pearly sprinkles but you can use any sprinkles you like

Buttercream

225g unsalted butter

500g icing sugar

100g good couverture milk chocolate drops

2 teaspoons milk

Heat the oven to 180C/ or 170C/ for 

fan assisted 

With the mixer on high {but not 'mad' high!} cream the butter and 

sugar until light and fluffy, {this can take about five minutes}  

add a teaspoon of vanilla extract

The colour will become light and creamy coloured

{There's usually a mug of tea on the go whilst watching.}

}

Once the butter and sugar are creamed together, gradually add 

the eggs one at a time with a teaspoon of the flour/chocolate mix 

{this helps stop the mix separating.} Switch the mixer to slow and 

add the flour/cocoa mixture to the batter, dessert spoon by 

dessert spoon ensuring it is combined between spoonfuls.

Pop the batter into the cases {a good dessert spoonful will do.}

Place into the middle of the oven and cook for 20 - 25 minutes 

but keep an eye on them and try not to open the oven door too 

soon or they'll sink in the middle.

The downside to all this? The washing up!… 

Upside?... Cake!

Cool the cakes in the tin for ten minutes the turn out to cool 

completely on a cooling rack.

While cakes are cooling {and after you've cleaned the mixing 

bowl!} mix the butter and icing sugar on slow and add a
teaspoon of vanilla extract.

                                Once the ingredients are combined gradually increase the speed 
                                            and continue until the mixture is light and fluffy. 

Melt the chocolate slowly in a heat proof bowl over simmering
pan of water stirring until smooth then cool until just warm.

add to the buttercream and on slow speed until thoroughly 

combined.

Ensure the cakes are cooled completely and if you have an icing 

bag and nozzle fill with the butter cream and pipe from the 

centre out to form 'nests alternatively smooth on with a spatula 

then add sprinkles and chocolate eggs

PS. A good way to add sprinkles is to fill a small bowl and 

lightly dip the top of the cakes into the sprinkles

The wet weather did not dampen spirits at the Rainford Wedding Fair and The Cake Tree received some pretty positive comments from all who saw the cakes especially the 'new arrivals' from our  'Couture Cake' range.
We are busy designing and creating a new and exciting collection of wedding cakes with current trends in mind and introducing a colourful twist as well as the more traditional whites and ivories.
Jo's 'Colour Stories' cakes are becoming a key feature that combine the affordable and contemporary with winning colour palettes. A little something unique and special! We'll keep you all posted when we launch in April along with the new look website. Bye for now…The Cake Tree People

Wedding Fayre

Well it's Spring as if you didn't already know and the season kicks off with a Wedding Fayre at the Village Hall this Sunday.

Rainford will be hosting its annual event presenting the best in local wedding services and of course cake!

It all starts at 11am until 4pm and promises to be a great day out. So if you're in the area and preparing for that 'special day' or just thinking about 'popping the question' why not come and join us at this lovely venue:

The Village Hall

Rainford

Lancashire

WA11 8HB

{Plenty of parking available opposite the hall}

Here's a little taster of the gorgeous cakes that will be on display at The Cake Tree stand. Hope to see you soon. X The Cake Tree team

Birthday Cakes for Grown Ups

Here's the latest cake for a lady who wants to keep her age a secret but still celebrate in style. Delivered yesterday on a beautiful bright Spring Sunday. The individual blooms are all flower paste, individually coloured and hand made to a particular palette.

They are such a joy to look at and one of Jo's favourite things to do…creating what she likes to call 'colour stories' that are so distinctive and unique.

It takes time to mix and prepare all the differing hues. Each part of the floral pieces are carefully rolled out to an equally thin depth and cut out into various sizes.

Once the cake is covered in fondant each one is carefully attached with Tylose glue….specially for sugar work and edible we hasten to add!

I'm sure you'll agree it's a delight! And the feedback was so positive:

'Many thanks for my beautiful birthday cake it also tastes great! Thank you xxxAndy'

Mother's Day

Hello again from The Cake Tree

We hope you're enjoying Mothers Day all you wonderful mums in 'blog land' and to share the love we've made you all a virtual cup of tea and my mum's recipe, morello cherry and almond cupcakes.

As you can see we've brought out the best china and popped the cakes onto one of our Art Deco glass cake stands….we've got quite a collection of vintage tableware that we use for our trade stands.

Bon appetite! Hugs and love from The Cake Tree

Birthday Girls….Eva

 Eva's cakes

Little girl's birthdays are one our favourite celebrations to make cakes for. Usually pretty with yummy colours we have our regulars who come back year after year with their own particular ideas.
Eva is no exception. She's a girl who knows what she wants! So here are a selection from the last four years.

Princess Eva!

The princess's maids in waiting {waiting to eat them!}

 A chocolate cake made with premium couverture milk chocolate {the skirt} and all the colours are from natural source pigments….some children and adults can be sensitive to the usual colours.

We do make up our own colours for the fondant coverings and model making as we can be sure that the colours are natural. The browns are from chocolate powder. A difficult colour to make.

Eva is a fairy princess this time complete with glittery wings and her own magical unicorn!

Of course she has her fairy maids in attendance

A pretty dress with sweet rose trim and of course…her sparkly crown

Eva's first cake was a bit different..she kept changing her mind despite having planned it for nearly two months! She eventually settled on jungle animals but not just one….all these!

Elephants and lions

Giraffes and zebras

Jungle cake…chocolate of course

Finally……the unicorns have their day again complete with twinkly stars….well it is magic!

The Original Cake Tree

Hello and welcome

Thanks for popping into The Cake Tree. Its lovely to see you.

We are a bespoke celebration cake business based in the North West of England providing wonderfully individual cakes for every special occasion. Delicious and freshly baked from the best local and organic ingredients….The Cake Tree strives for the best in customer care and attention to detail.

Our premier service provides Couture Cakes for weddings. In keeping with the latest trends in fashion and themes…a must for any discerning bride and groom and with a professional designer on hand to advise…..we create the perfect compliment to any setting.

So…here we are. We hope you enjoy our regular soirees into the world of all things cake and more.

Designer:

Hi I'm Jo Smith the designer/owner of The Cake Tree.
I can remember the first time we made a cake for the business. The client wanted a 50th birthday cake for  man who loved to scuba dive and sail his small boat.
Excited at the prospect and wanting to impress….I baked a fruit cake concoction {lots of the finest rum!} with an adventurous 3D model of a boat and painted cake {before it really became popular!} Here's the finished cake and a close up of the relief images arranged around the sea-life.

sugar paste cut out turtle, hand painted in food colouring

         I'm a graduate in illustration and 3D design so I did what I knew best…

I can remember being so frightened when the client came to pick up the cake. She just stood, silent, mouth open, and looked stunned! The lady in question turned round and for one brief moment I thought 'she hates it!'

The huge hug I got and the thanks was a great relief but more to the point I was so pleased that she loved it.

Its a feeling I never tire of and the reason we do what we do here at The Cake Tree.

I hope you enjoy what you see on our blog and become regular visitors..x Jo

The business:

Using fresh, local and where ever possible, organic, our mantra has been only the best ingredients. You cannot have delicious and memorable without the finest ingredients…..cheap and cheerful does not cut it where The Cake Tree is concerned.

The business is the original celebration cake designers of couture wedding and celebration confections in the North West {and the UK for that matter,} with the name 'The Cake Tree'…not to be confused with others who have since chosen the same name and who cater for a quite different sector. 

We think our cakes speak volumes!

We do not use ready printed sugar paste images {al la supermarket cakes.} You can buy them cheaply from said shops and certain bakers. We realise that our customers are discerning and want the bespoke and unique.

We avoid gimmick so there are no 'rude' cakes in our repertoire or strange balancing acts of jugs pouring ale into mugs et al!! Clever and perhaps more for competition work... but not for us.

You'll notice we only use our own 'characters' for children's cakes too…Licences for book and film mean we can't use others unless they are free and there are not many that are. So we steer clear…but then unique cakes are our speciality.

Little Emilia Mouse..she just wants a hug

Footnote
It's a shame that we need to emphasis 'original' but certain individuals have felt the need to use our trade marked name and claim it as their own despite the obvious similarity {and proximity} to our own….rather wonderful…celebration cake business.

Still…we think quality speaks volumes and we are proud to be able to say that our cakes are delicious, freshly baked and beautifully crafted concoctions, befitting of any special occasion!

Birthday . Wedding Day . Any Day

Take a look at our website at: www.caketree.co.uk  and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theoriginalcaketree   and enjoy!

The Cake Tree Team