The perfect cake...

So I have about 100 different, inspiring cake recipes I'd like to try and different skills I'd like to practice but I will not let myself try these until I am happy and settled with my wedding favour cupcakes.

My goal is to find the perfect cake that is moist and will stay delicious after 3-4 days as, being a wedding, there will be tons of other stuff that I'd need to do and making and decorating 80 cupcakes will just be extra stress! So I either make them 4-5 days before and then ice 1-2 days before, or, make the cupcakes in advance and freeze. I also need them to be about 2.5 inches tall, including the icing, so that they look right in the cupcake box.

I have found a great chocolate sponge recipe that tastes great 5 days out the oven, and also comes out the freezer unaffected. Problem is that it has no dome to it - therefore not much height.

So I'm on the mission to find the perfect sponge - white mud, chocolate, vanilla - anything, that'll taste great and have a good dome for icing.

Firstly I'm trying the Planet Cake white chocolate mud, then the Exclusively food white chocolate mud, then this inspiring idea or making holes in a vanilla sponge and pouring lemon juice and icing sugar in there. I'm also going to experiment with my favourite chocolate sponge recipe and see if by using more self raising flour, I can achieve a better dome.

The next problems to solve are: Getting a delicious butter cream that withstands the heat and is safe to eat after 2 days and to find the right tins and paper cases to make large cupcakes.

All this testing will result in lots of cake that needs to be eaten so I will be looking for volunteers, otherwise I won't fit into my wedding dress!

Classic Victoria Sponge

As been a while since I have made a cake due to getting engaged and all the drinking and partying that follows!:-) I had the house to myself on sat and so I was planning on making cupcakes to practice my piping. I even bought the good quality colour paste for the cake suppliers.

But we had an impromptu BBQ for a friends bday and I offered to make a cake. Classic Victoria sponge with jam and cream is her favourite so I attempted to make a light and fluffy sponge.

Came out quite well I thought so this morning I covered both inside halves of the cakes with strawberry jam and whipped cream. Too much whipped cream though as it went everywhere when cutting it! It was the 1st really hot weekend since winter and although keeping the cake in the shade the cream did not like the heat and looked a little weird. Still yummy though! I had 2 large slices!!!!

Next weekend I’ll do the cupcakes....