Cake Decorating in the 80s & 90s

By Lorraine Hakes2 Comments
The 80s and early 90s was a good time to be growing up. Parties were simpler back then with just close family or maybe a couple of friends over for processed foods, pass-the-parcel and presents. We had parties at home and my mum would always make the birthday cake for my brother and me.  I've kind of followed this tradition with my son and this year he's having a few friends over for pizza, pass-the-parcel and cake. A couple of years ago I went through the box of photos my mum has and found some pictures of our cakes through the years.  I've tried to edit the photos to show the details and they're great examples of the history of cake decorating! My son has asked me for a Simpsons themed cake this year for his birthday (which might change before May!) but it goes to show that some things don't go out of fashion. If you browse the cooking section of charity...
Read More

Jersey Boys themed celebration cake

By Lorraine HakesNo Comments
The brief for this order was to make a Jersey Boys celebration cake with "wow" factor, including lights into the design. Cake Board I started with the cake board so it would have time to set before transferring the cake onto it.  This was covered in white fondant and scored to look like wooden floorboards - like a stage.  I then mixed a little vodka with brown food colouring and brushed this mix over the cake board.  I applied a second coat so that some areas were darker than others for an authentic look. Before After The cake consisted of seven layers of vanilla sponge sandwiched with vanilla buttercream. The bottom tier was a square shape for contrast and covered in blue fondant to match the background of the Jersey Boys logo.  This was printed on icing along with the Jersey Boys and added to the bottom tier.  I added a diamonte effect cake trim, as well as plenty of glitter and stars. The back of the...
Read More

Cake beginnings

By Lorraine HakesNo Comments
For the love of cake...My early cakes had seriously lumpy icing and the cake was so dry they shared textural similarities with the cinnamon challenge.  This did not stop me forcing people to accept homemade cakes as presents. I now use a better recipe for a moist *shudder* vanilla sponge and I believe I have improved my skills when it comes to the decoration too (trying so hard not to sound full of myself here!)  Enough so that I'm boldly entering into the competitive world of cake decorating (what was I thinking?!) Pepa Pig Sponge Bob Call of Duty Pac-Man In my mid-twenties, I moved from where I lived in South-West London, to Essex so I could live with my (then) boyfriend.  His daughter is now 13, but back then, she was a wee girl of just 4.  For her 5th birthday, I wanted to bake a cake and one of her favourite characters was Peppa Pig.  I had baked lots of cupcakes and Swiss Rolls when I was at school, but...
Read More