Cake #119 - Xmas Cat Bauble

Thursday Cat Theme Cake - Xmas Cat Bauble.

This cat cake was a surprise gift to somebody who likes strawberry jam (I have heard), cats (I have seen a picture of him with a cat) and my cakes or at least pictures of them (I know).

The cake itself is a white sponge, filled with strawberry jam and covered with icing. The little cat is made of sugar paste, the text is red-coloured icing,

Cake #118 - Spicy Apple Pancake

Wednesday Natural Ingredient / Healthy Cake - Spicy Apple Pancake with Vanilla Sauce and Mint.

A great snack or dessert!

Spicy Apple Pancake
3 eggs
300 ml milk
1 tsp baking powder
200 ml plain flour
½ tsp salt

2 big cooking apples, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
50 g butter

1. Preheat the oven to 200 C / 390 F.
2. Grease a Ø 28 cm cake pan and place the apple slices on the pan. Sprinkle sugar and spices on the apple slices and the rest of the butter.
3. Bake the apples in the oven for 10 minutes while you make the batter.
4. For the batter mix all ingredients together and beat well to make it smooth.
5. The take pan out the oven and pour the batter over the apples. Place the pan back into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.
6. Serve warm with home-made vanilla creme.

Cake #117 - Split Santa

Tuesday Humour Cake - Split Santa.

I baked the cake in the morning but then I didn't have time to decorate it before a (scary) dentist appointment later on the day. I had said to my daughter (12) and son (9) that they could decorate the cake on my behalf (in case I wouldn't feel well) and they were excited to do so. 

However, nothing had happened by the time I got home. The kids were just arguing who would do what and when and how. Excellent ideas they had, cannot blame but no teamwork whatsoever...

Amazingly, I was feeling well but no that well I would stand any major fight (can you ever be...) so I just took a knife and cut the cake in half.

Amazingly, the kids were happy and here's the result.

On the left: "Toxic Half-Santa" by my son.

On the right: "Half-Santa from Outer Space" by my daughter.

Cake #116 - Saffron Boston Cake

Monday Mood Cake - Saffron Boston Cake with Raisins and Nuts.

Simply, I felt like eating some "pulla" (sweet buns)!!!

I have made a cinnamon bun Boston Cake earlier and now I used the same recipe with the addition of a pinch of saffron in the dough. For the filling I mixed 100 g soft butter, 100 ml light brown sugar, 50 g raisins, 50 g mixed nuts, ½ tsp groung ginger and 1 tsp ground cinnamon. On top I sprinkled pearl sugar.

Best fresh. If not eaten the same day, put it in the freezer. 

Cake #115 - The Snowman

Sunday Classic - The Snowman.

We all love The Snowman movie. It is a true Christmas tradition to watch it together with the family on Christmas Eve. 

I love the music of the movie, too. Especially I love this version of Walking in the Air by Finnish Nightwish.

Cake #114 - Irish Breakfast Cake

Savoury Saturday Cake - Irish Breakfast Cake, with Sausages, Streaky Bacon, Black Pudding, White Pudding and Red Cheddar.

To be served for Sunday breakfast with eggs and beans.

I used this recipe, the same I used for making my Sausage Cake a while ago. The filling is made of slices of black pudding, white pudding, pork sausages and streaky bacon which I fried on a pan before compiling and baking the cake.

Cake #113 - Prune Cake

Friends First Friday Cake - Prune Cake.

This cake is for traditional Christmas cards as in the digital world they are getting rare. I appreciate very much each and every card the postman brings me. Myself, I post about 50 cards every Christmas and I do hope the recipients appreciate them as well...

The recipe for this cake is the same as for my Date Cake. Instead of dates I used a 400 g can of prunes which I did not boil as they were soft enough to mash with a fork and mix with the melted butter. If you use dried prunes, boil them the way you would boil the dates.

The week I baked this cake was a hectic one - everybody in the family coming and going and nobody really being home eating  my cakes. My poor husband had to take this cake to the office to his poor colleagues to enjoy on their coffee break but apparently they had liked it and somebody had even asked for a recipe so I am happy about that at least.