We’re frequently asked why we don’t offer sit-down consultations and tasting sessions for weddings. Our co-owner Mark Sinjakli explains why at My Baker, we do things a bit differently.
“This is a highly contrived image for commercial purposes. I’m a businessman – I have never baked a cake in my life and I wouldn’t know where to start! Luckily I know 200 incredible bakers who do.” - Mark Sinjakli
We recognise that for some couples, there is no substitute for meeting your baker face to face. Tasting samples, having a detailed design consultation, perhaps even doing that with 2-3 different bakers before choosing the preferred one, is kind of a rite of passage.
Here at My Baker, we just can’t help asking “why?” The reality is that someone has to pay for these “free” consultations, so they are built into the price of the wedding cake that follows.
In fact, if bakers offer free consultations, and not every customer goes ahead, then the chances are that prices have to go up further to cover the cost of these consultations that don’t lead to a sale.
Semi Naked Wedding Cake (Tall Tiers)
Order HereAt My Baker, we want every customer to be delighted with their cake, and that goes double for an occasion as important as a wedding. However, we think this can be achieved in a different way.
Let’s be honest -weddings aren’t cheap. And if you are a young couple you might be thinking about starting a family (or already have one), and saving for a deposit on a new home, which of course is harder than ever.
Fleurs de Printemps
Our approach to your wedding cake can be explained in five easy steps:
*Delivery fee is not redeemable.
Rustic Ripple Sunrise Cake
When Robert Burns wrote “the best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry”, I don’t think he was specifically talking about wedding cakes, but he could well have been!
We frequently receive calls from distressed brides or grooms. The cake has been months in the planning and suddenly the baker can’t do it any more.
We get it. That’s why we call our range “Weddings Within A Week”. We don’t mind a bit more notice, but when push comes to shove, with the host of talent working with My Baker, we can move pretty quickly to get you the cake design and flavours you want, made by a talented baker, and delivered on time.
In short, we move quickly if we need to – AND we never compromise on quality.
Obsidian Dreams
We’re quite happy to admit that we aren’t the people to come to for free samples or face to face consultations. It’s not how our business works.
But if you:
Then we’d be honoured to help with your special day.
]]>In this new Baker Spotlight series, we seek to highlight some of the hidden gem bakers of the UK.
Artisanal Bakers of Britain - we salute you!
Sadly it is not possible to make each article exhaustive, and we will inevitably leave out some brilliant cakes and bakers - it's just a bit of fun! We also highlight where a baker is affiliated with My Baker.
So without further ado, let's dive in! Where better to start than Mark's home city of Liverpool?
We were blown away by this burger cake from Create a Cake Liverpool! The vibrant and distinctive layers of the burger and the incredibly realistic bowl of coleslaw make for a true work of art.
This Spongebob Squarepants bespoke cake is two tiers of fun. We love how the topper has been done in the iconic Spongebob title font, and the way the characters are placed on edible sand.
Based in the Walton area of Liverpool, Jennifer joined us in 2021. We love what she's done with one of our best selling Baby Shower Cakes, the Gender Reveal, available here!
We love Meggie’s Krispy Kreme cake. Complete with a perfect drip and buttercream swirls - donut mind if I do!
Lou Lou the Buttercream Queen proves that cake is appropriate for any occasion! We love the simplicity of this cake and its delicately placed decorations.
Kate joined us last year and makes cakes and bakes for all occasions. We thought this cheese and onion pasty cake was well worth a shout out. Who knew a pasty could look so glamorous?
Diane joined us in March 2021 after her baking business was born out of creating cakes for family and friends. Here we've featured Diane’s take on our classic Biscoff Cake with an added drip. See a cake you like but want a little bit more flourish? Our team are around 7 days a week, 10am to 6pm to help with any additional customisation requests.
Fariha knocked it out the (safari) park with this trio of My Baker cakes. Here we have a stunning 10” On Safari Cake and a double helping of Letter Cakes. Order yours online straight from our website!
Crumbs and Cutters has such skill and precision in the execution of their cakes that we found it hard to choose one! In the end we had to go with this superhero cake as we think it proves how such a simple but vibrant design can make a cake look so unique.
This cake by The Cake Technician based in Prescot really caught our eye. The combination of edible image and fondant decoration is cleverly done and brings the whole cake to life.
Next time we'll be looking at those hidden gem bakers in Belfast.
What do you think? What was your favourite cake in Liverpool? Who did we miss out? Please let us know in our comments.
Scroll through to browse our selected summer bakes as well as a guide on how to keep your cakes cool and fresh in the summer heat!
Our Featured Summer Cakes
This cake is perfect for any elegant summer occasion: birthday, engagement party, bridal shower, or even a baby shower! This fresh and seasonal cake has a moist lemon sponge, and completing the look is an array of seasonal fresh foliage.
Our heart melts for this deliciously light buttercream cake! An ode to everyone’s favourite ice cream. Undeniably sweet and cool, it’s complete with cones and frosting scoops in complimenting pastel colours. A delectably light layered sponge with smooth velvety buttercream is sandwiched within the cake’s interior. A perfect addition to any occasion for lovers of cake and ice cream!
Fruit Topped Summer Cakes
Fruit topped cakes are perfect for summer as they make the most of the freshest seasonal fruits at the peak of their ripeness and flavour. We've selected a few of our favourites:
Classic Summer Cakes
Not looking to break the bank? Our simple, elegant Classic Collection is just the job.
Summer Cupcakes
We've handpicked our most summery cupcakes, available in boxes of 12 or 24 and delivered right to your door
Here are our tips on cake storage in warm heat:
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Missed it? Catch the highlights on our instagram.
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What was once a hardy alternative to cupcakes has now become an artisan treat in its own right.
From Ed Kimber’s truly decadent recipe for salted caramel cocoa brownies with burnt meringue topping,
to Bon Appétit's gluten-free chocolate brownies with a salty-sweet tahini swirl
Brownies are now far from ordinary. Here at My Baker we are celebrating them with our Uniquely Sumptuous Brownies By Post.
You can order a box of one of our six delicious flavours:
and get them shipped straight to your door. Can’t decide? Choose the ‘selection box’ and get one of each in a single package.
Treat yourself or a loved one from afar, and with the option of gluten free and vegan boxes too, everyone can enjoy our wonderful selection.
Psst! Use code BROWNIES10 at checkout for 10% off on us!
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Here at My Baker we’ve heard those universal cries of confusion, for this ever-elusive cake and want to help solve the mystery.
Delving into the cake’s history, we must initially cast our minds back to the Victorian era. Where it’s thought this cake originated. This was a time of political unrest and industrialisation; Britain was changing and so were its recipes.
The advancements of the industrial revolution saw steam ships and the railway network importing ingredients from far-flung and exotic places. With new foods to experiment with and advances in ranges and ovens, there was now more control than ever with cooking and of course baking. As culinary exploration became the norm for the wealthy.
It became apparent, throughout this time, that two distinct types of cake had begun to emerge; The Velvet Cake and the Devil’s Food Cake. Both were a decidedly decadent dessert of choice for societies elite, differing just slightly with their ingredients.
The Devil’s Food Cake incorporated chocolate whereas The Velvet Cake often used a cocoa-based mixture. This combing of cocoa and flour acted as a softening agent, creating a perfectly crumbed, soft and velvety cake texture.
Research showed that before the modern advances of food colouring, depicting all the vivid shades of the rainbow, the iconic sponge acquired its signature red look from a slightly different method.
Traditionally the recipe listed a buttermilk or vinegar aspect that activated with the cakes baking soda. Making the velvet-like texture and luxurious Victorian Velvet Cake delicacy. When combined with the non-alkalised cocoa powder it saw the cake mixture become a dark reddish-brown shade.
Though of course, this would have been a slightly less vibrant red than its 21st Century successor, it would be safe to assume that, with that reddish-brown sponge, our Victorian ancestors are the ‘OG’ Red Velvet creators. With their radical cooking ideas and velvet cakes paving the way for the birth of The Red Velvet cake.
Having only ever been referenced as a Velvet Cake prior to this, it’s first national debut was listed within the pages of Irma S Rombauer’s ‘The Joy of Cooking’. A piece of culinary literature printed in 1943. This was a cookbook that inspired Julia Child and depicted The Red Velvet Cake’s defining characteristics; it’s velvety texture, chocolatey flavour and iconic red sponge.
Although Irma’s description left little to be desired, claiming she didn’t much care for it!
Of course, this initial criticism has in no way hindered the global love of this unusual cake. In fact, it’s had our American cousins fighting over who first introduced The Red Velvet Cake stateside.
Both the Adams Extract Company and Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City claim to be the cakes birthplace. Popularising it for an American palate and creating that signature red sponge with food colouring throughout the 1920s and 1950s.
One mystery that still remains unsolved however is the originator of The Red Velvet’s iconic cream cheese frosting. Red Velvet recipes originally called for an ermine icing, a roux or boiled milk base, before being replaced with the easier alternative; the beloved cream cheese frosting.
The cream cheese added a juxtaposing colour, texture and undeniable tang that’s become the cake topping of choice. The stark contrast of red sponge to white icing is a sight recognised the world over and is an undeniable Red Velvet-ism.
Unusually, the cakes sales in the US and UK have been known to peak at varying times. The US’s Red Velvet Cake peaks in December. Perhaps its festive red coloured sponge makes it the perfect addition to a holiday spread? Whereas the UK’s Red Velvet Cake peaks in February. No doubt again in part to its red interior, depicting the colour of love.
So, while we can’t say for certain The US birthplace of the humble Red Velvet or if the Victorians really were the cakes creators, we can conclude it’s one extraordinary concoction! One that’s become the flavour of choice for all manner of treats. From lattes to candles, the worlds gone crazy for Red Velvet and so has My Baker.
We have two sensational Red Velvet cakes available to buy from our shop. Choose from our Classic Red Velvet (also available in a Semi-Naked finish) or our extra special You’re Baking Me Crazy Cake pairs fantastically with a red velvet sponge!
Both incorporate an undeniably rich and velvety sponge cake, layered with that signature cream cheese and mascarpone frosting. Topped with even more cream cheese (because you can never have too much!) and finished with fresh fruit or the crumbed red velvet sponge.
However, these are far from the only red velvet cakes we have on the shop. For almost all of our shop cakes, you can select red velvet as your desired flavour. Some customer favourites are the Watercolour to Canvas Cake and the Peachy Keen Drip Cake.
Whether you’ve been a lifelong lover of all things Red Velvet or unsure it’s the cake for you we hope that knowing a little more about its history you’ll be a fellow Red Velvet advocate and enjoy a slice (or two) courtesy of My Baker!
]]>Did they want fondant or buttercream? One tier or two? Red Velvet or Chocolate? Your brain awash with obscure cake details but you’re still none the wiser as to which one to choose.
That’s why MY BAKER has turned to astrology. This could be considered a tenuous link. Until you realise there’s twelve distinct zodiac signs and twelve brand new cakes available on our shop! With our finest artisan bakers delivering across London and Birmingham in 24-48 hours.
Each zodiac possesses its own traits and preferences, all of them different in their own right. Much like our shop cakes, with each one unique and flavoursome.
From our undeniably delicious Biscoff cake to our classic Victoria Sponge. Who’s to say it’s not written in the stars that for each zodiac sign there’s a perfectly matched cake?
If you’re intrigued to see which cake, we think you would be then keep reading!
Aries (21st March – 19th April) – The Chocolate Orange Cake
https://mybaker.co/products/terrys-chocolate-orange-cake
Aries are the first of the zodiac signs and often characterised as quick thinking and competitive natured. Symbolised as rams, those that fall under this sign are undeniably ambitious and bold. Diving headfirst into whatever challenges life presents!
Which is why My Baker think the perfect cake to celebrate an Aries birthday would have to be our delectable Chocolate Orange Cake.
Dive headfirst into this combination cake, as two richly bold and diverse flavours compete to create a flavoursome match made in heaven. Uniting high cocoa content chocolate with citrusy orange notes, before being coated in a smooth velvety buttercream and topped with jellied orange slices. We’re sure this cake will be a winner with Aries the world over!
Taurus (20th April – 20th May) – The Lemon Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/lemon-cake
The Taurus, depicted as the bull, are known for their love of serenity and bucolic environments. Falling under the earth sign, Taureans are notoriously spirited beings and lovers of soft sounds and succulent flavours. Making The Zesty Lemon Cake our first choice!
With its soft sponge interior, lashings of smooth velvety buttercream and zingy lemon accents. A flavourful sensation with a rustic charm, we’re sure it will be the perfect accompaniment to a Taurus’ birthday celebration.
Gemini (21st May – 20th June) – The Peanut Butter Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/peanut-butter-cake
Gemini are characterised as celestial twins, with two distinct parts to their personality. From inquisitive and fun loving, with a fascination of the world around them. To thoughtful and open-minded. Gemini’s distinct curiosity and lovable traits make The Peanut Butter Cake the one for them.
It’s a beautiful combining of textures and flavours, from the smooth buttercream to the crunchy crushed peanut dusting. Each mouthful is an explosion of rich chocolate and salted peanut. Showing how all these juxtaposing elements can come together to work in harmony, creating a seriously delicious cake fit for a Gemini!
Cancer (21st June – 22nd July) – The Brushstroke Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/all-cakes-1/products/brushstroke-cake
Cancers are deeply intuitive, empathetic and loyal. Guided through life by their heart and highly imaginative, with a love of the arts and being surrounded by water. Which is why MY BAKER think the perfect cake to celebrate a Cancer’s birthday is the decadent Brushstroke Cake.
A towering buttercream cake with a pastel toned brushstroke effect. Created using painted shards of chocolate. Symbolic of a splash in the ocean or even an artist’s canvas. Both help determine that this is the perfect choice for the special Cancer sign in your life!
Leo (23rd July – 22nd August) – The Red Velvet Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/red-velvet-cake
Leo’s are often portrayed as passionate and fiery born leaders. With a creative personality and warm-hearted nature the Leo in your life is no doubt a strong and confident figure. One that deserves a cake that’s representative of that. Which is why we have chosen the fierce favourite of many; The Red Velvet Cake.
It’s distinctive rouge coloured interior and crumb dusting that adorns the cakes top encapsulates the inner fiery qualities of a Leo. Before being coated in a tangy cream cheese frosting, acting as a counterbalance to the lightness of the sponge. Surprise the Leo in your life with a cake they’re sure to love!
Virgo (23rd August – 22nd September) – The Carrot Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/carrot-cake
Virgos are lovers of detail, with practical and analytical qualities. Their methodical approach and organisational skills being some of their biggest attributes. Which is why The Carrot Cake is the perfect cake of choice.
The skillful blending of ingredients, ensure the exact quantity of each is used to create a deliciously tasty cake. Topped with a precise number of chopped walnuts and evenly spread smooth velvety buttercream. For the Virgo in your life treat them to a cake that will please their love of precision and no doubt leave them wanting another slice!
Libra (23rd September – 22nd October) – The Salted Caramel Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/salted-caramel-cake
Libra’s are commonly known for being peaceful, fair and haters of conflict. Depicted as scales, balance and symmetry are of great importance in a Libra’s life. Which is why The Salted Caramel Cake, with it’s perfect balance of sweet and salted flavours is the cake of choice for the Libra.
A beautiful combination of rich chocolate sponge and perfectly salted caramel, to create that juxtaposition of flavour sensation that works in harmony. Not forgetting it’s smooth buttercream coating making this the best addition to a Libra’s birthday celebrations, that’s sure to leave guests wanting more!
Scorpio (23rd October – 21st November) – The Biscoff Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/biscoff-cake
Scorpio’s, known for their assertive nature and distinct passion. With decisive and determined attributes they are often great leaders. You can almost always be sure that a Scorpio-born will keep your secret safe. So here’s our best kept secret…our unbelievable Biscoff Cake!
The perfect blend of buttercream and Biscoff. Sandwiched between a seriously light and moist sponge. This cake is a definite Scorpio crowd-pleaser.
Sagittarius (22nd November – 21st December) –The Pistachio Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/pistachio-cake
Sagittatrius are known for their energetic and curious nature. With a love of travel and open-minded view of the world around them. Their optimism and love of change knows no bounds. Which is why The Pistachio Cake is the most obvious choice!
Playing on their curious nature and interest in newfound things, with new textures and flavours that aren’t always common within cake.
The smooth buttercream coating and filling couples perfectly with the crunch of the crushed pistachio’s. That are lightly dusted over the cakes exterior and folded within the cakes mix. A delicious exploration of flavour that will leave the Sagittarius in your life thoroughly excited!
Capricorn (22nd December – 19th January) – The Victoria Sponge Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/victoria-sponge-cake
Capricorn are a zodiac that embody responsibility and time management, commonly known for their love of tradition and their sense of seriousness. While Capricorns maybe masters of self-control in their everyday life we’re sure they won’t be able to stop themselves having another slice of our delicious Victoria Sponge Cake!
The perfect cake for a lover of tradition, this age old classic cake combines soft sponge layers with fresh cream and strawberry jam. Not forgetting the fresh strawberries adorning the cakes top, this really is a cake fit for a Capricorn!
Aquarius (20th January – 18th February) – The Chocolate Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/chocolate-cake
Aquarius are often depicted as shy but definitely have an energetic side! Their deep thinkers and often highly intellectual with a love of helping others. Adapting their energy to those around them and looking at the world as a place of opportunity.
Which is why The Chocolate Cake is the one for an Aquarius. It’s a well-known tried and tested cake flavour, making it a definite crowd-pleaser but our shop cakes high cocoa content make it an extra special! So, treat the Aquarius in your life to something a little extra and indulgent.
Pisces (19th February – 20th March) – The Vanilla Cake
https://mybaker.co/collections/keep-it-classic/products/vanilla-cake
Pisces are lovers of company and friendship. Selfless by nature they will often help others and expected nothing in return. So why not give back to the Pisces in your life by gifting them this stunning Vanilla Cake?
A quintessential cake of choice with lashings of buttercream in a stunning blush pink!
Sure, to be a winner with Pisces you can even add a personalised message expressing your love for them on the cakes top!
We hope our cake and astrology crossover has proven helpful and given you some serious inspiration for any upcoming birthday parties. Be sure to let us know in the comments if we successfully matched your zodiac with a flavour you think you’d love!
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Selasi left the iconic tent in his wake but not before confirming a place in all our hearts! As fellow avid Bake Off viewers can confirm, it was near impossible not to fall in love with Selasi. With his charismatic demeanour and exquisite baking creations! He continually showcased his mouth-watering flavour combinations and perfect piping precision. Leaving us all hungry for more!
Which is why MY BAKER were thrilled when the opportunity to chat to the man himself presented itself. Three years post Bake Off, having now been propelled into the spotlight, we wanted the latest slice on all things Selasi! Delving into what the future holds for our star baker and talking everything from baking to biking.
The first thing we wanted to know was where his baking skills originated?
Selasi spoke fondly, recounting his time spent alternating between studying at university and cooking up a storm in his student digs. With a fellow undergraduate pal, turned cookery teacher, helping him to navigate his way around the kitchen.
It was this time spent experimenting and feeding hungry students that sparked a love of all things cooking for Selasi but his culinary passions can be traced back even further. To his familial connections to the culturally rich and mountainous landscape of Switzerland.
So just what was in Switzerland for Selasi?
Home to an array of quaint villages, medieval cities steeped in history and of course Selasi’s family. It’s picturesque to say the least and it’s where Selasi recalls spending countless holidays. Exploring the Swiss scenery, from the capital’s Bern Zytglogge clock tower to Lucerne’s wooden chapel bridge.
Set against the backdrop of the high peaks of the Alps that cut across the skyline, as avid skiers’ snake their way to the bottom. While Selasi would take to the road. Weaving his way through the landscape on his transport of choice; the scooter. Before he eventually ‘worked up to a motorbike’.
Switzerland embodied Selasi’s love of delicious native delicacies and the freedom travelling by bike presents. It’s easy to see how Selasi fell in love with such a place and why he then undertook an eight-month advanced Chocolate and Patisserie Course at The Culinary Arts Academy in Lucerne, Switzerland! To hone his craft, expand his culinary repertoire and continue to turn a passion into a viable career prospect.
The more we chatted with Selasi the less obscure the links between the worlds of biking and baking seemed. Both have similar qualities. Be it freedom, on the road or the kitchen. Or an element of independence and almost solitude, as most bakers and bikers predominantly work alone. Not forgetting the overlapping of complex mechanics, from the bikes inner workings and engine to the balancing of bake times and ingredient ratio’s.
We asked Selasi if he enjoys the mechanical side of owning a bike?
‘I’m not interested in the mechanics of the motorbike really. I would rather just ride and enjoy the views than be in a workshop.’ (Selasi can still fix up a motorbike though!).
We asked if Selasi had ever seen friends from his opposite worlds of baking and biking come together?
‘I tried with one biker friend but they weren’t interested! They just wanted to ride and not spend all that time in the kitchen and the closest a baking friend got was sitting on the bike!’
Although, his worlds might not be colliding just yet, the baking/biking similarities certainly haven’t stopped the likes of Paul Hollywood, The Hairy Bikers and of course Selasi (to name but a few) alternating between oven mitts and driving gloves, as often as they can.
An important question we wanted to ask Selasi was: what is your dream bike?
‘The one I own now! I got it 3 years ago, the BMW S1000RR.’
Selasi uses it to travel throughout London and has even enjoyed biking it from the capital all the way to the sleepy rolling hills of Somerset, to see fellow Bake Off contestant Val!
It was all smiles in England’s smallest cathedral city of Wells as the pair reunited. Causing an influx of Instagram comments of overjoyed Bake Off fans in their element as Bake Off’s favourite duo, after Mel and Sue of course, were back together once more. Rumour has it Val actually had her biking license before Selasi!
With his dream bike and experience on the roads we wanted to know if Selasi had ever toured further afield on his bike and what his dream bike tour would be?
‘I’ve toured Europe many times and often solo on a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure but would love to go to South America. Through Argentina, Columbia, Peru but ideally with a group.’
That sounds incredible! As lovers of sweet treats and baked goods we had to ask what delicious European delicacies Selasi had tried on route?
‘I had brioche in Turin in Italy which was soft and not too sweet. Switzerland it would have to be the chocolate of course! I went to Cafe Angelina in Paris where I tried Mont Blanc meringue and their patisseries, which were really good.’
Those all sound delicious! Who would you say is your current baking inspiration?
‘Biggest baking inspiration at the moment would have to be the French pastry chef Frank Haasnoot. His recipes and creations are amazing!’
What are your hopes for the future?
‘To work smart, keep baking and pushing myself to be creative and producing because everyone loves food and everyone especially loves cake! I think with Brexit and everything going on in the world we need cake more than ever.’
Wise words indeed and finally the burning question MY BAKER’s wanted to ask: what’s your favourite sweet treat?!
‘It would have to be chocolate fondant cake!’
An excellent choice! It was fantastic to be able to chat to Selasi and we hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about a fantastic baker and lover of cake. We wish Selasi the best of luck with his next baking endeavors and can’t wait to see what sweet treat he cooks up next!
]]>However, with so many essential party details to remember and your children’s friends to keep fed and entertained, for at least 2 hours, it can begin to feel an overwhelming task to undertake. Without the right planning in place, the costs can soon accumulate and important details can be forgotten. Turning what was supposed to be a day spent celebrating into a stressful affair- but it doesn’t need to be!
That’s why MY BAKER have created a guidebook containing all the important elements you will want to consider when planning your child's birthday party. We have options for all budgets. Whether you’re trying to spend no more than £300 or you want to indulge in something a little extra for the big day. We have extravagant party venues and lavish additions because it’s only their birthday once a year after all.
So, from the invites to them making a wish and blowing out the candles on their birthday cake, MY BAKER has got you covered. We’re sure, with our help, you can achieve a party they’ll never forget!
First and foremost, the invitation. This gives your potential party-goers all the crucial details they will need for your child’s upcoming big day.
We know schedules can soon fill up with other parties, clubs and holidays so to avoid disappointment we advise that invites should usually be sent out a month in advance.
Then comes the task of thinking of who to invite. From a handful of best friends to your child’s whole class, there’s no doubt it will be a great occasion. It’s just important to find the balance between inviting an amount you feel comfortable with and making sure no one feels excluded.
Just don’t forget to consider that you might acquire some extra guests. Parents often like to stay and will even bring siblings along too. This will affect the party supplies and of course the cake size so be sure to factor this in!
The invite itself doesn’t need to be costly. Some venues even have template invitations included in the hire price that are available to print out from their websites. If that doesn’t sound quite personal enough then keep reading to see our two favourite alternative invites!
If the idea of having to physically print out your invites is sounding a little medieval and an excessive use of printer ink you could always look to send an e-invitation. Paperless Post is renowned for its fantastic designs and easy to use platform. Simply upload your contact list and email addresses, design your own card and send them out electronically. It’s as easy as that!
Plus, unlike physical invites, you can actually keep track of the delivery status and even see if they’ve been opened yet. This is great if you’re inviting lots of guests and need to keep track of who has and hasn’t seen or responded yet.
Another affordable option, for the upcoming occasion, could be choosing to get creative with paints and glitter. You could make them together with your children as a fun activity that will ensure you’re both getting in the party spirit, ready for the special day!
But, before you let your children loose on the felt tip pens and PVA glue it’s important to have an idea of what you are hoping to create. This will minimise the mess (somewhat) and ensure the arts and crafts supplies aren’t wasted.
If you are however feeling a little lacking in the creative department we suggest drawing inspiration from Danya Banya. Her easy to make birthday party invites tutorial, inspired by flowers, provides a concept that can be altered and customised to suit your own theme. All you will need is some paper plates, paints and your child’s imagination!
With any luck your little one’s masterpiece will take pride of place on the fridges of all the invited attendees, reminding them to save the date!
If you are willing to spend a little more on the invites MY BAKER suggest exploring the Inkspireve page on Etsy.
It’s home to an incredible selection of pop-up invitations featuring countless children’s favourites, including Thomas the Tank Engine and Peppa Pig. With prices for these quirky invites ranging from £1.56 to £3.13 each, not to mention there’s free shipping included! This invite is unlike any other and is sure to have your party guests feeling thoroughly excited for your child’s upcoming birthday!
The next step, after having selected the ever-important party invite design, is making sure you have all the relevant details listed on your invitations. To help, MY BAKER have comprised a useful list of things you won’t want to forget:
With invites sent and crossed off the never-ending birthday list of jobs to do, the countdown to the big day can officially begin!
The venue is one of the fundamental elements to consider when party planning. It’s the basis for ensuring you have a successful birthday party and can even dictate how the days activities will be spent. It should therefore be booked as soon as possible, as many venues calendars soon fill up and you don’t want to be left struggling to find somewhere to host the big day.
While there’s no disputing that having a birthday party at home has its benefits, from saving money to creating a homelier feel, it also has its drawbacks. Parties at home run the risk of damage. There’s normally always a struggle for parking and most importantly you’ll be left with all the clearing up!
If the impending doom of the washing up pile doesn’t appeal you could always investigate having your party in a different location. Your local churches and halls are often available to hire and these spaces can act as the perfect blank canvas. They can be completely transformed through the use of clever décor and a little imagination!
However, if that isn’t a viable option don’t worry! MY BAKER have compiled a comprehensive list of some of the best children’s party spots on offer in London. For those that aren’t London based we hope this list provides some inspiration for the various places you could spend your child’s special day. From fun outdoors to soft play centres, the possibilities for a great birthday party venue are endless!
Little Dinosaurs is an indoor play centre that’s home to a lovely enclosed garden, that allows the children to play while you’re free to chat and enjoy the occasion with friends and family. Whether you’re sitting inside or on the shaded veranda enjoying the sunshine you’re sure to be having fun!
Their party package includes sole use of the Dinosaur Party area for 2 hours or you could have an exclusive hire of the whole venue! Party invitations and the arrival of snacks, including fresh fruit and Pom bear crisps, are also included. Not forgetting the homemade dinosaur sandwiches, margarita pizza, ice cream & sprinkles and unlimited jugs of squash! With prices available on request, simply email info@littledinosaurs.co.uk with dates and attach a contact number. They will send you options & prices as soon as possible and always within 48 hours. A great option that’s definitely worth checking out!
Ding Dong Fun Bus is a family run centre where children can enjoy the soft play area or roam the incredible double decker bus!
Included in the Soft Play Birthday Party Package, at just £12.50 per child for a 2-hour session (minimum 8 and maximum 25 children), is 1-hour of enjoyment at the soft play frame, 1 hour partying in the upper deck of the bus and lots of entertainment! Not to mention the food is included, with a selection of chicken nuggets, chicken burgers, beef burgers and fish fingers all of which are served with a generous portion of chips.
This is a great option if you want to encourage parents to stay as they have an outdoor cooking facility. For an additional £55.00 you can have your own BBQ, while watching your children celebrating!
An extremely popular indoor/outdoor Ecology Centre surrounded by a natural reserve with an array of educational facilities like a wind turbine pond with an adjoining secured watching area.
For children’s parties the centre can be hired for £32.50 per hour. They have 3 hour, 3.5 hour and 4 hour slots that people can hire at weekends. The cost for an 8 hour day is £225.00. Accommodating up to 80 people with the tables, chairs and use of the fully functioning kitchen included in the hire price.
This is a great party option for those wanting the freedom of the great outdoors and a large space you can really make your own.
Treat the kids to a birthday party they will never forget with Ice Skating at the Palace! They have birthday parties available every Saturday & Sunday at: 11.30, 12:00, 14.00 and 14.30. Priced at £17.50 per child, with a minimum of 10 children and a maximum of 25. This is great for those aged 6-12 years and included within that price is an hour on the ice and a tasty meal in their Ice Cafe. Your party host will lead a 15 minute games and safety session in a coned off area of the ice, followed by skating on the public session before a hot meal of your choice. Not to mention the accompanying parents skate for free, making this a fantastic option for all!
At Gymboree Play & Music they turn your child’s passion into an unforgettable celebration of fun! All you have to do is let them know your child’s favourite games, songs and activities and they’ll create a custom made party you can call your own.
With a wide range of party options available, including Play, Music and Art. They specialise in parties for 1st birthdays right through to 5th and are available to everyone! They can elaborate on pricing and availability once contacted.
The Museum of Childhood has a private room available to hire for kids parties and you can book additional entertainment too! Available on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 1pm or 2:30pm to 5:30pm. With two rooms available, one for 3 hours at £140 or the room with toddler activity included for £260. The party room accommodates up to 35 people total (maximum 15 children if booked with an activity).The Museum Gardens is right next door too, meaning you can have some fun outdoors exploring enjoying the sunshine.
A great option to spend your celebrations surrounded by the nostalgia of childhood-related objects and artefacts, spanning the 1600s to the present day!
What better way to celebrate a birthday than with a party package that includes tickets for a show of your choice at The Half Moon Theatre!
Following the show your party crew will have access to the Upper Studio to continue your celebration. They provide tables, chairs, cushions, a CD player or an iPod Dock, and reusable plastic cups and plates. Allowing you to bring your own food and decorations to create a party that’s completely bespoke to you!
Their Party package is available on Saturdays and your hire will be from 2pm – 4.30pm. The package costs £100 for use of our upper studio plus tickets at £7 per head. For every ten tickets booked you receive an extra one free. This is a really great option and something a little different for all the children attending.
Gamewagon video game parties have the flexibility to be held just about anywhere! One option is to have the party in their specially built video game wagon on your drive or parked outside your house. For larger parties, Gamewagon can set up their gaming equipment at a venue of your choice and have a variety of themed video games parties to help you create the ultimate gamer occasion.
They hold birthday parties for boys, girls and mixed groups from age 7 through to teens and beyond! All you have to do is sit back and relax, safe in the knowledge your little ones are having a blast and fully taken care of.
The Hackney City Farm offers an amazing opportunity to get up close to an array of farmyard animals and experience the art of farming right in the heart of the city!
The room available for hire opens out onto the park, allowing the sunshine to spill in and the guests can spread out. It is perfect for children’s parties and will accommodate 30 people. It is available Saturdays from 10:00 – 13:00 and from 14:00 – 17:00, or on Sundays from 10:00-13:00 and costs £60.00 a session.
The room provided allows for you to decorate it as you wish, meaning you can create a space totally bespoke to you. You can even bring your own food and drink making this the perfect option to create a truly magical birthday party space, that’s surrounded by the constant hum of the working farm.
With a staggering 34 lanes this venue is one of the biggest bowling alleys in the country and is sure to ‘bowl’ over all your party guests, with their reasonable prices and excellent service. Not to mention they have an incredible Laser Quest and Arcade area on offer to you, at an additional cost.
This is a fantastic option, with their basic party package starting from just £12.95 per child. This includes 1 hour of bowling, unlimited squash, invites and more!
This is a great venue for the slightly older children, where they can experience life as a spy!
Si5 Spy Missions offer an 8-player party from only £80 with cooked party food available for an additional £4 per child. They can even cater for parties larger than 24, you just need to contact them in advance.
This is a really unique option, with a mission written especially for 6- and 7-year olds that encourages them to work together as a team as they explore the ship, disable the bombs and save the world!
Spun Candy have designed a children’s party that’s fun, interactive and entertaining from the very start!
Lead by Master Candy Makers this venue gives the birthday crew the opportunity to design, mix, add flavours, roll and hand make their very own sweets! With the best bit of all being the sampling at the end! From around £25 per child to join a standard 1 hour experience with private bespoke parties available too.
This is a great option for children aged 6 years and older who want to feel like they’ve won a lucky golden ticket for the day, entering into a magical candy land!
If you're looking for a friendly, flexible venue with great facilities and lots of character, why not have your child's next party at the Pirate Castle? You can hire their spaces and organise your own event or add kayaking sessions and canal cruises to your party! You can bring your own food and drinks and the venues spacious main hall is great for soft play equipment, smaller bouncy castles and more, so let your imagination go wild!
Their children’s party packages are available on weekend bookings finishing before 6pm. Hire rates include the use of tables, chairs and the kitchen area, stereo system, projector and screen. The cost starts at £150 for 3 hours.
Or, you could even have your party on a boat! For their children's parties on a canal boat the prices are the same as their private hire rates (£90 per hour for Black Pearl or £120 per hour for Pirate Prince). Each boat can take up to 12 passengers. A really exciting option for your party crew.
This is a fantastic option to get all the children attending involved in some seriously creative activities! Starting from 5 years onwards, all the children will leave with a lasting memento that they’ve created themselves in the 2 hour hosted party. They can paint and decorate their own ceramic designs and take them home, meaning each party guest has a lovely parting gift to remember the occasion. You just have to call to book!
Starting from £22 per person or ask our staff about a budget-your-own party, from £16 subject to availability. Art 4 Fun allows you to pick a theme for your very own creative party, from Fairy’s and Wizards to Under The Sea. All the children paint their own plate, assisted by the friendly staff team. While you can sit and relax, enjoying watching your little ones getting creative.
Invitations and a special souvenir tile are included! Perfect for kids aged 5 and up (Minimum of 10 children).
The Postal Museum has got your child’s birthday party sorted! Why not treat your guests to a unique party they’re sure to remember, at The Postal Museum! Dress up and become mini post people in Sorted! Their indoor play area before continuing the fun through the secret underground tunnels of Mail Rail, their miniature railway.
All party packages include an exclusive party room, catering and party bags for the kids and free tea & coffee for the adults. It is suitable for 8 years old and under and available from Saturdays and Sundays during term time. Their All Aboard! Option is priced at £450 + VAT and includes a ride on the mail rail with 19 friends and 4 accompanying adults. 1 hour’s use of the exclusive party room, 20 lunch packs, 20 party bags and downloadable invites!
For a party that has it all and keeps your little ones active and engaged, look no further than this option.
Kidspace have a variety of party packages on offer and are a great South London venue for children that are 3 years and older.
Their Classic Private Pod, when booked at weekends, is an exclusive area just for VIP parties and starts from £185 for up to 10 children and 10 adults. Included in that price is 80 minutes free play on all the exciting and challenging activities in Kidspace, from Mini Go-Karts to the climbing Wall. With invites included and the first 10 adults going free this a party venue hard to pass up!
Parade Mew Pottery is a working pottery based in South London. With well over 18 years spent dedicated to teaching pottery to people of all ages!
The party on offer is ideally suited to children aged 7 and over and can be completely bespoke to you and your chosen theme. With 90 minutes spent perfecting their own clay creations, before heading upstairs to enjoy a delicious spread! Everything, minus the party food, is provided by Parade Mews Pottery and costs £190.
There’s a maximum limit of 12 children making this party ideal for a smaller group as they get creative and messy without you having to worry about cleaning up after!
If you’re after a party that’s a little different why not try the newest craze on the scene, Kids Nerf Parties?
NerfdayBoys offer a children’s nerf party package for £175, that includes up to 20 children. Ensuring every child gets their own nerf gun ready for battle. Complete with war paint, unlimited ammo, inflatable barricades and most importantly safety glasses! An action packed option that’s great for a range of ages.
KidZania is a place that allows your birthday party to choose from a number of real-life entertaining activities in one safe and secure space. Specially designed for children aged 4-14, KidZania blends learning and reality with entertainment. From a Doctor to a Dancer, the possibilities are endless!
All Birthday Packages include a range of hot food that is served as a sit-down meal as well as party food bags for kids to enjoy whilst they have free-play time in the city! Their Bronze Package is from £375 and includes all the essentials like party decorations, fast track entry into KidZania and allows for 10 Children & 2 Free Adults.
A fantastic option to indulge your children in an exciting reality-based experience that doesn’t compromise on fun!
If you want a party that encourages imaginative play and captivates your party guests look no further than Dramabuds. Choosing from well over 14 themes, from pirates to superheroes there’s something for everyone. With each party including songs, dancing, drama, parachute games and lots of bubbles!
A party leader comes to your party to entertain your guests for around 1 hour, catering to children aged 2-7 years. Starting from £110 for up to 15 children, they now have beautifully designed dramabuds invitations too, which can be sent to you ready to give to guests free of charge. Dramabuds say they welcome the party in any venue; house, church hall, garden as long as the space is clear and big enough for the number of children (and parents) invited to actively move about and sit in a circle.
This is a great option for any budding actors looking to have fun and play with their party crew!
The Little Gym runs parties for children aged between 1 and 12 years, allowing them an hour of uninterrupted fun exploring The Little Gyms facilities. The qualified instructors are on hand to lead the fun and assist with any clearing up. Showing your birthday crew how to use the specialist gym equipment, from bars and beams to the tumble area. Before heading to the decorated party room to cut the cake.
The birthday party pricing varies, with members paying £360 and non-members paying £410. The party itself lasts 1.5 hours for 12 children, though they can take up to 24 children at an additional cost. With their party slots available on both Saturday and Sunday.
This is a great option for those with a variety of ages attending as they can cater to all, finding something exciting for everyone.
This is a birthday party option that’s perfect for lovers of chocolate! Children aged 7-12 years can enjoy up to 2 hours of chocolate themed fun, from writing in chocolate to making their own chocolate pizzas! It’s sure to be a hit with their friends and at only £25 per child, £30 if they come to you, you can’t go wrong. Oh and did we mention the chocolate fountain running throughout?!
They usually accept up to 10 or 12 children, but can accommodate more by arrangement. They also have some other great options for the slightly older children, meaning there really is something for everyone.
Why not treat your birthday party crew to an exhilarating motorsport themed party. Allowing 4-11 years olds a karting experience in a safe environment. With a full international race circuit, that incorporates exciting corners and tunnels! As your birthday posse don racing suits and helmets, splitting into teams of five and alternating their time on the track, meaning they can cheer their friends on from the sidelines!
From £510 for up to 20 drivers, with an hour and a half on the track. With a podium presentation, medal awarded to the birthday child, group photo and then for an additional cost you can enjoy the use of the party food area. Tables and chairs are supplied and you can either organise your own spread or choose the ‘Formula Cold One’, a balance between delicious naughty treats and wholesome healthy goodness. Take a look at the menu and simply choose; 1 x sandwich, 2 x treat and 1 x cake option.
This is definitely an option to consider if you have a little one that’s an avid formula one fan!
The magic begins with a beautiful gift box of printed invitations in the post and a special fairy key! Skip through the fairy garden, ring the bell at the fairy door where an enchanting fairy will welcome you into a magical world! Friendly Giants (grownups), tip toe up the staircase to explore the Fairy shop where you can sit and relax, help yourselves to refreshments and talk with friends.
For £150, plus £25 per child at weekends, your birthday crew can enjoy 2 hours of celebration and adventure with a fairy picnic sat on toadstools and gift bags to take away! This is a fantastic option to encourage your children to indulge in some imaginative play and escape into a fabulous fairy world!
The 5-star rated Premier League Party package for 10 children is the perfect party for your little lions. With 90 minutes of on-pitch action in one of their safe, fully enclosed pitches and party food served in the clubhouse, your kids will be smiling ear to ear!
With a range of optional extras to make the day even more hassle-free for you. Including a Goals party host for the full two hours, party invites and for all the guests, boot bags and medals. To make the day even more special for the birthday child they can have a Captain's armband, a trophy and mini football.
From just £150 this is a great option to encourage your birthday party to have fun outside, playing as a team.
Catering for parties of any occasion and offering bespoke packages to create the perfect space for your precious memories to be made! From an outdoor Mad Hatter’s tea party to an afternoon spent playing princess’s the possibilities are endless.
This is a great and affordable option for those wanting to create a completely unique party for their child’s special day.
My Kid Atelier have partnered with luxury Baglioni Hotel and are offering an all-inclusive Children's Birthday Party Package. Celebrating your child’s birthday in style, just a stone's throw from Kensington Gardens with a beautiful venue, bespoke themed styling, amazing children’s entertainment and gourmet Italian food.
Contact them to create a beautiful and personalised event for your child's birthday and keep in mind they would be happy to bring to life any theme that your children might have.
Established in 1994, Clowntown is the largest and most popular Children’s Indoor Activity centre in North London.
A standard party here costs £12 per child (£13 per child at peak time). With a minimum of 10 children off-peak during the school term, Monday to Friday. Or, a minimum of 12 children during peak time on weekends and school/public holidays.
All of the party packages available include the play session and food and drink for the children served in the colourful party zone. This is followed by a presentation of the birthday cake by a dedicated member of the team. The two-hour party ends with more treats, a tasty ice-lolly or ice-cream and the sliced cake in a party bag for each child to take home.
This is a great affordable option for a larger party. It ensures all the party details are sorted, meaning you just have to arrive and enjoy the day!
Poolside Manor Pool Parties are a great option for children of all ages, with children under 5 just needing to be accompanied by an adult. All the children attending are swim tested as to whether or not they’ll need armbands and are encouraged to swim and play freely with friends!
Playing a selection of pool games, led by lifeguards. With music, inflatables, hoops and toys all available for use. Before getting changed to enjoy the party food spread, provided by yourself. The children can then enjoy time in the activity hall playing games.
Parties take place on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon, lasting 2 hours. There are three 2 hour slots on each day and guests are expected to arrive 15 minutes before the party starts to allow time to change into swimsuits. A maximum of thirty swimmers are permitted to swim, which includes all siblings under the age of five and their guardian, making this a fun option for all!
A birthday party at the theatre is a great way to celebrate with friends and family. At Art Depot they have an exciting programme of family shows nearly every weekend and hosting a birthday party couldn’t be simpler!
With birthday parties held on Saturdays and Sundays during school term time. Simply choose a show from their family programme and contact the Box Office on 020 8369 5454 to reserve your tickets. Then order the birthday lunch boxes, charged at £7.00 each plus a setup fee of £1 per head (minimum 10 kids). Then enjoy a day spent watching anything from The Gruffalo to The Hungry Caterpillar!
Alternatively you could have a party in their private area, with rooms are available from £275 + VAT, for three hours. They have a maximum capacity of up to 60 people, dependant on room hired. Trestle table and chairs are also included and the café can provide party lunch boxes too.
This is a party package perfect for the slightly older children, aged between 8 and 11, who want to feel thoroughly spoilt! It costs £28 per child, with a minimum party head count of 12 and a maximum of 20.
Included in the price is an exquisite afternoon tea, with an array of delicious sweet treats, served in a fabulously unique private venue on Fortess Road. An extravagant option but one that’s sure to be remembered forever!
We hope the options listed have provided you with some serious inspiration and party venue contenders. Hopefully with venues chosen, booked and potential deposits paid you can now cast your mind to the real fun! We’re talking decorations, party bags and most importantly the cake!
Incorporating themed decorations throughout the party venue can create a real sense of fun for the children attending. It could even give them an excuse to dress up as their favourite superhero or princess!
But, with so many themes to choose from narrowing it down to just one and finding the right décor to match can feel quite daunting. Lots of venues, like the ones we’ve listed, offer a variety of their own themes that you can choose from. Easing the decision-making process considerably, with decorations sometimes included in the venue hire price or at a small additional cost.
This can save you having to source them yourself but if that isn’t a viable option MY BAKER have comprised a list of some easy party decoration ideas, to help get you started. From fun homemade pieces to some well-priced party packages, there’s décor for just about any theme imaginable!
A scroll through Pinterest’s DIY birthday party decoration pins will have you reaching for the PVA and glitter! Making anything from balloons filled with confetti to tissue paper pom-pom garlands! There are so many easy to follow tutorials to aide in the creation of your decorations that might just leave you wondering why you ever thought to buy them.
Aside from the financial benefits, making the decorations yourself can also give you a real sense of achievement. Knowing that you were able to make your child’s big day all the more special with your own craftsmanship and creativity. Most are really affordable options that often use resources you will no doubt already have at home.
The humble glass jar, swapping its usual contents of jams and preserves for fairy lights, seashells or the liquid contents of a glow stick. Or, cover its exterior in colourful tissue paper to give out a softer light. The illuminated jars are transformed and could act as a runway, lighting the path to your venue. Or, simply placed on table tops to create that rustic, cosy feel.
Either way there’s no denying these DIY lanterns are aesthetically pleasing and are actually relatively easy to acquire. With most found hidden in the depths of cupboards or on the shelves of shops like The Range and Wilko.
Offering a pack of 12 for just £6.00 these glass jars may sound simplistic but with a little DIY magic they can become a great feature for your party. We’re sure they’ll have all your grown-up guests asking ‘Oo where did you get those?’!
As you finish the last bowlful of Coco Pops don’t throw away its box. Instead the old cereal box can be cut into your very own photo booth props and sellotaped to lollipop sticks or skewers. Requiring minimal resources, you now have an array of fun pictures to commemorate the occasion, as all your party guests don fake cardboard moustaches and oversized glasses. You can even use any leftover tablecloths or wrapping paper as a backdrop for your silly photos!
Another party decoration essential is the simple paper table cloth but not as you know it. In an array of colours, you can cut, stick and shred these to make pom-poms and floral shapes that can be strung around the venue. The tissue paper leftover doesn’t need to be wasted either, becoming confetti!
Try taking any old newspapers or scrap paper you might have lying around at home and cutting them into triangles. The pieces can then be attached to string to make bunting that can be hung around the room. You can even use any large printed letters you find to spell out ‘Happy Birthday’ and your child’s name, to personalise it even more. Or, alternatively, the paper can be folded into different sized 3D stars that can be stuck around the room. Adding a starry night touch to any venue, that van Gogh himself would be proud of!
MY BAKER have merely scratched the surface of the ‘do it yourself’ decor and hopefully shown that it’s far easier than expected to create something special yourself.
However, if the prospect of finding time to dedicate to your DIY projects is leaving you feeling unnecessarily stressed, panic not. We have some great sites you can browse for pre-prepared party packages, including all the things you need for your child’s big day and delivered straight to your door.
A site with a great selection of packages available. Starting from just £20 you can easily order from their vast selection of prebuilt Party Boxes. With most including themed cups, plates, napkins, banners, balloons and even cake toppers! MY BAKERS personal favourite would have to be the Pretty Pastel Party Decorations Kit. This Party in a Box contains everything you’ll need to throw a gorgeous pretty pink party for 16 guests!
An extensive selection of banners, balloons, table decorations and more are available from this fantastic site. In a variety of themes, you’re guaranteed to find something fitting for your party. MY BAKERS favourite addition being foil balloons, in an assortment of colours and numbers. Starting from just £1.99 each they complete any birthday party and look great in photos!
A site overflowing with stunning party decorations, that you’d expect to find adorning Pinterest or Instagram’s explore page. Their Party Boxes start from around £25, filled to the brim with balloon arches, banners in artistic fonts and a selection of tableware. All of which are available in an array of colours. MY BAKER’S favourite? It would have to be the Gold Foiled Complete Party In A Box, a stunning collection of decorations that you won’t want to take down!
Party games don’t need to cost a fortune. As most parents can confirm their children often find enjoyment in the simplest of toys and imaginary games. Which is why MY BAKER think keeping it simple is key. If your venue is already providing entertainment it’s one less aspect to worry about. If not and you’ve somehow found yourself needing to entertain party guests, don’t stress. We have a few firm party favourites, with a twist, to help.
Before selecting any party games though it's imperative to think of the average age of the children attending and find something they will all enjoy. Remembering to keep the games short and light-hearted to ensure everyone remains engaged and most importantly excited!
If you find the go to party game a little boring you could try writing notes between each wrapping paper layer. Telling the children to ‘do a dance to get their go’ or ‘tell a joke’, this keeps them moving and is a little more engaging for those awaiting their turn.
Using ‘towel’ islands that shrink with each stop of the music. With no limit of how many children can attempt to squeeze onto one island, this game will have everyone in stitches as the kids playing scramble to find an Island.
A game loved the world over, this is a great option that will allow the slightly younger ones to take part too.
A fun twist could be with each stop of the music the children have to freeze in a different pose. Watching them hold the superman position and not cracking up will be the ultimate test!
If you’re limited on space you could swap out the chairs for toys!
If the children successfully limbo under they could be rewarded with a sweet treat or small toy, which might encourage everyone to join in too!
If you’re struggling to find rope the children playing can interlock arms and pull, creating a rope less tug of war. This one is perhaps better suited for older children, to ensure there are no injuries.
You could fill the bag with anything! It’s fun to use cold spaghetti and have small toys hidden within to throw the children off!
Why not turn this into a hunt where the children have to photograph different objects around the venue and you could assign an adult to each small group to involve everyone.
Using only their mouths to lift the paper bag from the ground, all while trying to not sit down!
Another challenge where using your hands is cheating. Hanging donuts from different heights you have only one minute to eat the most. With extra points for those that can resist licking the sugar off their lips!
If the classic party games listed don’t feel quite special enough for the birthday boy or girl you could always look at hiring a children’s party entertainer. This takes away the strain of planning games and prizes yourself and leaves it to a professional, who’s sure to have all your little ones up and involved.
To help, MY BAKER has listed our top 5 finds for the very best of children’s entertainment. From balloon art to face painting we’re sure there’s something for any theme and occasion!
The Strawberry Studio, Wimbledon
Specialists in face painting and body artwork, Strawberry Studio can come to your event or party with a simple box of paints and tons of imagination. Or, they can even deliver a temporary structure, rope barriers, pop ups and advertising banners. Complete with a tattoo parlour or children’s walk in face painting activity centre!
EstarArtistics, Harrow
Offering face and body art, entertainment, candy floss and popcorn machines and a DJ for hire. Using water based face and body paints to ensure no nasty or harmful ingredients are used to turn your little ones into their favourite characters!
The Holly Jolly Company, Charing Cross
With Years of Experience The Holly Jolly Company are able to guide you into creating memories with your birthday party crew that will last a lifetime! Offering bespoke children’s parties and events, from small celebrations to great big adventures they have entertainment for all. You can even select them yourself and create a party that’s exactly as your little one imagined and more.
Natalie’s World Entertainment, Bexley
Natalie’s World Entertainment is a popular, friendly and highly professional children’s party entertainer. They are happy to provide you with a bespoke and exciting experience for your birthday party crew. Offering children’s party entertainment for kids of all ages. Tailoring a party to your exact requirements and to the age and number of children present, meaning you can sit back and relax! Safe in the knowledge your party is taken care of.
Rhubarb The Clown, South Tottenham
Rhubarb the Clown is famous for his spectacular one man show! Jam packed with half a dozen magical illusions, juggling (sometimes with fire!), nose-flute playing, riding his many unicycles and other ridiculous antics.
The Running time varies with each audience but is generally some 45 minutes. As Rhubarb does not talk, his show transcends language and culture to be accessible to all! Rhubarb the Clown also often performs in free form using his multifaceted skills to entertain and bring a smile to as many faces as he can or sometimes with a mixture of show and clowning around.
It’s not uncommon for venues to offer a party spread included within the hire price. This can certainly relieve the stress of having to successfully cater to a hungry bunch of children and parents. But if you’ve found yourself needing to provide that all important party meal look no further than our useful selection.
Arranging the spread for your party doesn't need to be overly extravagant nor does it need to be expensive. If you’re catering for a large group of children be sure to ask beforehand about any dietary requirements, to ensure everyone gets to enjoy the meal!
We have an array of healthy snacks and treats that will be sure to suit all palates listed below.
It’s incredibly easy to make the humble sandwich all the more interesting. You can cut them into fun shapes, resembling animals, flowers or whatever else you think you can create! You could even try to have the theme running throughout with artistically arranged vegetables. A key thing to remember with children is sometimes the less options the better and a few select tasty treats will go a long way.
To help get you started we’ve compiled a list of some dishes you could look at incorporating:
If the idea of having to prepare a table full of food is setting your head spinning we suggest browsing the supermarkets online party food they have available to order. It’s an undeniably tasty looking selection that incorporates healthy treats, both hot and cold. With prices for sandwiches and pastry platters starting from around £12, from firm favourites:
They have a great selection of savoury rolls and pastries which would be sure to appeal to both the children and their parents.
A great range of sandwiches and salads that look table ready, meaning less time preparing and more time spent having fun and partying!
They have a great mini roll and wrap selection, with scrumptious fillings to tempt even the fussiest of eaters.
Their pizza panini bites look delicious! They also have a selection of mini hotdogs and hamburgers that are the perfect bite size portion for your little ones.
Ordering your food beforehand is a sure way to relieve the pressure on the day. With most items only taking a short amount of time in the microwave or oven. Meaning you can focus your efforts elsewhere and just enjoy the special day!
Why not take the stress out of providing a party spread by choosing from one of the fabulous caterers we have listed instead? They provide tasty dishes and treats that are sure to impress your little ones!
From individual premade party food boxes to an entire buffet set up with a selection of scrumptious party food! Especially designed with your children in mind they have an extensive list of options available and even provide napkins and paper plates, meaning no washing up!
They have mini British beef burgers served in a sesame seed bun with lettuce, cheese & relish. Little bamboo wood boats of fish and chips with mushy peas on the side and classic mini hot dogs with different toppings in a fresh baked bun- to name a few! All deliciously homemade to the highest of standards and starting from around £12.80 per child.
Offering catering for children’s parties across London, including Croydon, Romford, Peckham, Lewisham, Ilford, Dagenham, Barking, Richmond, Kensington, Chelsea, Stratford, Chigwell, Canary Wharf, Finsbury, Hounslow, Twickenham, Brent, Camden, Finchley, Southwark, Barnet and more.
With a selection of lunch boxes, finger food buffet, special canapes for the grown ups and halal or vegetarian food. From toddlers to teeangers there’s sweet treats and healthy options for all. With medium meal boxes at £9.50 each, containing a bite size sandwich selection, a healthy treat and a sweet treat. Or, their snacks and platters for £20 that serve 4 adults or 8 children. With fruit, cheese, vegetables and dips and a ham selection available.
Foodsy, London understand how stressful the organising of your children’s birthday party can be! That’s why they offer deliciously premium kids party food, so you’ve one less detail to worry about on the big day. A lot of their clients are so impressed they often order simple canapes or a finger buffet for the grown ups too.
Their Prices include VAT and disposable platters if required. Delivery & setup charge will apply depending on location. Starting from just £9 per child for their signature Lunch Boxes or £13 per child for their Kids Hot Buffet, offering mini pizzas, chicken breast goujons and fish fish & chips in a boat to name a few! This is a decidedly tasty option that will feed all those hungry children!
So, you’ve successfully kept all your party guests entertained and fed, the end is in sight! All that’s needed now is to dim the lights and cue the parties ‘Happy Birthday’ rendition. Then the moment everyone's been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the infamous cake! Adorned with flickering candles, will it be a towering Rainbow Cake or perhaps a Paw Patrol inspired sponge? With MY BAKER the possibilities really are endless.
We have two options for securing the perfect birthday cake and some ‘cakespiration’ listed below for you.
You could browse our online shop, where we have a stunning selection of occasion cakes available to order. With our bakers currently delivering across London and Birmingham. They require just 48hrs notice to bake and deliver your cake! All cakes are delivered between 9am-5pm, if you would like a specific delivery time slot or a personalised message on your cake you would just need to specify at the checkout.
MY BAKER’S birthday favourites would have to be:
Magical Unicorn Cake, From £75
A perfect accompaniment to any unicorn themed party as lovers of unicorns unite for this cake in celebration of all things magical! A beautifully flavoursome and light vanilla sponge is adorned with an exquisite pastel buttercream mane. Note: The mane will be pastel colours and may differ from the image. Available in both chocolate and vanilla flavour.
Please note that eggs, gluten and dairy went into the creation of this cake. If you would like this cake to be halal, please specify in the notes.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Cake, From £75
Nothing says celebration like cutting through a generous coating of multicoloured sprinkles to reveal six layers of sponge! They perfectly capture all the vivid colours of the rainbow. This exquisite cake definitely makes for that undeniable wow moment with both taste and appearance.
Please note that eggs, gluten, and dairy went into the creation of this cake. If you would like this cake to be halal, please specify in the notes.
Eat Until You Pop Balloon Cake, From £75
Say Happy Birthday to the little one in your life with this is elegant cake. A light layered sponge and a smooth buttercream coating, available in white, pink and blue buttercream. With an artistically placed scattering of sprinkles, made all the more special by the balloon toppers, available in an array of colours for your special occasion. Please specify your buttercream colour preference.
Please note that eggs, gluten, and dairy went into the creation of this cake. If you would like this cake to be halal, please specify in the notes.
Alternatively, you could fill out one of our easy to use forms and Design Your Own. Once you’ve specified the cake you’re envisioning, attaching an image and description, our talented bakers will then provide quotes that you can choose from. Delivering a cake that’s completely bespoke to you! But, if the endless cake possibilities are leaving you feeling stumped for ideas MY BAKER are on hand. Below are some of our wonderful bakers cake creations from previous special occasions:
With the cake cut and your wonderful birthday celebrations drawing to a close there is only one remaining task, handing out the party bags. For many years the party bag has been a parting gift from the host, often used to transport the delicious cake slices home. The party bag ensures every child in attendance receives a special token of appreciation from the birthday child, be it big or small it’s always considered a lovely gesture.
If you don’t like the idea of handing out bags filled with small plastic toys, that will no doubt get lost amongst others at home, MY BAKER have some great alternatives.
If the healthy party spread of crudité and yoghurts has been a roaring success why not treat the party guests to a homemade cellophane bag of sweets? Tied with a ribbon, containing a small handwritten thank you tag, these are a thoughtful party bag alternative that won’t break the bank.
Following on from the sweet treat theme you can pick up a selection of sweets from supermarkets, placing them in bowls to create your own pick ‘n’ mix station. This way the children can select the contents of their sweetie bag, ensuring they don’t go home disappointed with fizzy cola bottles when they desperately wanted strawberry laces!
If you can’t bring yourself to see another child taking home bubbles and plastic toys why not fill a party bag with a miniature art kit? Complete with small paints, brushes, stickers and glitter pens. They aren’t too expensive to acquire and is a fun activity for them to take home, one we’re sure parents will love too!
You’ve made it to the end of the list of jobs to do, that have previously seemed never-ending! The party bag is the final item to check off and if the previous in budget options didn’t tempt you, MY BAKER are sure this might.
This site offers a range of pre-filled party bags, ranging from £1.20 to £14.50 with a vast selection of themes to choose from. MY BAKER’S favourite would have to be the Very Special Unicorn Party Bag, for £7 each. It’s a bright turquoise gift bag with rope handles and optional tissue paper. Filled with a hatching baby unicorn egg, unicorn colouring mug, stack-a-crayon, rose flower hair ties, two temporary unicorn tattoos and optional sweets!
With the party bags handed out and farewells bid MY BAKER hope that however you choose to spend your little ones special day that it’s a fantastic occasion. Aside from all the venues, entertainment and party bags suggested MY BAKER believe the key to enjoying your celebrations is a party spent with friends, family and copious amounts of cake!
One final aspect to consider, falling under the birthday party umbrella, is the daunting prospect of present buying. Gifting fellow classmates can be an etiquette minefield. Leaving you worrying that if you buy something too little it’ll get lost amongst other plastic toys. Or, fear looking like the overindulgent parent buying an extravagant present that could run the risk of leaving you the talk of the playground. Nightmare!
But don’t panic as MY BAKER understands that trying to come up with original gift ideas for your children’s friends, when you’re inundated with party invites throughout the year, can be a scary and costly venture. That’s why we’re here to help. We have practical advice for buying presents and even a template on how to propose the ‘Fiver Party’ concept to unconvinced parents.
We’ve got it covered. Whether you’re looking to gift others or its your own little ones day. We even have some present ideas for those extra special friends and family members you’re willing to splurge a little more on. Just keep reading!
There’s no disputing the thoughtfulness of parents that bring a gift for your little one but seeing your child rip back the paper to reveal yet another toy can automatically fill you with dread. Thinking frantically where on earth will you store it?! Knowing it’ll no doubt get lost in amongst the abundance you already have spilling out from cupboards at home.
It’s a common occurrence for parents and finding the perfect present and avoiding adding to the never-ending toy supply children have never seems to get any easier. That’s why MY BAKER are here to help aide you, listing some budget friendly ideas to help you throughout the ongoing birthday party season.
Just keep in mind that no matter the budget spent on presents the simple act of receiving something thoughtful is what can make a birthday all the more meaningful and special! A thoughtfully written card and little special something can mean just as much as a big lavish gift.
If budget constraints have left you worrying what could surpass as an appropriate present to give why not make something yourself? You could call ahead and ask the host if you could bring the birthday boy or girls favourite dish as a present. Or, you could make anything from a portable Lego tray to a hand sewn pillow case.
If you’re stuck for ideas why not search through 20 inexpensive homemade gifts? This is a great source of inspiration and offers fantastic and affordable handmade birthday present options.
Books can be a great option for birthday presents! Most second hand books are like-new and can be found in local charity shops or online. Check out websites World of Books, Book Depository and Amazon. Before purchasing it might be good to ask the birthday boy or girls parents about any specific books they were looking to get, as this guarantees it will definitely be read and appreciated.
Other gifts to consider would be play doh sets, puzzles and art kits. They can often be found in affordable high street shops and supermarkets, costing usually between £5 to £10. The Works have colour your bag or paint your own mug for just £1 to £2 pounds because anything that gets kids creating and using their imagination is usually a winner!
It’s a new phenomenon that’s had British parents recoil at the prospect of just sticking a fiver in a card. Fearing its impersonal touch for most parents this might be previously uncharted territory, leaving you dumbfounded as to how to begin wording the ‘Fiver Party’ on the invitation.
We think the best way is to be honest, adding a little side note along the lines of ‘We think the greatest present is your presence! But if you would like to get our birthday boy/girl something special we would just simply ask for £5. Our little one can then save the generous amount and put it towards something extra special!’.
Turn an otherwise scary task of present buying into an opportunity to ask fellow grown ups to ditch the wrapping of little gifts, in favour of the new ‘Fiver Party’. MY BAKER think it strikes the perfect balance between buying something to little or too lavish. There’s also no fear of presents that might go unused with a £5 contribution towards one big present almost guaranteeing a gift your little one will love and most importantly use!
If you are however able to spend more on a birthday present why not treat the recipient to something extra special? MY BAKER have listed some great ideas that should hopefully prove popular with all, from trusted gifting specialist sites to exciting and memorable experiences.
If you want something guaranteed to please we suggest opting for the classic and well loved Lego sets, remote control cars, Barbie's or video games. They can be found in Argos catalogues, from online stores, in supermarkets and of course toy shops! Again, asking parents beforehand, to avoid buying duplicates, is always worth doing.
If you want something for the thrill seekers why not look at buying a Red Letter Day Experience? They have a vast selection of days out for two or the whole family, from football stadium tours to climbing ropes at Go Ape. There really is something for everyone but if you’re unsure of what the birthday boy or girl would enjoy most you can buy a ‘Memorable Moments Gift Box’. Starting at £39.99, meaning they can pick their own dream day out and adventure!
Why not check out Prezzybox? They have an extensive and eclectic assortment of novelty children’s gifts. From a make your own Slushie Machine to build your own bath bomb kit, you really are spoilt for choice! These presents are undeniably quirky and sure to be a success, ranging in price from around £5 upwards.
So, with the ever-important present received all that remains is to make a note of who sent what. This means you can send out thoughtful ‘Thank You’ notes, which is always a nice touch. It shows an appreciation, even if it’s simply thanking someone for attending. It’s a small gesture that can go a long way and is good practice for your children.
We hope this guide has helped relieve any stress felt in anticipation to the party and given you some inspiration for all the amazing things on offer to you. We can’t wait to hear of all your party triumphs and see all your amazing cake pictures- so, be sure to tag us!
No copyright infringement is intended.
]]>It is long overdue to introduce Olga, one of our fantastic bakers and a true cake artist.
Olga developed her passion for baking alongside her mum at a young age, and hasn’t left the kitchen since. With training from the International Culinary Centre in New York City and a graduate from the world-renowned patisserie school Le Cordon Bleu, Olga opened her own confectionary business when she was just 24 years old. Moving from Saint Petersburg, she has now taken her extraordinary bakes to London – lucky us, as we now get the chance to try her stunning bespoke cakes as well!
One of her most exciting, yet challenging, creations was a seven (yes, seven!) tiered wedding cake with a heart cut out in the middle. This gravity-defying cake was showcased in front of hundreds of guests and as expected, was a masterpiece.
Olga told us about her biggest baking disaster: “I was making a gender reveal cake, so the future mother didn't know if it was a girl or a boy. She wanted to be sure that the cake would have a proper blue or pink colour. It was a girl, so I made the pink sponge inside - everything turned out perfectly, the cake was beautiful. It was my first gender reveal cake, and I took the project quite seriously. I was really excited, but also quite nervous. When we met, the first thing she asked me was if the colour turned out well. I answered: ‘Yes, everything worked out perfectly, it's perfectly pink.’ Realising I just spoiled the surprise, I wanted to cut my tongue out! She started to laugh and since then has become a frequent customer of mine, despite the fact that I couldn't keep a secret.”
Olga’s schedule varies day to day, and really depends on how busy the cake season is. During the peak seasons, such as wedding and communion season, she sleeps 2-3 hours per night, in order to finish upcoming orders. Like most bakers, Monday is her most relaxing day.
Olga explains that the most stressful part of being a baker is the delivery, as she can never relax until the cake is set up at the venue. Luckily, Olga has her own system to assembling the cake for safe transportation and has a great delivery team that is well trained. To date, Olga has delivered over 1000 cakes!
When asked what her favourite part of baking is, Olga loves to see the happy faces and smiles of her customers and that she can partake in people’s most important, touching and special moments.
Need Inspiration for your next cake? View Olga’s previous creations https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/Olga.
Food has always been a part of Chintal’s life. Originally from Mombasa, Kenya, Chintal sat down with us and delved into her ‘love affair’ with food that began when watching her mother and grandmother preparing traditional Gujarati dishes. Before making her own desserts at the age of 12, she was fascinated at the simplicity of turning staple ingredients into magnificent creations.
Upon moving to the UK, Chintal furthered her interests in the pages of cookbooks and TV programmes, which gave her the push to begin experimenting new recipes and flavours. From hosting dinner parties and baking for her friends and family, word of her genius spread and she eventually set up her own business. She creates bespoke, artisan Indian inspired cakes and has orders coming in from all over the world.
Today, she is living proof that being an incredible baker does not need to be rigorously taught. With no formal qualifications, her passions run limitless in the kitchen and have allowed her the freedom to explore flavours and spices to create various recipes. Claiming the coconut, lime and cardamom cake as her personal favourite, she does not allow this bias to restrict the wonderful treats she prepares for customers. Her ‘Mithai Inspired Cakes’ launched in 2014, breathing Indian culture into recreated cakes. But perhaps the most successful delicacy is her award-winning Nankhatai: a beautiful melt of classic and modern Indian flavours in a shortbread biscuit. The best part of being a baker for Chintal is having the freedom to create variety of bakes and ‘seeing the smiles on individuals faces when they bite into them.’
Chintal’s complexity is not bound to her kitchen space. Working as an Occupational Therapist in Rapid Response, Chintal visits patients at their homes, completing assessments and ensuring their safety. On top of being a full-time worker, Chintal is a full-time mother and juggles the responsibilities of a family, a business, and as a therapist for the NHS. Her days begin early as an OT and end late, working around the clock as an artisanal baker and under the clutch of time. Chintal also adamantly supports a charity called ‘Find Your Feet’ that helps families in India, Nepal, Malawi and Zimbabwe out of poverty. She dedicated her time and desserts to fundraising events and organised ‘An Evening of Flavour’ which fed 80 guests a ‘selection of Indian desserts.'
The time she puts into her products is filled with care and thought. She has experienced her own hardships at the beginning, explaining her conundrums and that, once upon a time, even made all of her cakes consistently sink in the middle. She has since perfected her extravagant cakes to fit a style known as ‘rustic with a touch of elegance.’ From great quality products handmade with love, Chintal is as compassionate in her baking as she is outside of work. As the Queen of multitasking, Chintal balances her work by planning, planning and planning! Her supportive family and great passion for her work drives her in her accomplishments. Constantly innovating and coming up with new recipes, Chintal keeps our customers on their toes with her fusions. We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
For now, we have to look forward to Chintal’s amazing desserts to celebrate Eid. Go over to https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/Chintal and submit a request. From her mini shot glass desserts, to specially flavoured cupcakes and Chintal’s incredible Nankhatai, there is truly a treat for every person. Celebrate with your friends and family tastefully!
Today we are talking to Maxine. She is fairly new to professional baking. I asked her what inspired her to start baking and sell her cakes. She began by telling me that she just really likes cake – and who can blame her?! Maxine then explained that she spent her gap year living in France with a good friend. Her friend’s mum made an excellent gâteau au yaourt (a simple recipe in which all ingredients are measured in an emptied-out yoghurt pot), and Maxine used this recipe to make cupcakes – but that was the extent of her baking until recently. By the time she became pregnant with her second child, she was looking for ways to work more flexibly. She considered baking seriously after winning the office Bake-Off contest. ‘I wanted to learn more’, Maxine said, ‘so I taught myself.’
I asked what her favourite thing to bake is – a tricky question for any baker! Maxine said ‘it depends on the day. I’m always a fan of the smell of carrot cake and I really like making chocolate cake. I enjoy the chemistry when the wet and dry ingredients come together to create a rich chocolatey mixture.’ And her favourite thing to eat? ‘If I’m in a restaurant, it has to be sticky toffee pudding. I also love apple crumble with vanilla ice cream or custard, or tiramisu – stuff I don’t traditionally make. I wanted to know what the ethos behind Maxine’s baking business is. For Maxine, it’s simple: ‘if I wouldn’t give it to my kids, I wouldn’t give it to you.’ She admits that she does still use unnatural food colouring, but she’s experimenting with finding natural alternatives so she can stop using it in the near future. Quality is crucial. Maxine is a big advocate of food education, and thinks it's worth paying a little extra to know there are no nasties in your food.
Finally, I wanted to know more about the business side of baking. What are you paying for when you buy an artisan cake from an independent baker? Maxine makes several good points. She starts with the quality of the ingredients: ‘I only use ingredients I'd feel comfortable serving to both to the foodie people I know and love and to my own children’, she says. ’I want to know what's in my food, and I want to be able to look my customers in the eye, knowing that I've served each one with the same quality ingredients I use in my own home.’ Next, she points out that each bake is individual. The baker must take time dreaming up ideas and designing their creation, so that the customer is presented with something truly special. Last but not least, it takes time to create a fabulous and unique bake. She makes all of the components from scratch – the sponges, fondants, syrups, icing and compotes. Maxine says it typically takes her 3 hours to make one of her signature cakes, and 4-5 hours for a custom creation.
It seems that buying an artisan cake is an investment: an investment in ingredients, skills and time. When you order from an independent baker, not only are you supporting a small business, you're guaranteeing exceptional quality and a bespoke product. Check out her profile here https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/Maxine.
Sandra is one of our cake artists who specialises in 3D character cakes and intricately designed biscuits.
Sandra began baking in 2012. She launched her own online school in 2014 and now also teaches others how to bake and decorate sophisticated cakes and cookies. She has travelled globally and held classes in Portugal, Spain, Greece and Thailand. We can see why people want to learn from her – Sandra’s 3D cakes truly are a work of art.
I asked her what her favourite personal creation has been. She said a mythological deer, which she entered into the London Cake International Show. The intricacy is what she is most proud of, and it definitely shines through in this cake, which went on to win a bronze medal in the decorative exhibit competition!
''The cakes I most love to make are definitely cute 3D characters for children’s birthday parties’, says Sandra. ‘I also love making gravity-defying cakes’. Have a look at the panda playing tennis below – it is hard to believe that the entire cake is being held up at just one point!''
Aside from making jaw-dropping cakes, Sandra tells us about her interest in making and decorating cookies. She creates floral and cute character designs using pressure piping techniques with royal icing and hand painting techniques. She has developed the intricacy of her designs over time, creating difficult designs and working with paints to bring them to life.
Sandra’s style is very unique and it is clear she spends time making sure each cake is as elaborate and as perfectly finished as possible. She adds in that she also makes cakes without fondant. She is no stranger to a drip cake or two! A baker with many talents, it is a pleasure to have her as part of the MY BAKER community.
Looking for bespoke biscuits or a show stopping 3D design? Submit a form at https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/Sandra.
]]>Meet Katie, a baker who transforms classic wedding cakes into contemporary pieces of art.
Having studied graphic design at university, Katie finds inspiration in everything around her, from art and architecture to interior design and advertising. She began her baking journey when she embarked on a mission to make her very own wedding cake. Her fiancé booked her a wedding cake course, where she learnt to stack her very first three-tier cake. Flash forward to now, Katie is still mainly self-taught but has taken a chocolate course and earned a patisserie diploma. She believes “getting good at a skill, like cake making and decorating, is all about trial and error and lots of practice!”
Whilst all of Katie’s cakes are stunning and extravagant, her favourite to make was a tropical flamingo cake. It was a stunning five tier cake. She’s even made a summer and winter version! Katie is constantly expanding her flavour portfolio. Her latest flavours are sherry trifle and Neapolitan, whilst a customer favourite is raspberry ripple.
The most stressful aspect of being a baker are the deliveries. Delivering a four-tier buttercream wedding cake, in the middle of August, can be nerve-racking. The most rewarding part of being a baker for Katie is how happy her cakes make people. “I love being a part of a couple’s wedding journey and meeting with them to discuss their wedding plans at every step of the way.” She loves to see her design and sketches come to life perfectly for a couple’s special day.
Katie currently offers one to one bespoke wedding cake courses, but will also soon be offering chocolate and modern cake decorating courses.
Looking for a contemporary wedding cake? Submit a form at https://mybaker.co/pages/create-a-bake-landing-cakes-and-products and we will be in touch with price quotes and ideas.
This week we had the pleasure of speaking with John, one of our brilliant bakers here at MY BAKER! John’s baking career started later in life. Never having baked as a child, he took it up as a hobby just a few years ago, after following the challenges on The Great British Bake Off. He very quickly realised that he had a talent for baking and an eye for creative detail!
During the day, John works in finance for RADA, then by night he spends his evening as a conductor and a composer, working with many local music festivals and composer groups! In between this already manic schedule, he spends his free time in the kitchen baking and cake decorating! Sleep? No, he doesn’t seem to need it!
Despite his hectic schedule every day, John goes out of his way to finish every cake to perfection and deliver in pristine condition (even if it means delivering a cake on foot in the snow). What keeps him going? “The pleasure it gives seeing your cake being enjoyed, knowing that you’ve used the best ingredients to create something that will be remembered”.
Always keen to learn new skills from the very best and improve as an all-round baker, John has attended several cake workshops on baking and cake decorating hosted by well-known bakers including Bake Off winners, Jo Wheatley, Frances Quinn and John Whaite, master patissier Eric Lanlard, chocolatier Paul A. Young and professional baker Mich Turner, MBE.
John has created some stunning masterpieces in his baking repertoire. From pug face cupcakes to fresh floral drip cakes to 3 tier wedding cakes!
Looking to order a cake from John? Submit a request at https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/John
Meet Gemma, a baker who always saves the day! As both a paramedic and a baker, Gemma finds the time to create beautifully bespoke cakes, whilst also working for the NHS.
Gemma only recently took the plunge to officially start her own cake business, but already had dozens of tried and tested recipes to work with. Her family as well as colleagues at work most definitely enjoyed taste testing any recipes she experimented with. Gemma's favourite flavours to make (and eat) are carrot cake and the classic Victoria sponge with fresh cream and strawberries. A typical day for Gemma consists of a 12-hour shift (either day or night) with the NHS followed by baking to fulfil customer orders. "Unfortunately, most orders come in at the weekend, which can be pretty challenging" says Gemma. "I've had to stay up around the clock on several occasions to get big orders finished."
One of Gemma's favourite cakes to date, was a joint birthday cake for a father and daughter.
Satisfying both interests, she created a half and half cake with Batman and In the Night Garden themes. We asked Gemma to tell us about any baking disasters. "When I first started making cupcakes, I used a tablespoon (instead of a teaspoon) of baking powder. Needless to say, I ended up with more cake mix outside the cases when they were ready to come out of the oven!"
Gemma explains that the best part of being a baker is "the freedom to let your creativity go wild. I’ve always been a very creative person and love how I can turn someone’s love, passion or hobbies into a cake!" Although both jobs are time consuming, Gemma loves them both and it doesn’t feel like work at all.
Love Gemma's work? Submit a request form with her at https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/Gemma_H
At the heart of MY BAKER is our diverse community of independent bakers, each with their own talents and specialities. We want to take some time to introduce you to the talented individuals behind our wonderful cakes and bakes.
This week, we are chatting to Lily. She is based in South London, specialises in spectacular celebration cakes and delicate cupcakes which are beautifully decorated with hand-painted designs.
Inspired by the amazing cakes her mum made her as a child, Lily started to bake cakes for her friends as a teenager. I asked her how she started selling these cakes professionally. ‘After studying Art & History at university I started working in costume design in musical theatre, but I was missing the practical creativity’, says Lily. The artistic baker then quit her job and started working part-time for Biscuiteers, where she learnt to ice biscuits and use a piping bag. ‘I really enjoyed icing, I enjoyed the creativity’, she says. ‘I then started to do my own thing on the side as well, practicing more with piping bags and cake decorating’.
Lily also spent some time working for a high-profile cake designer in Manhattan who taught her a lot about different decorating techniques, and also about the business side of the industry. She has now been baking professionally for 3-4 years. Lily’s cakes are often decorated with stunningly intricate hand-painted patterns. I was curious to know what inspired Lily to start painting her cakes. ‘I have always loved art and painting as a hobby, I learnt in school as I had a really great A-Level teacher’, she says. ‘Then I realised it was completely transferrable to sugar’. She explains that edible paints work in the same way as normal watercolours. ‘You can mix them with alcohol, or sometimes I use rosewater’, she says. Lily sees cake baking and decorating as a form of art, and thinks it is fantastic that the world of cake design is becoming recognised as a platform for artistic expression.
I asked Lily if she has any tips for beginner bakers. ‘There’s a lot of information out there for people that don’t know anything about baking, but I would say it just takes practice. Also, Youtube is amazing for learning new techniques’, she says. Lily also emphasises that the versatility of cakes means that there is something for everyone: ‘there are so many aspects to cakes, you can find an area you really enjoy’. Finally, I asked Lily what her favourite flavour of cake is. She loves the classic flavours (especially carrot) and also almond and lemon. ‘I really like putting citrus zest in the icing!’.
If you love the artistic flare Lily clearly possess why not submit a request form with here at https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers/Lily
We hope you enjoyed reading about our wonderful South London bakers, be sure to check out all our bakers profiles https://mybaker.co/pages/meet-our-bakers! With just a few clicks you can order your very own bespoke cake creation.
Along with the first dance and bouquet toss, cutting the wedding cake is a special tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. A moment captured by all of your friends’ phones and cameras, making every wedding album extra special.
Of course, you want to make sure that the wedding cake will be perfect, whatever “perfect” means to you.
With millions of wedding cake images of inspiration on the internet, it can be quite overwhelming to decide on the perfect wedding cake.
MY BAKER put together “Our 7 W’s of picking your perfect wedding cake” - a guide that will help you to figure out what wedding cake you are looking for.
When trying to find out the perfect style of your wedding cake, it is helpful to match it to the style of your wedding.
Are you having an ornate wedding?
One that takes place in an elegant hotel, with hundreds of guests holding champagne glasses in their hands. This style of wedding can be perfectly complemented with an elaborate multi-tiered fondant design. A more intimate wedding party in your backyard with your closest friends could best suit a semi-naked cake with fresh flowers.
There is often a debate on whether to have a buttercream cake or a fondant cake. Both styles include pros and cons, which WeddingWire has compared. If you cannot decide between fondant or buttercream, a naked or a semi-naked style is an ideal choice for you.
In case you have no clue what kinds of styles we are talking about, here you go:
A simple yet stunning style with a rustic feel due to its exposed sponges. Even though there is no icing involved, you are not limited with decorating options. Seasonal berries and fruits, flowers and different coloured sponges make this kind of design unique.
This classic option offers plenty of design opportunities. The Knot has introduced 7 beautiful ideas ranging from piped rosettes to simple swiss dots. Considering that buttercream can be made in almost every flavour you can think of, it provides versatility and flexibility.
The go-to style if you cannot decide between a naked or a buttercream design. Semi naked cakes are trending more than ever as they stay moist and tasty, and work perfectly for those hot summer days. With their contemporary and rustic look, they create that special romantic feel.
Fondant enables you to sculpt anything you can think of - sugar flowers, bows, or figures of you and your better half as a couple on top of the cake. Bakers get the chance to become highly creative with it, which makes your cake unique and elaborate. Either in an elegant, funny or quirky way.
In order to help you figure out what your perfect style is, we put together a short and fun quiz that will find it out for you.
You have probably been browsing through Pinterest, Instagram and hundreds of inspiring websites in order to find some ideas for your wedding cake. When it comes to design, the options are endless. We have gathered our favourite trends for 2019 that you can use as a starting point when deciding on the look of your cake.
This is a timeless trend. A classic cake adorned with handcrafted beautiful blooms, whether edible or real, will never go out of style.
The ideal choice if you’re set on a contemporary feel. Pick a simple design to decorate or add a dramatic note with a splash of colour.
Drip cakes have that wow factor that will have your guests lining up for an extra piece. Choose a metallic or chocolate ganache drip for only one of your tiers to create a more opulent outcome.
The ombré technique entails the application of subtle hues of your favourite colour throughout the cake, achieving a simple yet striking result.
Deciding on the flavour can be quite a challenge as the cake will be eaten by lots of different people with lots of different tastes. In case you are stressed about the thought of pleasing a large crowd, it is often best to choose at least two flavours. Start thinking of your own favourite flavour - of course you should enjoy your wedding cake the most - and then try to come up with a contrasting alternative, for instance, Lemon with White Chocolate.
It may be worth thinking about if any of your guests have strict dietary requirements. Luckily, most of our bakers are able to make delicious cakes, from vegan, nut free to gluten-free. You could consider having one tier following the dietary requirement, however, you should not stress too much about it. Depending on the number of your guests, it is hardly possible to please everybody’s diet. An alternative would be to have an additional small selection of pastries following different dietary requirements so that everyone gets to enjoy a delicious dessert.
Another factor to consider is the season in which your wedding will take place. In the summertime, you could go for a light, fruity flavour, while during the colder days an autumnal or winterly flavour would fit.
Hitched suggests a range of delicious flavour combinations. Our favourites are Oreo Cookie & Toblerone (for all the sweet chocolate fans out there), Light Fruit & Lemon (a light combination for weddings on hot summer days) and Lavender Honey Sponge with Lavender Buttercream - a unique combination that none of your guests will have tried before.
By now, you hopefully already have a better idea of how you want your wedding cake to look. But how can you make it unique and do justice to your special day? As this day is all about you and your better half uniting and becoming a couple, you want your cake to showcase this. The customisation is key - and we will give you some ideas on how to do it!
An easy way to give your cake that individual touch. You can go for a quote (because who doesn’t love a good quote on a beautiful cake), your names or initials, or something funny like your favourite inside joke.
Just like cake toppers, fondant figures can be easily added without changing the overall design. Everyone knows the classic couple figurines - you can take it to the next level and get figures created that look like you and your loved one, or give it a further twist with a sculpture of your pet or characters out of your favourite movie.
Probably the most elaborate and unique way to make the design individual is to let it tell your story. It could be the story of the proposal, how you met or places you visited together. It can also reflect mutual hobbies and interests that you share.
Edible images can be integrated into the design in many beautiful ways. For example, you can have several ones presented as polaroid images showing your most exciting experiences together. Cake decorator Rose Warden has created this special cake with edible pictures that show special moments of the couple:
Sizing your wedding cake can be challenging as you need to strike the perfect balance. You don’t want lots of leftovers (especially if you are lucky enough to be off on your honeymoon straight after your wedding!) as the cake would be wasted. Simultaneously, you do not want to leave any of your guests without a slice.
The first factor is obviously the number of guests you are inviting. Sarah’s Stands presented a size guide for different amounts of people:
If you would like to have multiple tiers, even though you are having a more intimate wedding with fewer people, you could opt for a taller, slimmer style so that there is no waste of the cake (and money).
Alternatively, you can consider having a dummy tier that is decorated exactly like the real tiers - your guests will never notice! Although this option does not necessarily save money as the decoration of the dummy tier takes just as long as decorating the real ones.
You can also decide on following the tradition of saving the first tier for yourself and your loved one. You could have a small extra tier on top and enjoy it the next day, or - if you freeze it - on your first anniversary!
A key factor is also how you cut the cake. Bearing in mind that a large piece requires more cake, you should figure out whether you want to offer thick or thin slices.
In case you are still not sure about the size, our bakers are always happy to give advice when discussing your wedding cake with you.
Did you think of something different? You do not necessarily need to have a cake since there are lots of other options that look elegant and stunning. Here are our favourites:
A great way to incorporate a lot of different flavours together that is also cost-effective. It allows you to easily estimate the quantity you will need, as you can have one (or two) cupcakes per person. If you are still thinking of having an actual cake for your wedding, a nice way to top it off is to have a small one-tiered cake on the top.
Source of image: Ruffled
Especially in France or Belgium, a croquembouche is often picked as the go-to replacement for a traditional wedding cake. Originally, it was designed to be a non-edible showstopper for parties- which has thankfully changed. Nowadays, not only can you have this work of art on display for all your guests, but you can also enjoy the delightful taste of the choux buns. Filled with cream and covered with a rich chocolate ganache, melted toffee or caramel. Decorated with fresh flowers, fairy lights, pearls or anything else that comes to mind. A croquembouche will be sure to make your guests’ eyes sparkle.
Macarons have a classy and elegant feel and are considered to be a premium bake. They are one of those pastries you don't want to carelessly set out on a plate. So, a macaron tower will definitely be an eye-catcher. You can vary in sizes, shapes and colours to match the overall colour scheme of your party.
A “hole” lotta love for doughnut walls! They are definitely one of the trendiest alternatives to a wedding cake. You get to play around with the design of the wall, personalise it with a message and make it look unique. Different flavours and styles can be chosen, so your doughnut wall can meet anybody’s taste. Planning your wedding party on a budget? Shari’s Berries has shown how to make a doughnut wall yourself - and we can help out with the doughnuts!
Source of image: Marianne Taylor
Now that you know everything about picking your perfect wedding cake, it is time to discuss it with someone that can turn your vision into a reality. Many of our highly skilled bakers (you can find them here) specialise in creating stunning and customised wedding cakes that will leave you unable to look away.
On our wedding consultation form, you can easily fill out your details and wishes that we will review carefully. Based on your request, we can start finding a baker with whom you can further discuss all the details. You can book a taste test to make sure that the flavour and texture are exactly what you have been looking for. The MY BAKER Team and your baker will always be available to discuss your cake with you until all details are clear and finalised. When your big day arrives, your wedding cake will be delivered to the venue and all you need to do is to enjoy your day and your cake!
So, this has been our ultimate step-by-step guide to picking your perfect wedding cake. Are any questions you have left? Or maybe there is something we missed. Let us know by leaving a comment below. We wish everyone who is engaged the best of luck with planning your big day and hope it results in a beautiful wedding for you both!
]]>How are you going to cut it?
]]>The time has come.
The candles have been blown out, the in-laws are watching and it’s time to figure out how to cut this huge cake without making it an absolute shamble.
Sound familiar?
Whether you’re on the high street, Instagram or on the My Baker website you’ll probably have noticed that these cakes are getting pretty tall nowadays.
Gone are the days where the cake wasn't the main attraction.
Now it’s go big, or go home.
Sure, everyone knows the fundamentals of cutting a cake right? How hard can it be to cut a tall cake? At My Baker, we've been wondering just that.
The first great tip we found came from lifestyle blogger Brogen, who suggests that the easiest way to slice your delicious cake is piece by piece.
Start from an aerial view as shown, slice down a quarter of the cake, leaving the centre of the cake untouched.
Don’t go too far down though, the cake will likely be layered so cutting half way down will do if you want twice the portions.
Then, slice through the base of the quarter to level off the size, removing it entirely. Next simply slice the quarter into the portions you need and voila – a piece of cake!
Next, if you want to cut portions for the whole party and not just for yourself then take a look at the grid below. We have taken the liberty to sketch up a 32 portion guide for you. If you consider how tall your cake is, you could even cut the height in two.
Now that's a lot of cake.
Our next life hack, or should we say, cake hack, has been circulating the rounds on social media after Australia’s Katherine Sabbath went viral on Instagram.
If you’ve got a larger than life cake and no decent sized cake cutter, then you might be worried that cutting into it freestyle will ruin the structure of the cake. Well don’t worry, cake loving Katherine has got you covered.
Simply hold a nice clean chopping board against the side of your cake to support it as you cut down. This allows you to choose portion size, will keep the shape of your cake intact and is guaranteed to make you look like an absolute boss at the same time.
Thanks Katherine!
If you really want to go above and beyond then when enquiring about our taller cakes, consider asking for cake boards to be hidden between cake layers within the design.
If they are going to cover your delicious cake in either fondant or buttercream, this will easily hide the edges of the board inside your cake. It’s effectively two cakes cleverly disguised as one!
This way, when you start slicing the cake, the cake board will let you know when you’ve sliced that perfectly sized portion.
Wing it.
When asking around about how our lovely customers would cut their terrifically tall cakes, we heard back from a few rogue cake cutters that they don’t give it much thought!
‘Go with the flow’, they say as they play a risky game with their portion sizes!
Whilst we are sure this would bring out a collective and incredibly anxious gasp from our bakers, as someone once said ‘Let them eat cake!’.
So there you have it. Five insider tips on how to cut your tall cake.
Do you have any tricks or techniques for cutting a tall cake?
Has all this talk of cake got your tummy rumbling?
Is your friend an avid cake connoisseur in need of a helping hand?
Well, let them know by sharing this post or commenting below!
]]>So, we’ve all heard of vegans. That friend of a friend who doesn’t consume anything derived from animals and yes, we know what you’re thinking ‘What, not even cheese?!’
What is veganism? According to the Vegan Society, it’s a way of living without the exploitation and cruelty to animals. Why vegan? Well, studies show that it is a healthier lifestyle and that also it puts your points up on the moral scale for both environmental and animal welfare.
Did you know that dairy has been linked to high cholesterol, acne outbreaks and that lactose intolerance is one of the most common self-reported food allergens worldwide? Is it any wonder that vegan cakes are becoming increasingly popular?
But you might be wondering ‘How could I possibly go vegan and also have my cake and eat it?’
MY BAKER has created this how to guide to help you navigate just that! So you won't be sticking an avocado in a baking tray any time soon.
Well, it’s your traditional cake with a slight difference - there are no animal products used to bake it!
Just to be clear, that means no egg, no gelatine and no dairy, unfortunately this can also mean no chocolate. So if you have an egg allergy or perhaps suffer from that lactose intolerance mentioned earlier then these are the cakes for you.
Milk is usually swapped out for dairy-free alternatives such as soy milk, oat milk (yum), rice milk, coconut milk and almond milk. Each of these milk alternatives has their own flavour though, so perhaps consider this before you make your choice. We asked our Le Corden Bleu trained baker Gigi and she says that she much prefers using coconut milk and oat milk, as they are much creamier and also help to avoid allergies for both soya and nut allergies sufferers.
You could use oat milk for oat cakes for instance, or almond cake for that delightful chocolate and hazelnut cake you’re planning to help you navigate through that next ‘vegan phase’ teenage birthday.
Now anyone who has baked before knows how important eggs are to the mix. Used as a binding ingredient, they keep the whole thing from falling apart and if we are talking texture then yep, you’ve got it, it’s the eggs.
Hand ground flax seeds mixed with water make for a suitable alternative (Ratio: 1 tbsp of flax meal with 3 tbsp of hot water), or you can mash up a banana if you’re planning on making some soon to be eaten cookies. Baking soda and vinegar can make a nice bubbly mix to give your bake some much needed lift. If all that sounds a little overwhelming then you could try Ener-G Replacer, a starch based substitute that is also gluten free, wheat free and egg free - a sworn life-saver by veggies the world over.
But what about chocolate cake we hear you ask? Well, unlike the olden days you can now head into any local supermarket, head to the free from aisle and you’ll have vegan chocolate coming out of your ears (not literally). From chocolate sponge mix to chocolate drops you’ll find everything you need and more to get that animal-free bake on. If you can’t find any alternatives you can always choose either a dark chocolate or cocoa alternative.
Vegan cake recipes can be harder to create if you don’t necessarily specialise in them. The baking times can vary, and you may have to go out of your way to source new ingredients when normally you would just rifle through your kitchen to find everything you need.
But with a little preparation, and a decent recipe you’ll find that things will run smoothly.
After listening to our baker's top tips and styles, we thought that you might like to give it a go! We asked our bakers for a quick and easy recipe that will be sure to get you in the mood for more!
Banana cookies recipe
Method -
Please note - They may stay quite soft though as they absorb a lot of moisture after they have cooled down so don’t be disheartened if they are a bit softer than you had imagined.
Can you swap out ingredients to make it animal-friendly or do you need to start from scratch? This depends entirely on the baker that you ask. Our talented baker Sandra says that depending on the recipe type, it’s easier to change the odd ingredient instead of creating a completely new recipe from scratch. Many of our bakers much prefer to develop there own recipes, so as you can see this is an ongoing, fiercely debated subject in the world of vegan baking.
MY BAKER has a whole range of free from desserts on offer that you can take a look at.
Or if you’d like a quick run down, then let’s start from the top.
Chocolate cake
Honestly, does anything taste better than chocolate? Probably not, which is why we receive so many requests for chocolate cakes and luckily for plant-fueled people, MY BAKER can accommodate.
Chocolate cake is a re-occuring favourite for our bakers. Take our baker Paulina for instance, who specialises in a vegan chocolate cake, created after many nights spent perfecting her now closely guarded secret vegan cake recipe.
A vanilla flavoured alternative is much simpler and there isn’t as much to extract from the process so the flavour remains. However, it isn’t the go-to for some bakers! Luckily though, our wonderful baker Deb has mastered her own vanilla cake, and thinks that actually, it tastes better than an ordinary recipe!
Now these can be a tricky recipe to make egg and dairy free and are entirely recipe dependent. Jagruti uses a completely different recipe when she bakes a delicious chunk of red velvet as she finds that swapping out the usual ingredients for animal free alternatives simply does not work.
A recent trend to hit the cake displays is the raw cake. Our raw cake specialist Veronika discovered a passion for these wonderful creations that use all natural, raw ingredients. They are also completely vegan. Most raw cakes use an almond or cashew base, with a mix of fruity ingredients on top!
And yes, they also come in chocolate.
Whilst vegan cakes aren’t gluten free per se, they can of course be made to meet almost any dietary requirements. So if you wanted a gluten free cake that didn't need to be plant based, you could take a look at My Baker's In Vogue Cake. It’s worth noting though that it will be more delicate as the gluten strengthens the structure of the bake.
If you, a guest or a loved one suffer from a nut allergy then it’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s always good practice to check whether your baker uses a completely free from kitchen to avoid cross contamination- an allergic reaction can spoil even the fanciest of parties so do yourself a favour and double check! Check out our Rainbow Cake - a tall cake filled with multicoloured layers that will make even the big kid's eyes pop!
My Baker has a range of different free from cakes with a host of bakers waiting in the wings with whisks in hand. Some of our bakers specialise in gluten free, nut free and halal cakes so order your cakes early to book them in!
So congratulations, you’ve found a free from baker for your party, but how will it be decorated? Well the safest bet is some nice fresh seasonal fruit, mixed in with some sugar flowers to make your cake stylish and elegant. If you fancy a bit of crunch then you can always add a variety of nuts to the top of your cake, such as hazelnut or almond flakes.
If you are catering for a kids party then you might consider a free from chocolate ganache with buttercream swirls and dallops. You could even go for the novelty cake and have a fondant covered cake, complete with your little one's favourite characters and colours to boot! The main ingredients of sugar fondant tend to be animal free so finding vegan fondant should be a fairly easy, you just need to keep an eye out for brands that might contain gelatine.
One ingredient that has caused a spot of bother in the vegan society is the delicious oreo. Whilst they may not have any animal ingredients inside per se, they are made in an environment that handles animal products. If your reason for the vegan lifestyle is an ethical one, then you might want to consider that there is possible cross-contamination in the oreo producing method!
One thing to note with children’s birthday parties though is that due to allergens awareness, venues and nurseries will only allow nut free food items to be brought in, complete with a marked allergens sticker (which all of our cakes come with).
With all that sugary goodness your guests might not even know the difference, depending on the recipe. Our in house baker Mel says that whilst they are still every bit as delicious as your normal cake, they can taste different. She says that the eggs add an element of flavour which will obviously be missed, and if you were to use aquafaba (the water from a can of chickpeas) then you do need to add sugar and flavourings to sweeten it up.
The rule of thumb is that once out of the oven you’ve got 3-5 good days of shelf life, that’s if it’s made with vegan butter. If you used oil though however, you’ve got an extra two days to enjoy your cake.
They are like usual cakes, if the recipe calls for more sugar then they will of course be very sugary. If it’s a moment on the lips lifetime on the hips that you are thinking about before you take that first succulent bite then you might just want to consider that at the end of the day it is still a cake!
But don’t let this put you off, cakes are meant to be enjoyed after all!
Do you have any vegan cake tips and hints?
Are you thinking of making the plunge into the vegan lifestyle but worried you won’t know what to eat? Or would you like to learn more about veganism as a whole?
So there we have it. A beginners guide to finding out just what is a vegan cake. Suddenly feeling a bit peckish?
Let us know your thoughts below!
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We have carefully selected a list of incredible bakers set to become the trendsetters of the baking world!
]]>Amber’s Instagram boasts an incredible range of biscuit decorations that set her apart, but we especially love her feel good vibes biscuit decorating videos. We could watch them all day. Take a look for yourself and get ready for your tummy to rumble! If you've got some decent WiFi, check out her Youtube!
Tara succeeds in connecting nature with baking, using a wood-fired oven that she tends with her own two hands to bake pies, bread, waffles and more delicious treats. She shares her philosophy of living a simple life not only on her rustic Instagram page, but also in her first book "A Baker's Year".
20) Most Inspirational Recipes
@pastryaffair
We chose Domestic Gothess for the best Vegan Chocolate Cake recipe due to her thoughtful writing and delicious looking images. Hannah continuously offers suggestions and tweaks throughout her food blog posts! Such as to include a range of allergen or preference specific options, with helpful baking hints and tips in an easy to follow format. She even goes on to host a range of recommended vegan recipes of her own!
25) Most Trendsetting Baker
@bakedbyandres
Cake, of course!
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It’s almost everyone’s favourite time of year again.
With Halloween over, there is nothing standing in the way of Santa Claus and his happy little elves spreading joy, merry and mirth across London.
Are you stuck for gift ideas this year?
Perhaps you’ve got that one friend who always says ‘I don’t know’ when you ask what they would like.
Or maybe you just want to do things a bit differently this year and gift something from outside of the box?
Whilst everyone else is squabbling over presents, take the load off by letting us do the hard work for you, we have put together a bespoke menu with a few Christmas miracles of our own!
Browse through our top 5 Christmas Cakes.
The perfect companion for Christmas, Rudolph the red nosed reindeer chocolate covered cake.
This cake comes in a variety of flavours, all topped with chocolate buttercream and adorable reindeer accessories.
Swiss meringue chocolate buttercream swirl, topped with a Rudolph design.
We've used pretzels for the antlers! Clever, right?
To paraphrase 2unlimited "no no, no no there're no raisins."
We realised that the traditional Christmas cake isn’t to everyone’s taste. Whilst this cake may look every bit the traditional Christmas cake it comes in a range of our delicious flavours with not a raisin in sight.
If the schools have finished for the Christmas holidays and you want to drag the kids away from their phones then check out MY BAKER’s Christmas shortbread recipe. Put the wrapping paper and the tinsel down and bring the whole family together for a Christmas bake-off in five easy steps...
Recipe courtesy of our friends over at House and Garden.
Now for the fun part! After your shortbread has cooled down, gather around the table and get those creative Christmas hats on!
Decorate your Christmas shortbread any way you like and then store them in an airtight tub for up to one week.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to leave some out for Santa!
And, if Santa eats too much, you can always give us a call and discuss your perfect Christmas cake. Get in touch, we love to talk cake.
]]>Make your Halloween extra special with a Halloween cake from My Baker. Whether you are throwing a kids party or celebrating the occasion with friends and office pals, our top 3 creepy cakes are sure to impress:
1) Meringue Ghost Cake (from £83)
This spooky showstopper features adorable ghost meringues, delicate purple buttercream, and colourful sprinkles.
This cake goes perfectly with our new Spooky Ghost cookies! They are available in boxes of six, or individually wrapped - perfect for party bags!
2) Crazy Eye Cake (from £83)
Our fiendishly good bakers have created a spooktacular chocolate sponge covered in chocolate ganache and decorated with marshmallow webs, fondant eyes & green and orange sugar balls.
3) Halloween Cupcakes (from £36)
Why not indulge in our moist cupcakes topped with a generous swirl of velvety smooth buttercream in Halloween colours. Share (and scare!) with your friends!
MY BAKER has sourced out the most popular kid's cakes in case you need a little inspiration!
]]>The unicorn cake style is arguably one of the most recognisable cakes designs available today. Since 2016, the unicorn craze has taken over, available in cake boutiques, seen all over social media and of course, available to purchase from the MY BAKER shop. One of the bigger cake trends 0f 2017/2018, the unicorn cake galloped out of nowhere and is now everywhere! Our wizard bakers are ready to conjure up a unicorn cake to some magic for your next party! Find out more here.
Smash cakes are a recent addition to the kids party craze. The idea is that parents order a colourful cake to be placed in front of a baby on their first birthday. All the guests then gather around to watch and enjoy the child get stuck in and get as messy as possible. Traditionally, a cake smash party has two cakes; an easily broken one with colourful sweets (or cereals for the health conscious parent) and then another for everyone else.
For the younger children, there is always the option of an animal cake. Whether fondant or buttercream, you can have a simple yet colourful design featuring a zoo or farmyard animals. For the slightly older birthday celebration MY BAKER can design a quirky jungle cake, complete with a tall giraffe and a scary lion on top- not too scary though!
After doing some digging ourselves into our recent enquiries MY BAKER found that digger cakes are building up a mound of excitement. This style of cake allows bakers to build outside the box, or in this case, to ‘dig’ inside the cake by placing fondant diggers next to gaping ‘dug out’ holes, just like on a real life building site.
Paw Patrol themed cakes have become somewhat of a regular at MY BAKER. Our bakers have been known to bake two tiered novelty cakes with Ryder, Rubble and Rocky standing happily on top, or even an edible image cake with the whole gang beaming up into the room. This is another theme that really lets our bakers get creative as the bright colours and characters that children respond to so well are readily available in almost any format.
6. Superheroes
It goes without saying that superhero cakes are an absolute must nowadays. Whether it’s the Captain America shield, the Superman ‘S’ or even Wonder Woman herself, you can find a cake with just about any Superhero incorporated. You might find a Spider-man cake at a local store but at MY BAKER you can order the full Avengers ensemble for your own miniature heroes. And let’s not forget, girls can be super heroes too! Take a look at this superhero girls cake we have available for all the super girls out there.
Disney cakes are without a doubt amongst the top sellers for children’s birthdays. Both boys and girls love to see their favourite Disney characters in true cake style. You can go with classic themes from the Disney Vault like The Little Mermaid and 101 Dalmatians or you can keep it more recent with Frozen themed cakes.
If football is their thing then why not go all out and throw a football themed party? There are plenty of FC clubs around that are happy to host kids parties and are the perfect place to present a football themed cake. You can keep it simple with a round football cake or you can make your child the ‘Man of the Match’ this year and amaze the whole squad with one of our novelty football cakes.
Princess cakes have always been a popular choice for children’s birthday cakes and rather than go to a high street store MY BAKER can introduce you to a whole new world of tiers and tiaras. You can really get creative with a princess cake, especially given how many Disney princesses there are. You can go above and beyond to make a cake with Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White on show, making a magical day that much more magical.
And finally one of the most popular ideas for a kids birthday cake is of course the edible image. Take an image and have it layered over a delicious cake of your choosing. The picture can be anything you want it to be, perhaps your favourite or funniest photo of your child or a picture of their favourite television show.
One thing that children and cakes share in common (apart from being filled with sugary goodness) is that they are all unique. MY BAKER endeavours to make sure that the right cake reaches the right child on their special day, so no matter what your order, the cake concierge has got you covered.
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To all you brave mothers out there who are planning a party for your child, venture to this week’s blog post on what kids will probably enjoy doing for a birthday.
We have put together a top 10 list covering a variety of activities and locations to host your super fun, super special, highly-energised child’s birthday party!
Looking for fun on a farm in Surrey? Hobble down to Hobbledown as party packages start at £14.50 per child at off peak times for an all-day fun. From classic to deluxe parties, this location offers laser tag, high rope courses, archery, zorbs and even a teddy bear workshop!
You can party in the barn or in a themed Hobbler rooms. You can even stay after the party package finishes and wander around the land of fun activity! They offer a party feast, a party host assistant, a free gift for the birthday boy or girl, and party goodie bags.
If you’re close to Enfield, or if you want a good game of laser tag, head to this circuit! It’s an hour of fun for the kids to duck and dart the red lasers. With only a minimum age of 7, there is no contact, running or climbing so it is entirely child-friendly. From £5.24 per person, this is the perfect activity to sweat those kids out and get a big group together for a fun birthday!
From a fun group sleepover, to testing out cool experiments in the Wonderlab, or watching a science movie in the IMAX theatre, or even an International Space Station simulator, it’s a good time for every child involved.
It’s a good way to get your child academically and energetically involved in the world of science! Book a party here now:
What place is better to host a party than at the zoo? With a mini-tour including facts about the animals, everyone invited can meet and stroke a rabbit, create their own animal badge and paint a brick on the “Birthday Wall of Fame”. Starts from age 4 upwards.
It’s a good place to make new furry friends and to celebrate with old ones!
Tea-time, play-time and showtime all at once! Only an hour long, the party doesn’t have to end there and you can reserve an area of the building to play and eat as much cake as you desire. Head over to their website below to explore the range of treats this theatre can offer you. Bring the west-end to your end and enjoy an afternoon of dress-up.
If you’re tired of having football being played at your house, take your kid and their friends to an outdoor football pitch for an afternoon of sports and treats! Whether it’s for a birthday or even just a good day of fun, they tailor each party to your individual style: so it can range from football, to inflatable events, to murder mystery games!
Home is overrated: take all the kids on a night out to Hamley’s for a sleepover! Only available Saturday, you need a minimum of 10 children and 2 supervising adults. Even though prices are available upon request, you are guaranteed a magician and a rofessional face painter and the opportunity to run around the entire Hamley’s Store! With sleeping equipment provided, there will be films, treasure and store hunts, games and activities and a luxury gift back for every attendee! Film out the form here and get ready for a sleepless night of fun.
If every day is a constant squeak from the couch with your kids jumping around, avoid broken furniture and exchange it for a day on the Trampolines! With Flip Out Trampoline Park, you can hop on over to various locations around London that offer two hours of birthday bouncing. From £180, you will get an open jump dodgeball, air bags, tumble tracks party hats, tableware and not a care in the world. Check out your closest Flip Out here and more information on birthday parties:
Kidzania is birthday galore. Your child can be an air hostess, a firefighter, a princess: anything their heart desires! Known as the city for kids, ran by kids, it’s a day of fun for everyone involved! Not only is the experience adapted for children, but it teaches them a direction for their future and independence in shaping their own mini-world. The three package deals go from Bronze, Silver and then to Gold. Each includes different variations of goody-bags and what they have access to. Head over to their website so you can choose what fits your experience best!
Why not have fun and get those creative juices flowing at the same time? Introduce them to a new passion that might just last a life time with a biscuit and cupcake decorating class. Spend an hour with a professional baker who will guide your child through the different processes of piping and crafting to make the perfect birthday treat.
To find out if your kid is the next Mary Berry just follow the link to the MY BAKER website!
An extra treat…
Of course, we will make your child’s birthday cake, brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and bespoke party bags. It wouldn’t be a MY BAKER blog post if we didn’t include a sweet treat. If your kid wants a salted caramel and Oreo Minion cake, in blue, holding a football, we can make it. If you want 300 cupcakes with red and green frosting, or peanut butter brownies that have their name piped on then look no further. And, even more, we can offer bespoke party bags with small treats so every child remembers the party beyond the party.
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What is a smash cake party?
Surely anyone who is anyone has heard of smash cake, baby cake smashing or the phenomenon of the baby and the smashed cake. No? A smash cake party is where family and friends gather for a 1st birthday to watch a 1 year old smash a cake (yes, literally).
On that note, you might be asking ‘can’t they just have their cake and eat it?’ Well, they could do but why bother when any 1 year old will just make a mess anyway, so why not make a memory at the same time? It’s a given that things won’t stay clean for long so if you do plan to throw a smash cake soiree, towels and cleaning supplies are advised at the ready! If you hold the cake smashing ceremony in the kitchen, there is always the sink nearby to wash off little Tommy or Daisy - and don’t forget to invite Henry the Hoover to see to the rest.
Traditionally, there are two cakes at the party. A smash cake for the cake smashing 1 year old and another, tastier cake for the grownups. Normally, there is also a professional photographer hanging around as well.
So just how do you go about making a smash cake? Whilst you can always check out our bakers here, a pre-smashed cake doesn’t need to look the bee’s knees- unless you want it to. You could keep it simple and easy to clean up, or build a potential colour canvas but be warned, green cakes may equal green babies (just think of the Instagram likes).
Originally, cake smashing was the best way to introduce your baby to sugar for the first time. But if you would prefer to go down the healthier option, some cereals, bananas, cherries and raisins will do the trick just fine. There are bakers out there who will be more than happy to accommodate any requirements – think dairy free, egg free and dare we say it, sugar free!
Get creative with a fun family photo shoot or, if you can hold a joint birthday party then why not a joint smash cake party? Or go a little older and have them smash their way into the terrible twos?
If you have a 1st birthday on the way or know someone who does, let them know all about the latest smash cake trend and help them to have a cake smashing good time.
Design your own smash cake here.
Have you held a cake smash party? What was your budget? Whether large or small, share with us below…
]]>This is for all of the aspiring / established independent bakers, trying to snap the artsiest pictures of your cakes and other bakes. If you find yourself grimacing at the flashed picture of your dessert, if it doesn’t appear as you see it with your naked eye, or if it simply doesn’t look its best, read below for our top tips on photographing your bakes:
1. Natural light
No flash. Ever. That is your worst enemy. Dropping a made cake on the ground 30 minutes before delivery and on-camera flash involved in your cake’s picture should be your two biggest fears. The flash doesn’t accentuate the colours of the cake, nor does it bounce light off properly; it can also make the background look grimy.
Don’t do it.
Find a natural light, and face your bake towards it, be it a window, or a skylight. It mimics much more the features of the cake that we can see with the naked eye.
2. Playing around with the background and the angles
Whether you like aerial shots, or if you want the cake and cake stand to be shown, think about what works best for your cake. If icing is your speciality, you can take close-up shots, if you want to show off your drips, move farther from your cake!
Think about the background and if you’re not entirely comfortable with matching your cake to a particular background (tapestry, cloth or coloured walls), then keep it very simple and minimal: even a white wall will do!
3. Tripod
Shaky hands produce even shakier pictures: avoid this by investing in a tripod. It will help also keep the perspective and the height of the view of the cake consistent, giving your pictures a theme and an aesthetic.
4. Instagram filters / or any editing app that you may use
Whether it’s VSCO, Instagram, Facebook or whatever app you may use to edit your pictures, be consistent and don’t use any filters that may blur your images or decrease the quality of the picture.
Ideas could be:
Keep your pictures consistent in sharpness, contrast, brightness for all of your images
Use one filter and keep the tone, brightness and contrast consistent
Tint pictures with colours that complement your cake
5. Simplify, simplify and simplify
Plain white background, sitting in front of a window or on a simple cake stand, keep the picture simple and minimalist. Nothing ruins pictures more than clutter and random cutlery, or drinks behind or beside your cake. The focus should be on your beautiful cake! Not on the painting that hangs above it, or the stack of magazines on your coffee table. Or other cakes that you’ve made: it should be on the single bake you’ve made and the background should accentuate it.
6. Buy an editing app to play with the focus
This is pretty straightforward. Anything that can capture the details on icing, or piping or whatever your greatest skill is, is worth the purchase. Even Instagram has a ‘focus’ setting on the camera. The iPhone X has portrait mode which blurs the background and draws the eyes to the minute specificities of your creation. Other apps that can do this are Camera Zoom FX, or Camera+ which have excellent app ratings!
7. Dress up your cakes / cupcakes (arrangements, looks)
Rainbow coloured, rich drips, crumbly flakes of biscuit on the top layer - decorate your cakes! Baking is expressive and creative and supposed to show your style. Whether you’re into a rustic look, or are extremely colourful, or adore geometric shapes, your cake is a reflection of YOU! Let that show in your designs.
8. Consistency is key!
Filter? Similar. Light? Similar. Angle? Similar. Background? Should be similar. When scrolling through Instagram pages, it is always nice to see there is not only a visually pleasing aspect to the pictures that are taken, but that an effort is made to keep everything relatively similar.
9. Good camera either on a camera, or on your phone
Like Tip No.6, your phone can determine the quality of your picture. Invest in a good camera, whether this be on an iPhone, on an app, or on a camera that’s bought from an electrics store. It’s worth the money, will last you ages, and will give your pictures that extra professional look that offers a sense of credibility and legitimacy.
10. When thou hast a good camera, know thy camera
Know thy camera. The focus, the different settings and how to play around with them to get your perfect shot – all of these can make a world of difference to your pictures! Keep the manual, read the manual, the manual is your new Bible. Get to know your camera, play around with it and start to understand what the best settings is for your cake from your camera. Look up on YouTube some tutorials on working your specific camera if you’re very lost!
Et voilà!
If you want to join us on our platform and become one of our bakers, contact us. Meet our current bakers here.
Ditch the standard birthday cakes and opt for something a bit more unusual for your kids party this year.
Here are our top 10 cakes for 2018:
Unicorn Cakes
Still going strong, the Unicorn cake is a firm favourite for children’s parties. The classic unicorn is a tall layer cake covered in white buttercream. It is then decorated with buttercream rosettes for the mane, and elegant ears and eyes. The cake is then topped with a fondant unicorn horn (usually gold) for the full effect.
Variations that our bakers have done include a harry potter unicorn, vegan unicorns, unicorns in special colour themes and a 3D unicorn.
Priced from £60
Disney
Disney will always be a popular theme with children. With more and more movies coming out, the list of characters and cakes are forever growing. Whilst frozen has been a popular theme in past years, it is the traditional Disney theme that we have seen so far in 2018. Minnie and Mickey Mouse cakes have been extremely popular. Styles include tiered cakes topped with Minnie or Mickey. One of our favourites is this simple pink and white Minnie Cake.
Priced from £70
Princess Castle Cake
The Princess castle is another popular cake, and a definite showstopper. Children are amazed at this cake creation no matter which princess is their favourite. This castle made by one of our talented bakers is so realistic, your daughter won't believe it's a cake!
Priced from £85
Paw Patrol
The popular animated TV show was released in 2013 but its popularity shows no signs of decline. Our bakers have created paw patrol cakes in all shapes and sizes. One of our favourites is this cake topped with a paw patrol figurine and the cake board decorated with bone shaped biscuits - perfect party favours for your party guests.
Priced from £55
Dinosaurs
Dinosaur themed parties are popular with both boys and girls. Orders have included this amazing two-tiered cake. Want something a little more girly? Our bakers can do pink cakes with purple dinosaurs, it’s completely up to you!
Priced from £75
Two Tier Afro Girl Cake
This cake has been popular for both baby showers and birthday parties. Found on the internet and now trending on Pinterest, a few customers have contacted us for something similar. Our baker Sandra did such an amazing job, orders for this cute cake keep coming in.
Prices start from £150
Galaxy Cakes
From rockets and space ships to aliens and planets, a space party theme is magical and is becoming popular amongst children. The dark frosting combined with planets and stars has an impressive effect that kids will love. Why not combine this with an assortment of spaceship and planet biscuits or planet cake pops to really make your child’s party out of this world!
Prices start from £60
Peppa Pig
Peppa pig Is a longstanding popular party theme for younger children. Orders for Peppa pig cakes have ranged from a simple cake with peppa’s face on the top, to a pink and white two-tiered cake with a Peppa figurine perched on the top. If you have an original idea, our bakers are always more than happy to create something new and completely bespoke.
Prices start from £55
Thomas The Tank Engine
Thomas the tank engine is an old favourite. Most parents will remember Thomas and his friends from their own childhood days! A very popular cake for boys, we have seen many variations, with most including a model of Thomas on the top.
Prices start from £60
Safari/Jungle
If you’re looking for a theme that works for both boys and girls, you can’t go wrong with a jungle theme! We’ve seen plenty of orders for cakes decorated in animal prints and jungle scenes topped with tigers, elephants and monkeys. Not a fan of Jungle animals? Farm animal themed cakes are also popular with cakes for younger children.
Prices start from £55
Looking for more than just a cake? we do bespoke dessert tables, cupcakes, biscuits, cake pops and more. All items are bespoke and can be personalised to work with your theme or match the cake. Submit your bespoke cake request at www.mybaker.co.
We often hear our clients questioning how a cake is priced. Why do independent bakers charge £35 for a chocolate cake when supermarkets only charge £10? Why are wedding cakes over £200? Many of our bakers get faced with this question all the time so we thought we’d highlight a few things that contribute to the pricing of a cake.
1. Ingredients
While factories have large amounts of storage and can buy the core ingredients (flour, eggs, butter, sugar) in bulk, independent bakers don’t have the luxury of buying huge bags/boxes as they cannot guarantee that all their ingredients will be used before the expiry, nor do they have the space to store these ingredients (imagine kilos of flour and sugar in your kitchen).
Better-quality ingredients mean a better-quality cake! Sure, to keep prices down, one can use margarine instead of good quality butter, one can use cheap chocolate instead of good quality Belgian chocolate but our bakers want the best for our customers and that means the finest ingredients, which does come at a premium.
2. Time & Labour
This is what most customers overlook and forget to price in. Our bakers pride themselves on making completely bespoke cakes, so each cake is carefully designed, baked and decorated. All of which takes time. A large elaborate wedding cake will take weeks if not months of planning as different requirements for the cake may require different tools, techniques, ingredients etc. Sugar flowers are extremely time consuming to make so having a floral cascade on a 3 to 4 tier cake can take a few days to prepare!
3. Experience
Within our community, different bakers will price their hourly rate differently, based on their level of experience and professional certification. A more senior baker, one with years of experience will likely charge more than one who is new to the industry. Just look at your hairdressers, you pay almost double for a senior stylist compared to a trainee! You are paying for the years and years of experience and experimentation in recipes honed into the baker’s craftsmanship which makes their work that much more unique and valuable.
4. Operating Costs
Just like any other, baking businesses also have overhead costs. Rent, electricity, gas, water, mixers, equipment and maintenance all need to be covered in order for a baker to sustain their ongoing business.
5. Packaging and Delivery
After spending hours and hours preparing, constructing and decorating a cake, the last bit is the presentation to the client, the “wow” moment when the cake is revealed. Cakes are extremely delicate products so it’s a baker’s nightmare to have the product of days of work to be ruined by the indelicate hands of a courier! Bakers trust themselves and opt to deliver personally to ensure their pieces of art are shipped to the customer in pristine condition. This means more time to be covered, petrol and even car hire!
The cake industry is a competitive one and while not every client will understand the pricing of a bespoke cake, we aim to provide the best quality cakes at the best possible prices that is fair to our bakers as well as our customers.
Are you planning a special occasion and looking to order a bespoke cake? Visit our website to create your bake!