My WKD cake

Welcome to all my new followers and thanks so much for joining me on my journey. Today's cake is a very fancy one indeed.None other than a WKD BOTTLE CAKE. Initially when I thought about making it I nearly had a stroke but then the competitive cat came out and it became all I could think about for days on end. Waking and sleeping all my thoughts centred around this cake. Wondering what problems could arise and how I could fix them.

To start I baked a 9 inch round cake and a 9'' flat one using the same mixture as my Halloween cake ( See previous blog). I allowed them to cool over night which makes the carving that bit easier. I say carving like I'm a pro but trust me it takes lots of practice and the only way to learn is to make a mistake. I began by carving the body of the bottle which is the wider part.Then I cut the cake into 3 layer. Praying all 10 decades of the rosary they would not break as I transferred each one. Layer of butter cream then a layer of cake. It sounds so easy :). The butter cream is easily made using 336g of butter whisked for 3 minutes , add 31.5 oz of icing sugar and 3 oz of cocoa a splash of vanilla and milk bobs your uncle. It needs to be a nice spreadable consistency.Once I felt the body was high enough  I used the 9'' flat for the narrow neck . Carving it very slowly to ensure the joining between the neck and the body was flush. Flush... a funny word FLUSH isn't it ( Miranda Harte tribute).Then I cut it into 2 layers and again added butter cream. Once it was in place I began to butter cream the outside. This is used firstly for taste but more importantly to stick the fondant.  At this stage some people may panic wondering how the hell it's going to turn into a masterpiece but I decided to keep the faith :)
                                           

Roll out 3 packets of ready to roll fondant. Remember to spread some cornflour on the work surface to avoid roller rage. Then roll the fondant back up with the roller and drape it over the cake aligning it. Gradually roll out over the cake. Then smooth out the top and sides eliminating all creases.Trim the ends and transfer to a cake board.
I then cut out all the letters manually with a great deal of patience and a knife. Then a rectangular piece and a round piece for the logo. The logo I did with icing.
                                           
All in all I still can't believe I made it. I love it and can't wait until my next one!

Reeling in the years

                                

Who remembers marble cake? Grannies favourite served with a pot of tea straight off the kitchen range. As a little one I wondered how Nana managed to combine all those colours and integrate them to look so good. So I decided to have a go myself. Mine is called Army marble cake. Army because of the colours and my childhood desire to become a super hero army girl.

Begin by creaming 4 oz of margarine and the same weight in sugar I was very much at home with this project. The phrase creaming comes up in almost every recipe and it involves whisking the sugar and butter until they become one.As the spice girls would say 'When 2 become 1'. Next just like making a Madeira cake add 2 beaten eggs whilst gradually whisking adding air to the mixture. Now for the flour. Grab 6oz of self raising and sieve and stir into the mixture along with a pinch of your very finest salt.If you have seen Hocus Pocus then you all know to keep salt close by at Halloween. Add a dabble of vanilla essence and some milk until it's at dropping consistency. Now for the funky part.

Remove 1/3 of the mixture and pop it into another bowl. Add some green food dye and let the magic happen as you stir. Then take 1/2 the remaining mixture and add cocoa and a sprinkle of baking powder.Taking dollops of each mixture keep going until your baking tin is covered.I used a 9 inch round tin just to be different but traditionally they were also served in a loaf shape.Then using a skewer make zig zag motions through the mixture. Pop in a moderate oven and bake for up to 1 hr.




From the bottom it looks like a football and on the top and beautiful camouflage piece. I had loads of fun recreating and you can too adding what ever colours you like I think marble cakes will make a come back yet!