Here is a quick photo tutorial on how to make a Giraffe cake topper!

1. You need a ball of yellow modelling paste.
2. Break off a third to make the body, roll the top two thirds into a sausage shape and create a base.
3. Roll two sausages for the legs and shape them. Do the same for the arms.
4. Hold them against the body to check the size but don’t stick them on yet.
5. Do the same with the arms.
6. Roll a small ball for the head, elongate the front to make the nose. Use a smile tool and cel stick to make the face markings. Make to small triangle shapes for the ears. Use a small piece of brown modelling paste to make the horns.
7. Stick a cocktail stick into the body to support the head. Roll out brown modelling paste and cut irregular shapes to make the giraffe markings. Stick these on with a little edible glue.
8. Repeat the same markings on the legs and arms, including small brown circles for the bottom of the legs and arms.
9. Glue the head on, continuing the markings on the side of the head. Cut two small white circles, two smaller brown circles and very small white balls for the eyes.

Happy baking!

Britt xo

Those of you who were watching Great British Bake Off – Extra Slice last night, may have seen a familiar face during the show. That’s right it was me! Haha! Last Sunday, my good friend Colin (from Colin’s Time to Bake) and I went to the ITV studios in Southbank, London, to be part of episode 6 of Great British Bake Off – Extra Slice.

I was asked to bake and bring along a cake fitting to the theme of the Great British Bake Off main show. This week, it was European Cakes! I made a triple layered Ferrero Rocher cake. And here it is;

(You have to excuse the naked cake board. A cardinal sin in my eyes, however, it was purely for transport purposes and was transferred to a posh looking cake stand in the studio!)

Being in the studio was very surreal. For those who know me, will know when I was younger I appeared on all manner of TV programmes for one thing or another. I was frequently on CD:UK and SM:TV (for those of you born in the 90’s and after, google it.) and Extra Slice was filmed in the same studio! So being there brought out my inner teenager I’ll be honest.

Colin and I were treated so well by all the studio staff and production people. We got to hang out in one of the dressing rooms until the studio was ready for us, then as part of the ‘Bakers Area’ we got to sit on the cute little tables right at the front. Being front and centre was pretty awesome. We met Jo Brand first who was so lovely and hilarious. Also on the show panel was Richard Corrigan, Fay Ripley and Romesh Ranganthan. And the guests on the show were Diane from this series of Great British Bake Off, Francis Quinn and Glenn Cosby from last years series.

I think the hardest part of the filming was keeping the secrets. Colin and I knew the outcome of Great British Bake Off from Wednesday since Sunday 7th when the show was recorded and after signing an NDA, couldn’t tell a soul! The pressure!! I have no idea how the 12 bakers do it so easily!

We didn’t finish filming until quite late, so the sensible thing to do was have a slice of my cake on the last train home!

The recipe for the cake was adapted from this recipe on Let The Baking Begin.

For the filling, I used a Nutella buttercream rather than fresh cream as I was travelling to London with it! I decorated it with piped swirls of chocolate Nutella buttercream, topped with Ferrero Rocher chocolates and 24ct gold leaf.

For the cake;

• 100g caster sugar
• 5 large free range eggs
• 200g finely ground hazelnuts
• 50g self raising flour
• 25g cocoa powder
• 3 tsp baking powder

For the buttercream;

• 200g Nutella
• 300g Icing sugar
• 150g Softened unsalted butter

Also;

• 100g crushed ice cream wafers
• 100g chopped hazelnuts
• Gold Leaf (optional)

Method;

1. Preheat the oven to 170C.
2. Line an 8″ tin with greaseproof paper.
3. Whisk together the eggs and sugar until they have tripled in volume.
4. Carefully fold in the flour, finely ground hazelnuts, baking powder and cocoa powder. (Be careful not to knock any air out!)
5. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 35 minutes.
6. Once cooled, use a cake leveller to split carefully into three layers.
7. Mix together the buttercream ingredients until you have a fluffy consistency.
8. Spread your buttercream over your first cake layer and then sprinkle over 1/3 of your crushed ice cream wafers.
9. Repat for the next two layers.
10. Stack your layers on top of each other and coat the sides and top with your Nutella buttercream.
11. Press the chopped hazelnuts onto the sides of your cake all the way around.
12. Pipe small circles onto the top of your cake. Place your Ferrero Rochers into your piped circles and, if desired, add on some gold leaf for effect!

We had a fabulous day and are so grateful to have been part of the whole experience! For good measure, here are a few screen shots of Colin and I on Extra Slice.

Happy baking,

Britt xo

It’s Throwback Thursday time!

The first picture is a cake I made in 2011. The second, last month (2014!)

I can remember making the first cake. I was so proud of it and I loved my penguins! Now, three years later, I still look upon it fondly. I would never have got where I am today without trying, practising and more importantly not giving up. 

Proud to say my latest igloo cake will be featured in a magazine this winter. More details to follow.

Britt xo

Following on from the success of my floating Malteser cake tutorial, which can be found here, I was overwhelmed from the amazing response from you brilliant bakers. A big thank you to those who shared pictures of their creations with me, this post is dedicated to you! Can you spot your cake?

A massive well done and thank you to;

Adrianne Mittan, Amanda Landess, Andy Upton, Cakes by Caroline, Caroline O’Gorman, Catherine Blay, Catherine Wilkinson, Charlene Viscal, Cherry On Top, Chloe Hughes, Chloe Hughes, Clare Cakey Somerset, Dawn Jones, Donna Bypsy Butcher, Emma Farnell, Emma Griffiths Tysoe, Georgina Faulkner, Helen Lang, Helen Putterford, Hev Porter-Hornblow, Jane Gilbank, Janey Cook, Karen Brown, Karen Corkhill, Kathy Churchman, Kelly Rendall, Kelly Squire, Kelly Wadd, Kirstie McMullen, Lily Ryland, Lisa Morris, Louise Cross, Louise Darrington, Lynne Thomas, Melissa Stacey, Michelle Bagnall, Michelle Barry, Nicola Baird, Nicola Pocklington, Niki Bown, Rachel Croucher, Rhian Lewis, Sammie Corcoran, Sarah Greaves, Sophie Elizabeth Nicholas, Susie Pie Winfield, Teresa Lyn Streeter, Zoe Waud.

Have you made anything using one of my tutorials or recipes? I’d love to see! Or contact me on Facebook or Twitter.

Happy baking!

Britt xo