Brown - Debbie Browns 50 easy party cakes: simple instructions, clever ideas, fun results

C rammed with ideas for creative cakes, 50 Easy PartyCakes features a stunning range of colourful designsfrom bestselling cake-decorating author Debbie Brown.

If you are planning a party, and are pushed for time, thenlook no further! This collection of striking yet simple cakedesigns is guaranteed to provide an easy solution to theproblem of creating the perfect cake for any birthdayparty or celebration. Debbie Brown combines her flair forcolour and design with her unique modelling skills tosimplify her eye-catching cake designs, some of which youmay have never dreamed you could achieve.

50 Easy Party Cakes is filled with cakes which will appeal tochildren of all ages. Instantly lovable animal cakes include afriendly frog, sporty spider and Noahs ark, while the fairytoadstool, dotty dragon and alien spaceship are among anumber of fantasy ideas. Sports fanatics will enjoy thefootballer and the Formula 1 car. Keep older childrenentertained with the glitter bag and make-up, meanwhileyounger children will adore the playful kitten on a ball ofwool and the cute yellow chick.

Ideal for beginners and experienced cake makers alike,each easy-to-follow cake recipe is clearly illustrated withstep-by-step photographs and a full-page colour pictureto guarantee complete success every time.

Debbie Browns clever creations will inspire and entertaintime and time again, ensuring that 50 Easy Party Cakes willbe an invaluable addition to any cake makers bookshelf.

contents

introduction

E ach child is unique in their like sand dislikes; some are enthusiastic about dinosaurs and dragons, others are unable to go any where without their favourite teddy in tow. Even tiny children have their favourite subjects, such as boats, cars and tractors. Having three children of my own and coming from a family bursting at the seams with little ones, I know the sorts of things children adore.

Young boys will enjoy the .

In this book, I have put together a collection of cakes that are all exceptionally easy to make and require minimum equipment. Many of the designs are aimed at small children, who love simplified images like the toy boat and cute chick. Other designs will be firm favourites of older children, even teenagers. I have to dedicate shopping frenzy to my daughter, Laura, as she drags me out to the shops all too frequently. The camping out cake made me nostalgic for the time when Lewis, my eldest son, was mad on having garden sleepovers if only because it was a brilliant excuse for raiding the larder. When my younger son, Shaun, saw the castle guards cake finished, I knew what request I would get for his next birthday!

All children love the idea of in the garden.

Birthdays are terribly important to children, so I feel that any effort to make their day as special as possible is not wasted. One of the best moments in my cake-making career has to be the sight of a childs face lighting up with wonder and excitement when they see their very own special birthday cake. The little time involved in making it is worth every minute.

equipment

T he cakes featured in this book require the minimum of equipment. A large rolling pin and sharp knife are essential tools. A sugar shaker filled with icing/ confectioners sugar is recommended, as are cocktail sticks /toothpicks, which are ideal for indenting small details and handy for applying food colouring to the sugarpaste/rolled fondant. Also have to hand a fine paintbrush, a bone modelling tool and a small rolling pin . A smooth, washable kitchen work surface is ideal to work on or, if you prefer, non-stick work boards can be obtained in many sizes. Some of the other tools I have used in this book are detailed below. They are all available from cakedecorating suppliers and will make usefuladditions to your workbox.

CAKE SMOOTHER

Used to create a smooth surface on sugarpaste. Different types of smoother are available, but the most useful is a cake smoother with a handle incorporated. Smooth the cake smoother over the sugarpaste in a circular motion to remove bumps and to level out an uneven surface.

CRIMPING TOOL

Using a crimping tool is a simple way to add texture and pattern to sugarpaste. The crimping tool pinches up sugarpaste between the pinchers at the end of the tool. Lines are pinched horizontally, letting the serrated teeth scratch vertical lines. First practice on a spare piece of sugarpaste.

PLUNGER CUTTERS

Flowers can be cut quickly using a blossom plunger cutter. Roll out the sugarpaste quite thinly, making sure that it is not sticking to the work surface. Press the cutter down into the sugarpaste and lift out. Rub your finger over the bottom of the cutter to remove excess and ensure a clean shape.

basic recipes

MADEIRA SPONGE CAKE

The secret of successful cake decorating is to use a firm, moist cake that can be cut and shaped without crumbling. Madeira cake is a good choice and can be flavoured for variety. To make a .

Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas 3, then grease and line the bakeware.

Sift the self-raising and the plain/all-purpose flour together in a bowl.

Put the soft margarine and caster/superfine sugar in a large mixing bowl, and beat until the mixture is pale and fluffy.

Add the eggs to the mixture, one at a time with a spoonful of the flour, beating well after each addition. Add any flavouring required.

Using a large spoon, fold the remaining flour into the mixture.

Spoon the mixture into the bakeware, then make a dip in the top of the mixture with the back of the spoon.

Bake in the centre of the oven until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean ().

Leave to cool for 5 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. When cold, store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Madeira cake flavourings

Vanilla Add 1 teaspoon vanilla essence/extract to every 6-egg mixture.

Lemon Add the grated rind and/or the juice of 1 lemon to every 6-egg mixture.