Christmas Treats

It's December and nearly Christmas and we can't wait for the big day, here at the Spotty Dog Cakery. We're getting organised with the usual puddings and cakes, as well as our very special cakes of the week, too. Rudolph's Reward, Christmas Pudding Cake with Brandy Buttercream, as well as Mincemeat Crumble Cake are just a few that are helping our lovely customers get into the Christmas spirit (as well as us bakers here at Spotty Dog HQ!). Make sure you treat yourself to at least one slice with a cup of tea and a sit down before the big day! 

Honey Bees and Lots of Honey

For a little while now, my Mum has been keeping bees. It's been quite a learning curve but I think she's really mastered it all now. Proof of which has been our first harvest of honey last week (a huge comb of gorgeous honey-produced right in our vegetable garden!). We are all  very impressed with it -especially as it tastes amazing, as well-well done Mum! I'm hoping that we'll have enough honey from our harvest in the Autumn to use some in a few select cake recipes.

Summer Jam

We've had such great weather recently that it's made me think it must be time to make some berry jam! I love all types of jam but my favourite has got to be strawberry-it just goes with everything! We make a lot of our own jam here at the Cakery and I have included a recipe below for our favourite strawberry jam. I always source our fruit from our local fruit and veg market as you can buy in bulk which makes it so much more economical (and it's a lot more fun than shopping at the supermarket!).

Strawberry Jam

Ingredients
(makes about 5 kg)

3.5 kg strawberries (hulled and washed)
juice of 2 lemons
3 kg jam sugar

Method

1) Sterilise your jars

2)pour the fruit and the lemon juice into a preserving pan and heat gently and stir constantly until the volume is reduced by about one-third

3)Add the sugar and stir until dissolved

4) Bring to the boil and boil rapidly until setting point is reached

5) Remove any scum from the top of the jam and allow to cool slightly

6) Stir the jam and pour into the warmed jars

7) Cover and label

8) Wait as long as you can bear, then try out your amazing creation on some bread, a scone or in a cake!

Spring is the Air

It's feeling a lot more Spring like here which is great! We love Spring here at the Cakery as it means Easter baking which we just can't get enough of-Simnel cakes, Hot Cross Buns and loads of very chocolately recipes Plus, we've got some gorgeous new Cakes of the Week on their way-lots of lemony recipes which are so lovely in the warmer weather. Keep a look out for them in a cake shop near you!

Happy Valentines Day!

It's nearly the middle of February so it must be nearly time to start planning what to buy for your Valentine! I think biscuits are far more interesting than flowers (I know, I know-I would!) and our jars and packs of Canoodle Doodle Biscuits really do make the perfect present! Wrapped in red tissue paper and with a message attached on an old fashioned luggage label-all you need to do is order and your present will be sent to your lucky recipient. 

The pictures below show the biscuits being used as favours at my own wedding last year!

You can order your gorgeous biscuits here on Not on the High Street