Yesterday was Matilda’s last pre-teen birthday party, which is quite a strange thought.
It was lovely to meet some of her new school friends, and a huge relief not to have to deal with party bags or party games – just a trip to the cinema and supper back here. But although most aspects of the celebration have changed, the cake remains the same -
Nigella’s Buttermilk birthday cake from How to Be a Domestic Goddess. It’s very versatile and I used it for last week’s cream and raspberry cake as well.
Over the years I have adapted my own butter icing, which I judge by eye and taste, simply slinging the stuff in the mixer and adding a few drops of milk if it gets too thick; Nigella’s icing recipe contains so much sugar I find it completely inedible. I usually only make one cake which I slice in half and spread with Nutella mixed with extra thick double cream, again a something I’ve adapted over many years – it’s very simple and extremely moreish. Just splodge about three heaped tablespoons of Nutella in a small bowl and then add thick cream, stirring vigorously between each spoonful – it will seem to split and go very sticky at first, but as you add more cream it will gradually emulsify, becoming smooth and glossy, but with a mousse-like texture. For a more sophisticated, grown-up version, you can melt some good quality dark chocolate and add that to the mix.
Glad the party went off well! And what a cake! I want a birthday so I can bake me a cake. Hang on though, the next birthday is far too big to wish for early. Just have to wait till November!
Did you decide on the house colour yet?
I’m sure you don’t need a birthday for a cake, or perhaps you do as the Queen does, and have two birthdays. And as for the house, that’s a story to be continued…
Nutella and cream= what a great idea for a cake filling. I feel sure I will like it!
It’s heaven. Best to make far too much, having ensured that no one else is around, and then you get to clean the bowl.
That sounds delicious – I must give that one a go. I haven’t seen a blue cake since my 22nd birthday, where I had a blue themed party. Even the wine was blue. I wouldn’t recommend the latter. x.
And I don’t think I’ve ever made one before, can’t think why as it ended up looking very pretty, even if I do say so myself. Matilda requested it on Saturday morning, saying that she didn’t think she’d had one before – a quick check through birthday photos proved her right, and so blue it was.
It certainly was a very pretty cake and I really do like the sound of nutella and cream. A friend of mine did a grown up version with melted g&b’s butterscotch choclate mixed with marscapone for the topping and strawberries and cream in the middle! Now that was a cake and a half… thoroughly recommended!
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