Springtime in London

We are all suffering the effects of the ash cloud and if you are stuck somewhere and have had your life upended, our thoughts are with you! But if you are on the other end, its hard to be down about it on a day like today. Blue skies, warm sun, flowers bursting out from every branch...and the slow pace. The empty streets, the silence and the peace. I think in a way it's been nice to slow down for a few days and to literally, stop and smell the roses.

So this afternoon, I came home and sat in the garden, had a cup of tea and a truly amazing sweet-tart lemon bar. Really, as close to tasting spring as you can get. The flavour bursts with sunshine and when there is nothing else to do but wait, can you ask for more?

A Very Good Day for Cake

We make cakes all the time for lovely people all over the big smoke, but today we really went all out to make two particular lovely ladies super happy!

Firstly, the super cool Mademoiselle Robot got married today and being the truly unique and stylish girl that she is, she wanted a decidedly unique and stylish wedding cupcake display.







Secondly, the amazingly creative and super talented Emma, otherwise known as Erqsome celebrated the big 3-0 with a super lush vegan chocolate cake!



Doesn't she look like a cake loving super spy?? Oh, yes she does.



Hope you have enjoyed this glorious weekend, even if you are stuck somewhere because of the stupid ash cloud.

Bollocks to Baking!

I know, it's been ages since we have reported happenings around Bittersweet HQ but we have had our little hands literally full of yummy goodies for weeks on end now leaving precious little time to catch up with you all! How have you been? We certainly hope all silly notions of diets and detoxes have fully been banished and you are back on the cake wagon, woot!

Spring is here it seems and with it we have a new menu with new flavours! We hope that it inspires you to give us a call and try out something new and exciting.

In other very exciting news, Bittersweet Bakers was written up by the gorgeous ladies of Domestic Sluttery, who we caked up for their 1st birthday party! They celebrated in style and we hope this the first of many birthdays to come! They were so kind and we really appreciate the glowing review!! Thanks girls!

Here are a few photos of what's been happening around here lately...

And my personal favourite the SUPERSIZE cupcake!!

And some lovely Valentine's Cupcakes





Take care cake lovers!
x

Cupcake Decorating Workshops in London

Wow, what a few crazy months it's been! We at Bittersweet Bakers have been so busy making heaps and heaps of delicious tasty treats that we are stunned and amazed it's nearly Christmas! How did that happen?? Good thing the internet is open for Christmas shopping at all hours or we would be empty handed on the big day!

The most notable thing to announce is that due to overwhelming popular demand (we are SO flattered!) we have decided to make our Cupcake Decorating workshops open to everyone on a regular basis instead of just private parties! Yay!

This is partly due to the wonderful Gail who wrote a super article for the Londonist on what a brilliant time she had at one of our classes. Not only is she good with words, but she's pretty hot with a piping bag and some glitter too!

If you fancy getting your cupcake decorating groove on, just send us an email for information. We are going to be doing workshops in the new year on 10 January, 7 February and 28 February. This also makes a brilliant gift for Christmas or any other gift giving occasion and vouchers are available.

Also, for all you baking enthusiasts, we are happy to give classes on all sorts of topics including Proper Baking for Beginners or Layer Cake Assembly and Decorating, just to name a few. If you have a specific topic you would like to cover, get in touch! You never know, we might just be thinking the same thing!

Happy Halloween London!!

Halloween has always been my favourite holiday. Perhaps it always brings me back to my suburban Californian childhood, but the dressing up, the candy, the fake blood, the scary movies, the excuse to scare the daylights out of people...never ending fun in my book. My inner child couldn't be happier.

Unlike other holidays that are steeped in tradition, family, religion and obligatory consumerism, for me Halloween is just about good old fashioned childish fun. I am sure it has deeper meaning somewhere in the world, but I love to celebrate it for the Autumnal fun that it is. And of course, the eating of sweets, cakes, candied apples and gummy eyeballs with reckless, nausea inducing abandon!

So, however you are spending this All Hallow's Eve, we hope it is filled with joy!

American Thanksgiving Pumpkin and Pecan Pies

When the leaves start to turn their magnificent colors and the wind turns chilly, I automatically starting thinking of pie! Perhaps my internal yankee holiday clock sets off the alarm, but right now nothing will do but Pumpkin everything!

Next month Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving, a holiday which we can all get behind as it has nothing to do with shopping and gifts but family, friends, happiness and of course, food!!

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving in London this year, we have the pies for you!

Classic Pumpkin Pie



Classic Pecan Pie

Autumnal Victorian Wedding Cake

Ok,the Victorians didn't eat cupcakes but if they did, this is what a Victorian cupcake wedding cake would have looked like. The venue was One Whitehall Place, next to the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London. A stunning building and a true window into another era.

Here is the cake we made for the lovely Louise and Ben, married today and we wish them all the best in their new life together.







Flowers by John and Sam at Dovers Flowers, who were just as lovely to work with as the flowers.

Mini Cupcakes!

I nearly forgot... for some reason, we have been making loads of gorgeous mini cupcakes! For everyone from little birthday girls to fashionistas (who would have thought??) are munching on these little bite size treats. Perfect for when you just want a little treat.

Summer is really gone and Autumn (and proper tea breaks) is here!!

Where on earth has the time gone?? It is suddenly cold, dark and rainy and worst of all...October!! We have seriously had our noses to the baking grind stone all summer long..including September which really counts as our summer this year..making all sorts of super delicious goodies for all you cake crazy Londoners and poof! It's Autumn!!
Here is a bit of what we have been up to!



























We made the most of the summer with all it's gorgeous fruits and outdoor parties but now it's all about windswept days, cashmere scarves, leaves crunching under our feet, hot chocolate and best of all warm and spicy treats for our well deserved tea breaks! We have a new and delicious menu posted here on our website, so please have a look and let us know if we can deliver some Autumn tastiness to you or someone you love!

Hope your summer went swimmingly and that you are looking forward to the change of the season as much as we are!

The Village Fete and it's Cake Lovers

Wow! I really didn't think it would turn out this way, but in 3 short hours we sold every single cupcake, brownie and cookie we had and could have easily sold twice that. It was amazing and so much fun to meet the local people and talk to them about cake! They were so enthusiastic and even came back for seconds and thirds!



We brought 400 lovely baked treats to sell and wham! Now you see them.....

And now you don't!!!

Very happy ladies, on a very happy day! Thanks to all that came out, it was a really great success and we will be doing it again soon!

Summertime and the livin's easy...

There is something about summer when the pure joy of being outside can make you even more excited (if that's possible) about food. BBQ's, Pimm's and Tennis not withstanding, I think the best bit about summer is all the gorgeous fruit you can use to make cakes! Above is my twist on the classic Strawberry Shortcake. The sauce of strawberries, mint and Cointreau served on the side, make for a cool treat to be the heat.

I think even Uncle Sam would be proud of this! Happy 4th of July to all who are celebrating today and especially to Pam, who wouldn't have her dessert any other way than Star Spangled Fabulous ;-)

Even the brownies get a make over in the summer... swirls of cool vanilla cheesecake to temper the rich, dark chocolate. These have been described as 'crack' as they are so addictive, which we of course take as a serious compliment!

Then there is Lemon Meringue Pie..... so refreshing, even during the crazy heat we have been having in London lately.


My personal favourite, Cherry Vanilla Upside Down Cake. I look forward to making this every year just as the short cherry season starts and try not to make it for myself every week until it's over. It's really that good!

Some vanilla cupcakes topped with fresh whipped cream and summer berries... perfect for a picnic!

Hope you all are having a great summer so far, enjoying the clear blue skies, warm weather and the beautiful gardens we are so lucky to have here.

Bittersweet Bakers this Sunday!

This Sunday, July 5th, Bittersweet Bakers will be in charge of their very own cake stall at the Amwell Street Village Fete!



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Join us for some serious cake eating, family type fun and hopefully just a good day out. It seems we will be just off Inglebert Street (near Filthy McNasty's pub)so please come and see us from 12pm-5pm.

Happy Summer!

A new menu for summer on the website! Yay! Some nice summer treats, all made with the best the British summer has to offer. Have a look and see what inspires you. If you don't see what you are looking for, please drop us an email we are happy to make bespoke flavours at no extra charge.
It's been really busy here at Bittersweet HQ, we are getting into the swing of things for summer and making the most of the sunshine. Outside tea parties and birthday picnics being a highlight already. Cupcakes really are so great for parties.. that is the ones I am not eating myself! Here are a few that have made their way to London's summer tables.


These are my current obsession... caramel cake with caramel buttercream, caramel sauce and sea salt caramel fudge. I like caramel, can you tell? ;-)


Dark chocolate cake with vanilla coconut icing. Better than a Bounty bar any day...

And finally very vanilla bean cupcakes with dark chocolate truffle icing. Heaven!

Happy summer!