Gransnet forums

Food

Favourite cake? What is yours?

(131 Posts)
LRavenscroft Thu 01-Jun-23 06:56:09

When I retired I had never baked in my life but it has become a favourite hobby and I try to bake a different cake each week, learning from my mistakes. My favourite cake is definitely a Victoria sponge. What is yours and do you have any baking anecdotes?

p0Sy Fri 02-Jun-23 01:16:35

My favourites are apple and cinnamon cake or red velvet cake. Today we were out for the day and found an amazing bakers shop that sold Lardy cake. It was yummy.

LRavenscroft Fri 02-Jun-23 05:23:02

Well, what a lovely wide variety of cakes everyone likes. This conversation has certainly given me some brilliant idea for the rest of the year! Thank you to everyone.

grandMattie Fri 02-Jun-23 05:45:27

I had some powdered cranberry and “invented” apricot and cranberry cake,using dried apricots. The butter icing with the powder turned a fetching luminous pink. It is delicious.
Coffee and walnut
Chocolate
Coconut…

kittylester Fri 02-Jun-23 06:20:10

They have GF custard tarts in Waitrose, in the freezer section, they are really good - maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that

Thank you casdon. We have 3 small Waitroses within striking distance but, sadly, their frozen offerings are very poor4. I will check but I don't hold out much hope.

JackyB Fri 02-Jun-23 08:17:43

This is making me homesick. Cakes are very different here in Germany. I rarely bake cakes as we don't eat them, but any of the above is fine by ma.

German cakes are the size of wagon wheels, either dry, yeast-based heavy dough, or layers of angel cake with more whipped cream than the actual sponge. Cake decorating is not a thing. Having said that, the display at a village fête or other event is really impressive and I never feel I can match up to them with any of my home bakes. If pushed, I provide a plate of shortbread fingers.

LadyGracie Fri 02-Jun-23 09:46:40

Lardy cake, we used to get a delicious one in Debenhams, Taunton in 1967.

karmalady Fri 02-Jun-23 09:51:22

everyday basic cakes for me are parkin and date and walnut. I always have a little taste first, then slice and freeze quickly so I am not tempted too much

Real favourites are MB lemon drizzle and a Delia black forest gateau, sigh, no more

LRavenscroft Fri 02-Jun-23 09:52:57

JackyB

This is making me homesick. Cakes are very different here in Germany. I rarely bake cakes as we don't eat them, but any of the above is fine by ma.

German cakes are the size of wagon wheels, either dry, yeast-based heavy dough, or layers of angel cake with more whipped cream than the actual sponge. Cake decorating is not a thing. Having said that, the display at a village fête or other event is really impressive and I never feel I can match up to them with any of my home bakes. If pushed, I provide a plate of shortbread fingers.

Some friends I had in Germany used to love Christmas cake,Christmas pudding and mince pies and Cadbury's cream eggs which we used to send them by post. They also loved Bird's custard powder. I am going back 25 years now.

MiniMoon Fri 02-Jun-23 13:37:51

I don't like sponge cakes, the exception being battenburg cake or a good cherry cake. I prefer a tray bake.
My Granny used to make a Cumberland rum nicky cake, it was delicious and I've never managed to replicate it.

choughdancer Fri 02-Jun-23 13:47:15

I don't eat cakes often as I am diabetic, but my absolute favourite is a carrot cake I make. It's egg and dairy free, and it is SO moist and luscious; quick and easy recipe too!

Hiraeth Fri 02-Jun-23 13:53:11

„JackyB“ I live in Germany as well ! Nothing like a good Victoria sponge recipe from the UK . Although I do love the gooseberry meringue cake here .

lovebeigecardigans1955 Fri 02-Jun-23 14:59:46

I love a coffee and walnut cake, it's nice and light.

LiliWenFach44 Sat 03-Jun-23 11:09:47

Lemon Drizzle
Christmas Cake
Gingerbread Loaf
Bara Brith!

Lizzies Sat 03-Jun-23 11:13:27

I have a recipe for a sticky ginger cake that my Mum got from a W. I. recipe book that is the one I could eat a whole cake. I went to make it once to take away camping with my daughter’s family and forgot the bicarb! I ended up with a ginger flavoured brick!

RakshaMK Sat 03-Jun-23 11:14:13

Cherry Madeira.
My much missed ex FIL was a time served head baker at a small but nationally known bakers in North Herts.
One of my family secrets is that his wife worked out the recipe for their wonderful Rock cakes, reduced it to family portions and shared it within the family.🥰. I still use it.

Lizzie44 Sat 03-Jun-23 11:17:24

Flourless orange and almond cake. Easy to make and even easier to eat.

Mallin Sat 03-Jun-23 11:29:50

“I made a cake once” proudly announced my neighbours husband.
My neighbour explained later that her mother made cakes by putting all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and handing the bowl and a large fork into the hands of the nearest person who was sitting down. Telling them to mix everything together. Her husband was the one she’d handed the big yellow bowl to one Sunday.
So yes, he had made a cake, once.

Rainnsnow Sat 03-Jun-23 11:37:17

Lots of memory inducing tales on here. My late mil swore by her bero book . Her tins were a different size so my husband converted the size. We now have the book with his childhood scribbles. His favourite was the chocolate cake and the coconut cakes . The raw mixture in the bowl was my favourite part.

Nannan2 Sat 03-Jun-23 11:41:02

Too many to mention😋

Gundy Sat 03-Jun-23 12:03:37

Carrot cake with creme cheese frosting.
Mmm, this is torture - haven’t had breakfast yet.

Hels001 Sat 03-Jun-23 12:07:36

I'm a big cake fan love baking and eating them! When my family were young we had a village show each year. Twice I won best cake in show with my chocolate cake only to be beaten by my SIL grandma with her date and walnut. Since the families have later united through marriage I asked sil grandma if I could have the recipe- a family secret she said and every time we saw each other she would say I'm taking that recipe with me when I go! And she did! Sadly like alot of traditions our village show petered out.

GrammarGrandma Sat 03-Jun-23 12:09:10

I don't really like cake. Always find it disappointing.

Grantanow Sat 03-Jun-23 12:17:52

Chocolate, coffee and walnut, rich fruit cake and lemon drizzzzzzle, in that order.

Beebawbabbity Sat 03-Jun-23 12:57:06

Victoria sponge and also love M&S lemon drizzle. I’m a useless baker which is probably just as well as I’d be forced to eat every cake I made, lol.

Kate567 Sat 03-Jun-23 13:03:59

My favourite was seed cake that my mother used to make, it was delicious!