Party Cakes with Chocolate

The party cake needs to be matched to the occasion or to the person who is being celebrated. Knowing the types of cakes that please (and displease) is very important. Party cakes can be anything the host desires from marble cakes to mini cakes. The beneficiary may want certain types of fruit or chocolate or may even request a plain cake. Decorated cakes are used more frequently at Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter time and decorations may include many of the different cake toppers available. The simple cake topper at birthday time is the candle (candles representing the years) and wedding cakes are usually topped by replicas (sometime edible icing or frosting) of those joined in wedlock.

The image shows the cakes I chose for my graduation party. Alas, I did not cook them myself but employed professionals from the cake shops in the town. They showed me such a variety of cakes available for every party or occasion and I was intrigued by cakes with cake pictures. Seemingly you order your cake and supply a photograph which will be incorporated in the cake design. The results are amazing with such perfectly reproduced images in full color in the icing / frosting. It’s edible too but it seems such a shame to cut into the cake.

Make cakes

I have made a number of party cakes before (including one made from ice cream alone for my daughter) but I have not worked commercially. The easiest cakes are those which you do not have to cook! Many novelty cakes can be pressed together and ‘cooked’ in the refrigerator to produce wonderful results. If however you believe that a cake must enter the oven at some point then I have included a basic cake recipe that I have used before.

This is a common recipe that can be adjusted to suit one’s taste. Simply remove some ingredients and replace them with more ‘well-liked’ ones. This is the ‘easy-to-remember’ 8 ounces of everything cake.

*Before you start you should heat the oven to 350°F (usually Gas Mark 4)

8oz caster sugar plus 8oz butter and 8oz self raising flour also 8fl oz double cream and 8oz of fruit (usually strawberries, but the choice is yours)
3 large or 4 small eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 large handful strawberries

How to prepare the cake

You need to prepare two x 8 inch cake tins to make the upper and lower sponges of the cake. The tins should be greased to allow easy removal of the cakes when cooked.

Mix the sugar and butter really well (use a blender if you have one). Make a paste of the cocoa powder using a little water until the mix is smooth. Add this to the sugar and butter and also add the flour and baking powder. Mix it all well. Fill the mixture into the two tins. Baking time is about 25 to 30 mins. Allow to cool before trying to remove sponges from the tins.

For the chocolate finish you will need.

• 4 oz butter
• 4 oz best cooking chocolate
• 4 oz icing sugar
• 3 or 4 tablespoons of cocoa powder
  A small amount of milk

Melt all the chocolate ingredients for the topping (you can use a microwave to help the melting process) be careful not to burn them. Be careful if children are helping because ‘boiling’ chocolate and sugar mix can cause nasty burns if spilt. When it has cooled add the cream and a little sugar to sweeten.

Assemble the cake

Spread the cream over the bottom sponge and add the fruit. Place the top sponge over and press down gently without squirting all the cream free. Pour the chocolate topping over the entire cake (especially the sides, to keep the cream in) and to finish you can add chocolate chips or shavings. Allow the cake to settle and become firm before serving.

Give it a go

There are many self help books and cooking magazines that will get you started on making cakes (and saving money as home made cakes are more cost effective). Many recipes for party cakes are available online and can be tried out for free. Try simple cakes first, a lemon or banana cake perhaps, if you are a beginner. I sculpted one of my first attempts from ice cream and the topping was easy as I used small different colored candies from the local store to decorate.