Well, it has been an exciting summer for us so far, but not as exciting as for my friend Sarah Trivuncic from Maison Cupcake who had her first book published by David & Charles. Bake Me I’m Yours…Sweet Bitesize Bakes popped through my letter box just as the school holidays were starting. Just in time, in fact, for some family baking fun and my first ‘bake swap’ by post to celebrate the book’s arrival.
About Sarah
Sarah has been writing her food blog Maison Cupcake since 2009. Her blog was one of the first two blogs that I started to follow regularly early in 2010. I remember always being captivated by her posts and felt that Sarah had gathered a real sense of community on her blog. Many of Sarah’s regular readers became familiar to me and I started to hop along to other blogs through her links and via the comments that people left. By the time Sarah launched her blog event ‘Forever Nigella’ in January 2011, I had been blogging for just two short months and Sarah’s event was the very first blog event I plucked up the courage to join in with. I took part with two recipes (which I still love making, particularly Nigella’s Marmalade Pudding Cake) the and the rest, as they say, is history!
It has been very exciting for me to watch Sarah’s journey unfold and I was hugely excited for Sarah when the offer for her to write a baking book came along. I’ve enjoyed chatting to Sarah about the process of writing a cookery book at various occassions throughout the year and I was also very happy to be able to offer my help in testing one of Sarah’s recipes – the banana mini whoopie pies and marshmallow fluff. Sarah has very kindly given me an acknowledgement at the back of her book alongside other testers and supporters, which made recieving her book extra special - thanks Sarah!
Bake Me I’m Yours…Sweet Bitesize Bakes
Bake Me I’m Your’s…Sweet Bitesize Bakes features a range of baking projects with simple to follow recipes (that work!) alongside fillings and toppings and step-by-step decorating techniques. You’ll find recipes for sponge cakes, including red velvet cake, banana whoopie pie shells, macarons, madelines and coux buns.
Sarah also shares fool-proof recipes for fillings, such as, chocolate ganache, marshmallow fluff and lemon curd, as well as showing us how to pipe, work with sugar paste and make pretty and simple decorative flowers and bows.
Photo Credit: Sian Irvine
Once you have worked your way through the basics, there are over 25 projects in five sections to dive into - Fondant Fancies, Mini Cupcakes, Cutesy Cookies, Little Tiers and Petit Fours.
I got stuck into making Sarah’s Banana mini whoopie pie shells again (I had tested them for the book) for the Bake Swap, this time using Nutella as the filling as I wanted them to travel well and keep in the post overnight. They came out beautifully.
I’m desperate to have a go at making my own fondant fancies now, particularly the Orange Blossoms with a hint of orange water and marmalade. Sarah’s Bring out the Bunting biscuits are also delightful and I’d love to have a go at making Sarah’s Pretty in Pink mini eclairs.
Photo Credit: Sian Irvine
This book would be perfect for anyone looking to improve their home baking skills and take them up to the next level. There’s plenty of advice on baking tools and equipment and if you follow Sarah’s methods and advice, you’ll be able to produce some stunning bitesize bakes!
Likewise, this book would make the perfect companion for anyone looking to host an impressive home baked afternoon tea or mini bakes party.
I’ll leave you with a couple of photos from my the Bake Swap hosted by BakeMe.com. Thank you to my Bake Swap partner Andrea Jones for sending me some delightful home made chocolate bournon biscuits in return!
You can read all about Sarah’s Pop Up Launch Party here, too with some stunning photos of Sarah’s bakes.
Scroll down to the very bottom on the post to be in with a chance of winning a copy, too!
A simple Nutella filling…
My mini Banoffi Whoopie Pies go out by post…
My bitesize bakes arrived by post…
Review copy my own. Bake Me I’m Yours…Sweet Bitsize Bakes is available to buy through RUCraft (priced at £7.49) Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com. Giveaway copy will be sent out by Sarah.
Ren Behan
Ren Behan is a British-born food writer of Polish descent. She is a mum to two young children (6 and 3) and spends lots of time with them in the kitchen. Ren writes about seasonal, family-friendly food on her blog www.renbehan.com and about Polish food on her site www.mypolishkitchen.co.uk. She also contributes recipes and articles to online and print food publications. Ren holds a Diploma in Food Journalism with Distinction and has completed a Food Styling course at Leiths School of Food and Wine. Full Profile on Google+
has to be peanut butter cookies
Chocolate brownies, has to be really!
That looks like a great book! Great to get a book deal.
Millionaires Shortbread!
i love so many things – love banoffe pie and also chocolate eclairs
apple pie and clotted cream
I really enjoy a slice of homemade cake but, if I haven’t baked, I do like those chewy chocolate chip cookies you get in a bag of five from the supermarkets!
Apple tart
Rhubarb crumble
chocolate cookies
My favourite snack has to be my house mate’s brownies. Dry chocolate cake masquerading as brownie just will not do!
sticky toffee pudding
I love snowballs! Those things with the coconut on top!!
Chocolate brownies, with big pieces of walnut, yum!
Macaroons look lush!
Apple strudel
chocolate!
chocolate fudge cake
a slice of homemade cake
anything with chocolate .
I love Chocolate Fudge Cake Balls, coated with chocolate. They are delicious!
tiramisu – not quite a cake but DELICIOUS
Homemade S’mores.
Yumm-mmyy
a strawberry jam tart yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy
I love Millionaires shortbread, i eat to much
I adore Jelly Belly Beans!!
Flapjacks or brownies – tough choice!
Hehe my favourite is chocolate birthday cake, bought myself a small one the other day all for me:D
cream bun
My mum’s ‘chocolate crunch’.
looks good
My temptation is cherry bakewells
I love cake pops at the moment
x
victoria sandwich
Would love to have a go at mastering the Petit Fours
Anything with chocolate in it…
Chocolate Brownies
Coffee Cake
your baking looks lush but my fave is bread pudding x easy and yummy
jelly beans
Haven’t got a REALLY sweet tooth, so it would have to be damson compote (or gooseberry crumble…)
anything chocolate x
Key lime pie
Chocolate brownies
sticky toffee pudding
I love Cheesecake – Love the little individual mini ones (my attempt at stopping me demolishing a big one!)
battenburg !
I Love cheesecakes ! Lovely book to win
Chocolate eclaires are the one thing I can not resist.
Apple crumble
Chocolate fudge brownie ice cream – I can eat a whole tub in one go :S
chocolate brownies all the way – the moister the better.
Homemade cupcakes with vanilla frosting – just delicious! xoxo
Scottish tablet
Mmmmmm tough choice, love Red Velvet cup cakes
Carrot cake!
Apple pie!
Chocolate Eclairs with fresh cream mmmm
Apple Pie And Cream
Bakewell Tart, but looking forward to trying the Pretty in Pink Mini Eclairs!
sticky toffee pudding
chocolate
Has to be chocolate brownies. Can’t resist
Peanut butter and chocolate muffins!
cheesecake!
every year my sister throw a party and we have to bring a treat for the table these ideas look like they would impress
apple pie
millionaires shortbread
They all look great, can I start at the top and work downwards.
Choc chip cookies without a doubt
Profiteroles I just love them!
My homemade lemon drizzle cup cakes, very yummy.
oooooo, i do love a chocolate eclair!
I can’t resist battenburg
Millionaire’s Shortbread
Anything with chocolate x
Chocolate Brownies
I love Millionaires Shortbread – it never lasts long in this house
Black forest gateau yum !
Chocolate Brownies
Has to be home made chocolate truffles.x
Custard Tart
Definitely coffee cake!
I’m partial to a bowl of chocolate mousse with whipped cream and raspberries on the side …. deeeelicious!
Nice cakes. My wife makes wonderful cakes http://www.trudiescakes.co.uk
Apple Tart
cupcakes
My favourite is my mum’s Rhubarb Crumble. Absolutely delicious
Mocha slices – I love cofee
All done – commented, liked, following and fingers crossed xx
My favourite sweet treat would be peanut butter cookies!!
home made blueberry muffins
Peanut Butter Cookies
Vietnese whirls x
Orange and Chocolate Muffins
My mum’s tiramisu – it’s delicious
It has to be chocoloate, anything chocolate, cake, bars, boxes, or pick and mix
traditional apple crumble and custard
i love carrot cake, especially if it has proper cream cheese topping with little marzipan carrots
I love Syrup Waffles. Totally gorgeous, and totally full of calories. My brother always brings them back from the Netherlands just for me. The Dutch ones are so much better!
profiteroles
Scottish shortbread
My favourite sweet treat are home made gluten free coffee and walnut cakes
Chocolate brownies yummy!
Chocolate brownies
I have such a sweet tooth I enjoy most sweet treats but my absolute Favourite has to be a banana split, (just heavenly)
Caramel Shortbread
I love fudge that my cousin makes, as you bite into it you can feel the sugar crunching between your teeth, yum!
apple pie with custard
Good quality chocolate