Designer make-up bag cake with sparkly red nail varnish

This cake is for a make-up crazy 18 year old, to help her celebrate her landmark birthday in some serious style. The cake itself is a rich dark chocolate cake, filled with chocolate ganache and raspberry jam, covered in chocolate buttercream and then sugarpaste.

Cake-inspired Christmas presents

I've been spoilt over Christmas with some wonderful cake-related presents.

Firstly, a true design classic, described by The Good Housekeeping Institute as an "iconic product that has stood the test of time". It's a Kenwood KMC560 Premier Silver Chef mixer and it will take pride of place in our kitchen, if I can find room for it. 

Then I love this cake apron, a present from my lovely hubby...from www.cafepress.co.uk:

And finally the Primrose Bakery's book on cupcakes. The story of how Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas built their business from their kitchen at home, eventually becoming suppliers to Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason is inspiring.