And GBBO is back! Despite the migration from the Beeb to channel 4 resulting in the loss of Mary, Mel and Sue, the introduction of adverts, and new hosts for our nation’s favourite baking show, the new series of Great British Bake Off is still rich in all that we love: baking!
As with the past two series of GBBO I shall endeavour to bake along with the competition, sharing my interpretation of some of the challenges here on Only Crumbs Remain.
Just like in previous years, week 1 was cake week and saw the 12 bakers face 3 challenges. The signature bake asked the bakers to make a fruit cake (made with fresh fruit rather than the dried stuff), the technical bake set by Prue challenged the bakers to make a dozen Chocolate Mini Rolls and the showstopper challenge was an illusion cake, which saw cakes look like anything but cake. There was a rather inventive BLT, a handbag, and a champagne bottle in a bucket – all made out of cake!
In recent months I’ve become a huge fan Zoe’s Fancy Cakes and her YouTube channel. As her name suggests, she’s a whizz at making fancy cakes (do check out her channel if you’ve ever wondered how they’re made!) It was through watching her helpful videos that I learnt how to make some fondant Christmas cake character toppers, like a penguin, choir boy and Santa. But until now I’d not tackled anything more intricate. The GBBO challenge was the perfect excuse to push myself a little more and attempt an illusion cake.
Wanting to keep things relatively simple we decided to harness the square shape of our cake and fashion it into a box of chocolates, complete with a selection of handmade chocolate truffles (and lid!). After all, who doesn’t love a box of chocolates!
Using two square vanilla cakes, one was sliced in half and sandwiched together with raspberry jam and vanilla buttercream. The second cake was also sliced in half, one half fashioned as the lid and the remaining part cut into strips to create the built-up sides of the chocolate box, resulting in a space for the chocolates to sit. Once covered in a firm white chocolate ganache it was covered in a purple fondant (though the ‘inside’ of the box where the chocolates sat was lined with white fondant because the inside of chocolate boxes always seem quite plain) and then simply decorated with fondant circles, which happily detracted the eye from any lumpy bumps! Drinking straws were cut to size to act as dowels to support the chocolate box ‘lid’.
Although this is relatively simple as far as cake decorating goes, it still took an age. I think Mr E had almost forgotten what I looked like until I finally re-appeared from the kitchen some hours later!
Overall I was pretty happy with how it turned out, though next time I’ll be sure to measure the cake board which the lid sits on more carefully before purchasing!
So, here’s how to make a Box of Chocolates Cake.
print recipe
to look just like a box of chocolates! It’s made with a simple vanilla
flavoured batter, sandwiched together with raspberry jam and
buttercream and covered with white chocolate ganache and fondant before
being filled with the all important homemade chocolate truffles!
Prep time: 4+ hours Bake time: 35 – 40 mins Yield: 1 x 20cm square cake, providing at least 20 servings
Specific Equipment
18cm Brownie Tin
2 x Cake Boards (You may want the one for the main cake to be slightly larger than the cake to aid transportation)
6 – 8 unused Drinking Straws
Small Paper Cases for truffles
Piping Bag fitted with small plain writing nozzle
For the Cake Batter (see note a below)
- 115g + 115g Butter, unsalted & softened
- 60g + 60g Caster Sugar
- 55g + 55g Golden Caster Sugar
- 2 + 2 Eggs (see notes b & c below)
- small pinch of Salt
- 1 tsp + 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 115g + 115g SR Flour
- 1 tbsp + 1 tbsp Milk
For the White Chocolate Ganache
- 250ml Double Cream
- 400g White Chocolate
For Sandwiching the Cake
- 1 tbsp Raspberry Jam (ideally seedless)
- 65g Butter, unsalted & softened
- 130g Icing Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Milk
To Decorate the Cake
- 500g Coloured Fondant (see note e below)
- 250g White Fondant
- Royal Icing Sugar
For the Chocolate Truffles
- 200g Double Cream
- 200g Dark Chocolate
- 3 Digestive Biscuits, finely crumbled
- Vermicelli
- 1/2 – 1 tsp Kirsch
- Cocoa Powder
Notes: a) This recipe requires two square cakes. If you only have one cake tin or room in the oven for just one cake to bake make the two cake batters separately. If you are able to bake both cakes together make the batter in one go and divide the mixture equally between both tins. b) When making the cupcake batter, consider weighing the cracked eggs first to ensure the batter has equal weight of butter, sugar, flour and eggs. Simply weigh the butter, sugar and flour to the same weight as the eggs. Of course the value may be slightly different to the 120g listed in the ingredients above. c) Consider warming your lightly beaten eggs over a bain marie especially if they feel particularly cold. Warm them until they feel lukewarm. This should help prevent the batter from curdling and produce a better cupcake sponge. d) The dark chocolate ganache mixture will make more than 9 chocolate truffles. Why not serve the excess to guests with the slice of cake. e) Either buy the coloured fondant ready coloured, or buy a white fondant and knead in a small amount of colour paste. This will allow you to get the shade you want. We used Sugarflair’s Paste, in the colour purple. f) Use a light dusting of corn flour to prevent the fondant becoming sticky. ‘Sweep’ away any cornflour on the cake with a dry brush.
Choclette Blogger
OMG Angela, this is amazing. What a labour of love. It's such a beautiful cake and you've made it extra special by making your own jam and chocolates too. I hope we'll be seeing you in Bake Off next year. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Choclette, I absolutely loved making it even though it took an age! Haha, no no I very much doubt you'll be seeing me on GBBO – I think I'd most probably end up lynching Noel Fielding!
Angela x
Julie McPherson
Angela I'm totally in awe of your incredible baking skills, another beautiful cake. Pinning for later.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou so much, you're far too kind Julie 🙂
Angela x
Knattster
That is such a fabulous idea, and your 'box' is so gorgeously decorated. What amazing effort – well done!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou so much Knattster 🙂
Angela
Candace
That cake is amazing! Not for one minute would I can this simple decoration. I can make a decent tasting cake no problem, I just can't ice it! They always end up looking like a 2 year old has been moulding play doh lol
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Candace, that's so lovely of you 🙂 I know just what you mean, covering a cake in fondant aint easy is it, but because I put the fondant on the cake in sections (so each edge of the box separately rather than one very large piece) it seemed to make it an awful lot easier 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment,
Angela x
John Carter
Wow. I'm absolutely impressed by the design of the cake, despite its simplicity. Not only that, but it looks yummy as well! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I will make sure to try it out sometime.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thank you so much John 🙂 Do let me know how you get on with your Box of Chocolates Cake when you try it out 🙂
Angela
Cathy
This is absolutely amazing Angela, so beautiful. I has given me such a great idea for a special birthday cake x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Cathy, I'm so happy to hear it's provided inspiration 🙂
Angela x
Jenny-Apply to Face blog
Incredible Angela!!Not only stunning to look at but sounds scrumptious to eat.So very clever!My fingers are way too fat and clumsy for this beautiful work.You so should do bake off.I haven't watched it yet….I forgot!!!But intend to bake along with Jenny so am aiming to this time.I must admit Im not looking forward to it as I soooooooo loved it before….Fingers crossed xxx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou so much Jenny 🙂 Haha, no no, you shalln't be seeing me on GBBO – I'd get in a flumux just making a standard buttercream with all of those cameras etc! No, I'm happy just to bake and hide the disasters in our kitchen 😉
Yay, fab that you're going to bake along with the bloggers GBBO too 🙂
Angela x
Rebecca Beesley
this is soooo pretty and clever and has turned out so well. Can't wait til next weeks GBBO! x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Rebecca 🙂 Not long now until the new episode 🙂
Angela x
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes
WOW!! How can you call it simple Angela!! It's such a beautiful creation! Love the colors and the elegant presentation! I am sure a lot of work has gone into this.. But it's all worth it, because it has turned out fabulous!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou Deepika, shall I re-phrase that? It's comparatively simple compared to the cakes Zoe makes over on her YouTube channel!
Angela x
Priya
Looks gorgeous! Followed the picture from Recipes made easy 😋
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou so much Priya, and I must thank Jacqui of Recipes Made Easy too 🙂
Angela x
Recipes Made Easy
Well I think it looks absolutely brilliant Angela, better than some of the offerings on the show. You can make me a box of chocolates anytime:)
I Still haven't written up my Bake Off bake but hope to do so tomorrow so its published before the next episode.
Not overly keen onNoel Fielding either but im hoping they will settle in. Im guessing It took a while for the original four to fully jell.
Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Just tell me when Jacqui and I'll get one to you, lol 😉
I loved the sound of your pear and chocolate cake as soon as I saw it on Twitter, as I mentioned to you hubby and i played with the idea of doing something like that before we plumped for the Illusion Cake route with this Chocolate Box Cake. Looking forward to reading about it 🙂
I have my fingers (and toes) crossed that they settle in – though I'm still at a loss as to why they roped Noel Fielding into the role, he's so 'contraversial' shall we say!
You're welcome, it's such a great linky Jacqui,
Angela x
Cat Sherrin
This looks absolutely amazing, you have a real talent. Not only does the decoration look great, but the actual cake looks super tasty too x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Cat, you've made my day 😀
Angela x
Cat Sherrin
🙂 x
Johanna GGG
this is so much fun – I thought it would be one of those cakes with kitkats on the outside and lollies in wedged compartments on the inside so this gave me a fantastic surprise. We don't get GBBO here (not on terrestrial as far as I know – though it might be on earlier when we don't watch tv) but my mum watches it on foxtel and loves it – and I would really love to see the illusion cakes – have long been fascinated by this sort of cake ever since I spent hours at my grandmothers flicking through her women's weekly magazinse before the iconic birthday cakes cookbook came out.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw what a shame that you have to use a different TV supplier other than regular terrestrial to view certain programmes. Wonder if you can get it on Iplayer? I'd fully recommend trying to catch an episode or two of it, though I must admit that for me it's not the same since Mary Berry left (part of the charm of GBBO was Mary!) Fingers crossed the new presenters will settle in over the course of the series.
Haha, no, there's kitkats or lollies here Johanna 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment,
Angela x
Anca
It looks amazing! Well done! I love the idea too, it's so clever. You made it perfectly, it really looks like a chocolate box. It's so nicely decorated.
I'm not too keen on the new GBBO, the jokes Noel does aren't funny and not family-friendly. They took out the "the history of the x cake" and that was a bit I loved at the BBC. The presenters look awkward together. I had an idea of an Illusion Cake, shaped as a house for our home anniversary (it was yesterady), but decided against it as it was a lot of work and I'm not loving Bake Off right now. I've recorded it and watch it the following day skipping the ads. Sorry about the rant. 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Rant away Anca, I have to admit that I almost switched the programme off to watch something else! The adverts and Noel Fielding (especially the voice he was using for the voice over narration) were prooving just too much! Next week I'll fast forward the ads and have my fingers crossed that he doesn't annoy me quite as much! You're right, the history part was so interesting it' such a shame they decided to cull that.
Thankyou so much Anca, I was pleased how it turned out 🙂 It'll be great if you join in wih the bloggers GBBO again this yr xx
Angela x
Anca
Funnily enough, I joined with a fresh fruit cake and today I'm sharing another fresh fruit cake that I will link to the GBBO linky. But none were baked for GBBO as before, so it's just a coincidence.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Don't you just love coincidences Anca 🙂 Will keep a look out for it,
Angela x
Jenny
Angela what a stunning showstopper you have created! such a great idea and this would make a wonderful gift for someone special too! It is beautiful 🙂 thank you so much for being involved with the #GBBOBloggers2017 again xx
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou so much Jenny 🙂 And thankyou too for hosting GBBOBloggers once again, it's such a great few weeks 🙂
Angela x
Corina
Oh wow Angela! This is so impressive and I'd love to see you on the Bake Off one day. Although then you really would have to learn to love Noel Fielding! I'm hoping to bake along some weeks and would have loved to have a go at a cake but this week is quite hectic. If I'd had time I think I'd have gone for the easier option of a fruity cake, possibly an upside down cake inspired by one of your cakes this summer x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Corina, that's so lovely of you 🙂 but trust me, me appearing on GBBO wont be happening. Ah yes, I can't see me liking, let alone loving, Noel Fielding any time soon!
Yay, it'll be great to have you bake along with GBBO too Corina 😀
Angela x
Jo / Jo's Kitchen Larder
You clever lady!!! This cake is absolutely fantastic! I really liked GBBO and was soo relieved that Prue and Sandi turned out to be lovely (already liked Noel) lol so will be following this series with the same excitement and anticipation as previously. x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou so much Jo 🙂 I personally didn't enjoy the first episode of GBBO as I usually do (though I did try ;-D ), I think part of the charm of BBC's GBBO was all about Mary as well as the baking. I'll still be watching – cos I love to bake if that aint obvious, but will be recording it to skip the adverts, and I have my fingers crossed that the new presenters bed in, so to speak, as the episodes go on.
Angela x
Kat BakingExplorer
Wow this cake is so impressive! You've done an amazing job!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou so much Kat 🙂
Angela x
Eb Gargano
Wow Angela…this just looks amazing. I can quite understand why it took you so long…especially since you made the truffles too. So clever! I am pleased GBBO is back…although I don't yet love the new version as much as the old, it was still very enjoyable and I like that they didn't tinker with the format too much. So now I am wondering when we are going to see you on GBBO???? 😀 Eb x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Aw thankyou Eb 🙂 It took quite a while Eb, most probably because I don't ordinarily make this type of cake – though it also didn't help matters having to pop out to the local supermarket for an hour! You don't see the bakers in 'The Tent' having to do that! I'm happy GBBO is back, though i'll let you into a little secret – I almost switched it off to watch something else!! I know!! The adverts were doing my head in, and the less said about Noel Fielding the better! His voice over narration was just…. Next week we shall record it then fast forward the adverts and I'm just hoping I learn to put up with Noel Fielding! But yes, the format is still the same which really is the main thing. Haha, no, that's never going to happen! The idea of baking under such time pressures like they do in the tent isn't my idea of fun!
Angela xx
Jasmin Charlotte
Loving that bake off is back!! This is suuuuch an amazing cake – I'm so impressed!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I know, I just love it when GBBO is on our screens 🙂
Thanks for your lovely comment Jasmin,
Angela x