Wednesday, 28 May 2014

Teenager bakes a cake for charity to help build a hospital in the Congo

Even with its increasing popularity due to prime-time television programs, baking is still seen as a hobby to the large majority of people. A boy who has exhibited that this is not the case to magnificent effect, is thirteen-year-old Gabe Feinn.

Gabe's unusual passion for cake decoration began when he was just eight years old. The boy's mother, Vicki, signed both Gabe and his little sister, Livvy, up to cake baking and decoration classes. Since then, they have nurtured a talent and turned their joy into a happiness that is now being shared by underprivileged children living in the Congo.

After reading about the Samaritan's Purse, the two youngsters decided to sell cakes at a local bake sale to make the money to buy food for those in need. Such was Gabe's commitment however, that the young boy researched and vowed to raise the money to build a hospital in the Congo. Shockingly, 1 out of every 5 children will not make it past their 5th birthday in the Congo.

Since he committed himself to such an admirable cause, the thirteen-year-old has raised over $12,000, simply selling the goods that he bakes and decorates. It is not the first time that bake sales have been set up as a means of donation to charity. Dunns Bakery in North London, has dedicated itself to similar levels of selflessness. Every year, from the 11th to the 18th of May, is a week they have set up called National Doughnut Week.

The event was founded by one leading bakery in London, Dunns, to raise money for the Children's Trust charity. Proceeds from the sales of doughnuts by participating bakers are donated directly to the charity, which specialises in providing care for severly-disabled children.

The bakery in London has like Gabe, brought the fun and happiness associated with cake decoration and applied it to a cause that can help others significantly.

The north London bakery Dunns, does not simply sell doughnuts however, if you are looking for wedding cakes in London, or any other sweet pastries, then know they are a baker not operating purely for financial gain.

Baking has brought smiles to faces across the world, and Gabe and Dunns are helping to bring a few more to faces that would have usually gone without. Never underestimate what a difference a hobby can make. We can all give a little more, though that does not mean we have to strain ourselves. 'Gabe the cake man' has shown how, at such a young age, we can incorporate our past times into making money for those who are truly lost without it.

Thursday, 22 May 2014

Celebrate World Baking Day!

Last week marked the annual World Baking Day, where thousands of us took to the kitchen and baked cakes in appreciation for those special people in our lives. The event was celebrated on Sunday 18th May, and involved enthusiastic bakers tying up their aprons in towns, villages and cities stretching from the Scottish highlands to Land’s End.

It can be easy for us to take our friends and family for granted, often letting their hard work or continued support go unnoticed for weeks at a time. World Baking Day was designed to tackle this problem, instead encouraging all of us to take time out and show our gratitude for the hard work that others do for us. And whether they were baking for a hard-working mother, a supportive work colleague or a friend who’s going through a hard time, that’s exactly what many people did.


A mixture of professional wedding cake designers and budding amateurs took part, using the opportunity to create something tasty while showing an appreciation for their loved ones. There aren’t many of us who can resist the delights of a small cupcake or a slice of a Victoria sponge, which is arguably the secret to the success of this deliciously simple annual celebration.

Make a pledge to bake

One of the most exciting features of World Baking Day 2014 was the option to make an online pledge to those closest to you, informing them that a baked cake was on its way. This use of technology not only gave our friends and family advance warning to warm up their taste buds and avoid any big lunches, but it also contributed to the widespread popularity of the event itself.

Social media sharing allowed others to gain awareness and inspiration for World Baking Day at the click of a button, whereas they may not have heard of the event in different circumstances. This exponential boost in awareness and participation not only meant thousands more tasty cakes being baked, but it also did wonders to spread awareness of the underlying issue – that we should be grateful and appreciative for the kindness of those around us.

Inspirational cake recipes

Organisers of the event uploaded a number of recipes to serve as inspiration for those who are either less confident or more determined while in the kitchen. Our particular favourites were the carrot cake, the simple cookies and the irresistible chocolate layer cake withfruits. We were impressed by the variety of recipes on the website, but would also encourage anyone seeking a good recipe to browse online our visit us in person at our bakery in London.

Although the event has since passed, there are no rules preventing you from baking a cake to show your appreciation today. In fact, we wouldn’t hesitate to say that a cake would go down well at any time of year! All 12 of the recommended recipes can still be found on the official World Baking Day 2014 website, with several for the very same cakes that you’d find in Dunn’s Bakery or almost any other bakery in London

For more recipe ideas, or to chat to one of our experienced wedding cake designers, please feel free to get in touch today.