An essential feature of special occasions used to be a large iced cake, taking pride of place on the table. But cake styles have changed and so have people’s budgets.
That’s why so many UK cake confectioners are now offering a wide range of cupcake designs for that individual touch. If your purse is feeling the pinch, but you still want to add a fashionable flair to a modest birthday or celebration, it only takes a little planning to achieve.
Cupcakes can be ordered in the quantities you require, unlike a large cake which may left partly uneaten at the end of the day. A small number can be delivered in a cakebox to be left peeping open enticingly for your guests.
If you order a larger number you could choose to have a selection of imaginatively iced cupcake designs, some with personalised messages on, and some topped with a deliciously thick swirl of butter icing. Larger orders may include a cupcake stand to create a dazzling centrepiece but you could hire a small cupcake tree for as little as £10.
Once you have budgeted for your centrepiece of cakes then you can get imaginative with your additional selection of simple buffet treats and nibbles to mark that special birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day , Easter or anniversary celebration.
Try these suggestions to get the children munching:
- Spears of alternated cheese cubes and grapes, using cocktail sticks placed upright in coloured craft dough. The dough can be imaginatively moulded in to whatever character or celebration theme you have chosen.
- Divide some chicken breasts into two or three fillets from each and slightly flatten. Marinate for at least two hours either in a jar of barbeque sauce, or some lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cook in the oven for 25 minutes covered in foil. When cooled, lay the fillets on soft tortilla wraps lined with leaves of iceberg lettuce. Roll up tightly and keep individually wrapped in foil or clingfilm in the fridge. Just before party time unwrap and slice in to one inch wide “wheels” for little hands.
- And don’t forget to spoil them with some popular chocolate crispies. A melted bar of chocolate and a pack of crispy rice cereal produces an easy and satisfyingly crunchy result if you swiftly divide the mixture between decorative paper cake cases while still warm.
For dainty adult party finger foods, how about trying these to treat your guests:
- If you own a mini muffin baking tin, roll out a pack of sweet or shortcrust pastry and gently push in some rounds cut with a cookie cutter to make pastry tarts. Or you can buy them ready baked. A sweet suggestion for a filling is piped sweetened crème fraiche topped with half a strawberry and dusted with icing sugar. For individual savoury tarts top a teaspoonful of cream cheese with two slivers of smoked salmon.
- Make a subtly-flavoured blue cheese dip as a classy addition to simple vegetable crudités. Just mix together Greek-style yoghurt, a teaspoonful of honey, Gorgonzola or Stilton cheese and a little black pepper and blend well. The chunks of cheese should be added gradually, tasting to check the strength of flavouring and adding a little milk if it is too thick.
- Deep fry some vegetable pakoras beforehand to serve with a good quality fruit chutney for dipping. Simply season one to two cups of gram flour with salt plus a teaspoon of either a hot curry spice or milder garam masala. Gradually add cold water until it is the consistency of a stiff batter. Leave for 15 minutes then mix in grated zucchini or squash with finely chopped leek. Fry dessertspoonfuls of the mixture in oil until golden brown.
For any party, a pack of assorted white, brown or seeded ready-to-bake rolls, served hot in a lined basket provides an extra filling addition to the buffet – and that just-baked aroma smells heavenly.
Finally - however large or small your budget for the occasion, remember: attractive presentation is priceless.
Helen Hunter - After training as a UK journalist Helen worked on local news, focusing on education and health. She moved job to write on the NHS, ...
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