THE BAKERY manager at a community bakery in Southampton has shared her top tips for baking a showstopping cake for any Jubilee celebrations people might be hosting next month (June 2022).
Ally Molyneaux from CommuniBakes, which is the commercial arm of the charity Communicare, previously worked at Kensington Palace for the Royal Family and says the secret to a showstopping cake is to keep it simple.
She said: “The biggest hurdle people face when baking a cake is overcomplicating it. To create the best showstopping cake for any Jubilee celebrations, it’s a good idea to keep things simple and elegant, like the Queen would want. Why not opt for a classic Victoria sponge or a lovely lemon drizzle?
“Keeping the cake itself simple, means you can do all the talking through your flavours. Make them ‘sing’ and you’ll be onto a winner. If you’re making a lemon drizzle, ensure you grate some of the peel into it for extra zingy-ness, for example.
“The Queen is partial to a bit of chocolate, so using the best quality cocoa will really help.
“Your cake needs to look the part, so don’t forget those decorative flourishes. You could even use edible flowers to really give it a wow factor.”
CommuniBakes (previously Love Cake) was purchased to help raise funds for Communicare in November 2021 and is a separated limited company. All profits from the bakes sold go towards the charity and the work it does to help lonely and isolated people across Southampton.
People across the country are expected to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee during the weekend of Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5.
Ally added: “If you are hosting a street party and want it to look the part, it’s all in the decoration. Place long trestle tables down the middle of the street and use brightly coloured tablecloths to cover them.
“You can hang bunting and flags from the sides of the tables and get creative with table decorations – use flowers or paper decorations, provided it’s not too windy! This could be a great opportunity to get all the children on the street to do some crafting before the event.
“People can suggest everyone who comes along brings a dish with them. You’ll also need to organise plates and cutlery, napkins and cups too.
“If you’re cooking or baking something yourself, think about people’s dietary requirements, so make sure people are aware of the ingredients that have gone into what you make.”
You can read more of the team’s top tips on the bakery’s blog at www.communibakes.co.uk.
Annie Clewlow, Manager at Communicare, said: “Ally really knows her stuff when it comes to baking and we’re thrilled she is sharing her tips for people who want to make their own bakes to celebrate the Jubilee.
“The talented team at CommuniBakes will also be selling special Jubilee-inspired cupcakes via its website and on its counter for £2.50 each or £15 for six. The cupcakes will be a mixture of vanilla and chocolate with red, white and blue decorations.”
Communicare, which is a friendly, neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of lonely and isolated people in and around Southampton. Its services are staffed by its committed, kind-hearted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.
Communicare’s Good Neighbours’ Network currently supports almost 600 individuals/families through tasks including one-to-one telephone befriending, transport for essential appointments and assistance with shopping.
Anyone interested in finding out more about CommuniBakes, which is at 21, St James Road in Shirley, is invited to pop in when it’s open, visit its website communibakes.co.uk or to call 023 8070 1888.
