Calling all nonstopmamas looking for a bit of cake-y inspiration. In her new book Eat Me! The Stupendous, Self-Raising World of Cupcakes & Bakes According to Cookie Girl, Xanthe Milton offers heaps of fresh ideas, including cupcakes inspired by favourite puds – tiramisu, lemon meringue pie and Black Forest gateau, anyone? – and decidedly grown-up versions, such as Pina Colada (decorated with a cocktail umbrellas and plastic palm trees, naturally). There are plenty of traditional crowd pleasers, too, including simple-but-pretty Smartie Cookies.
Xanthe, the self-made Cookie Girl, started out selling her treats, dressed in a Nell Gwynne-esque dress, to offices and studios in London’s Notting Hill. They were a hit, her wares were snapped up by Selfridges and Xanthe now runs cupcake decorating classes, too – popular for both hen and children’s parties – which she plans to roll out nationwide (learn how to create the perfect frosting swirl in Xanthe’s video demo). For more info about Cookie Girl’s classes and more, visit cookiegirl.co.uk).
nonstop tip: ‘Try a selection of icing nozzles to see what effects you can create,’ suggests Xanthe. ‘It is usual to work around the cake in a circular pattern, starting at the outside and working in, then finishing with a peak. You can also create a beautiful rose effect by working from the inside out.’.
