Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake

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I have some wonderful news to share. One of my very best friends had her beautiful daughter Florrie, a little early, but mum and baby are doing so well. I am an adopted Auntie again! So, I simply had to make something to celebrate this gorgeous bundle of joy that has been brought into our lives. Resulting in Florrie’s Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake.

Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake
Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake

As the new mum is nursing her wonderful baby daughter, I kept everything in this cake as natural as possible. As whatever mummy eats, Florrie will have too and I want her to learn to love Auntie Sammie’s cakes, right from the start.

New babies bring such joy and pleasure into our lives. Since we have three wonderful children, I absolutely knew my friend would very much appreciate a little food hamper. A freshly baked Farmhouse White Loafsimple dinners, pre-portioned so that mummy just has to pop them in the oven, like my Best Beef Casserole and of course a little something sweet, Florrie’s Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake.

Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake

A New Mum And I Need Cake

I remember clearly when I became a new mum for the first time. While I had a safe delivery and the maternity suite at the hospital was brand new, there was one thing I craved – food! Although, all that seemed to be on offer was salad.

And salad alone, is not what a nursing mother needs!

This mummy needed carbs and lots of them. Had the salad been in a thick, carb rich sandwich I would have been fine. Fortunately I wasn’t in hospital for very long and I remember my husband making me the most unbelievably satisfying, bacon muffin with tomato ketchup, the first morning waking up in our own home, with our new baby girl. And to this day it is one of my favourite treats. Although now that I am no longer nursing, it has to remain just that, a treat.

Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake

I have alway been called ‘practical and sensible’ by my lovely Mother-in-law. I consider this to be a huge compliment and a true reflection of how I see myself. So when a new baby comes along, I’m not the type of person to go baby clothes shopping, or to send flowers. Both of which are wonderful gifts to receive, I may add.

Rather than gifts, my first thought is, how can I help?

How We Can Help New Mums

If you have spent time reading this blog, you will be aware that I have various health issues (see Living With Seizures). As a result this limits how I can help out with an adorable new baby, in a practical way. Usually, for me that means food! Since I can make bread easily, I had been cooking slightly extra, so that a single portion of Sausage and Bean Casserole (made without the addition of any alcohol), could be frozen for when it was needed. This is my way of helping.

When I am making a Chicken Lasagne it is so easy for me to pop a couple of individual portions, in foil containers and place them in the deep freeze. And this way I gradually build up enough meals for a food hamper, that can be delivered and make my friend’s life a little easier.

Being a new mum is hard enough, but when you are on your own you need all the support you can get! Plus my lovely friend is a big fan of my cooking and has been an ‘unofficial’ taste tester for many years now. So, let’s hope Florrie will grow to love good, homemade meals and delicious cake, like her Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake.

Recipe: Makes 1 Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake 

Cake release spray – I use Wilton’s perfect for Bundt cakes

225g/8oz Unsalted Butter – at room temperature

225g/8oz Caster Sugar

1tsp Vanilla Bean Paste – I use Nielsen-Massey

1/4tsp Salt – I use Maldon

5 Large Free Range Eggs

225g/8oz Plain White Flour

2tsp Baking Power

For the glaze:

400g/14oz Icing Sugar

1/2tsp Almond Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey

Pink gel food colouring

Flower decorations

Making And Baking The Bundt Cake

Preheat the oven to 170C/150C fan, gas mark 3, 325F.

  • First of all, place  the butter and caster sugar into a large bowl and whisk, or beat for 5 minutes until pale and creamy.
  • Add the Vanilla Bean Paste and whisk/beat to incorporate.
  • Sift in 1/3 of the flour, baking powder and salt.
  • Add 2 eggs.
  • Whisk gently until just combined.
  • Repeat the last 2 steps twice more, adding only 1 egg on the last time.
  • Spray, or brush the Bundt tin liberally with cake release over the sink.
  • Spoon the cake batter into the Bundt tin pressing down on the batter as you fill the tin.
  • Ensure the cake batter fills the Bundt tin no more than two thirds full.
  • Place the Bundt tin in the middle of a preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes.
  • The cake is baked when it is golden in colour, is coming away from the sides of the Bundt tin and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
  • As soon as the cake is baked remove from the oven.
  • Place the tin on a cooling rack and allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes in the Bundt tin.
Florries Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake
Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake leave to cool for 10 minutes.
  • After cooling for 10 minutes turn the cake out onto a cooling rack. Wear oven gloves as the Bundt tin will still be very hot.
  • Allow the cake to cool completely before decorating.
Florries Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake
This Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake turned out beautifully.

Decorating The Cake

To make the glaze, sift the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add enough water to make a thick paste, that still slightly drips. Add a tiny amount of pink food gel colouring to the icing and mix thoroughly.

Flurries Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake
Beautiful baby pink, almond flavoured icing.

Place a tray underneath the cooling rack on which the Bundt cake sits. Since, this tray will catch any icing that drips through.

Using a dessert spoon thickly drizzle the top of the cake with the icing. Ensure the entire top and the internal hole of the cake of the cake are completely covered in icing. Any leftover icing can be used to add to the drizzle effect on the cake.

Decorating a Bundt cake with glacé icing.
The excess icing drips into the tray beneath the cake.
Using sugar flowers to decorate a cake.
Add sugar flowers to your Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake.

Allow the cake to set before serving and eating.

Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake
Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake

The observant among you may have noticed that this beautiful Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake has been photographed on the lid of a plastic box. So, being practical (and in all honesty completely out of cake boxes!) as this cake is not very large or heavy, placing on the inside lid of a large box keeps the cake fresh.

Finally, once safely transported to my friend, the cake can be moved to an airtight container of her own. Most importantly, I only advise using this technique for very light cakes and definitely do not cut the cake whilst it is sitting on the lid.

So, do you like the idea of making someone a food hamper?

If you have enjoyed making this Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake you may like these recipes:

Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake 

Florries Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake
Glazed Lemon Bundt Cake – I used a thinner glacé icing to completely gaze this cake.

Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake 

Flurries Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake
Put the kettle on and enjoy every single bite of this Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake.

Lime Coconut Blossom Bundt Cake 

Florries Coconut Lime Blossom Bundt
Coconut Lime Blossom Bundt Cake

Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake 

Florries Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake utterly delicious.

Since I absolutely love seeing photographs of your bakes, please tag me in on your Twitter and Instagram posts? Also, I’m available throughout the day on Twitter, most days, to answer any ‘mid-bake’ questions or worries. While not an expert, I am part of group of bakers on Twitter and between us there’s not usually a question that goes unanswered! Likewise, you can also leave a question in the comment section of this post. Either way, it’s a great way to interact and get to know my lovely readers.

So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie xx

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

 

 

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Sammie

Hi, I'm Sammie and I’m passionate about creating tasty recipes, both sweet and savoury that you can make at home. Every recipe is easy and fun to make and should taste like a feast without the fuss!

8 thoughts on “Flower Vanilla Bundt Cake”

  1. Aww this is gorgeous! My friend has just given birth to a baby girl, Grace, and I was thinking of putting a little food hamper together for them. I am so glad I read this post because I hadn’t thought about bread – perfect idea. I will make her a multi-seeded loaf as I know that is her favourite, thanks for the idea Sammie 🙂 And congratulations to your friend and you on becoming an adopted Auntie again! What a lovely name Florrie is! Now onto the cake (apologies for the long comment), it is so, so beautiful! The tin is awesome and the decoration is just so pretty. I bet your friend loved it xxx

    1. Thank you for your lovely comments Erica and I’m not worried about length, you should see some of my comments. I actually baked her a seeded loaf as well! I just think for a new mum it’s so nice to not have to cook and have a few treats too. As she is nursing this is my way of feeding baby Florrie too. I’m sure your friend will live her hamper, your baking is fantastic and you are such a loving, thoughtful friend. Sammie xx.

  2. What a stunning cake! Love the dimples in the moulding of your bundt tin and those flowers are darling. I’m also a huge fan of Nielsen Massey vanilla, indeed we used it in today’s buns! 😉

    1. Thanks Kavey. It was a special cake for a special little, baby girl. Love Nielsen Massey vanilla and didn’t think to add it to my hot cross buns. Bet it adds fab flavour. Sammie xx

  3. Congratulations on being an Auntie again!! What beautiful happy news 🙂
    This looks so pretty. I love that tin and the way you’ve decorated it is just gorgeous xxx

  4. That is absolutely the CUTEST PINK CAKE ever! I love it and I know your friend was thrilled! I think you are right about the perfect gifts and ways to help! I remember that a friend of mine came over after I had my second child and she said, “You go lay down with the baby and I’ll fix lunch for you and the family and then clean the kitchen up”. She fixed my oldest and my hubby a sandwich and chips. Then she baked a casserole in my kitchen using my dishes. Then she put everything in the fridge labeled so that all we had to do was get it out and heat it up AND the kitchen was super clean when she left. What a gem! Thanks for sharing your perfect pink cake and your story!

    1. Thank you Wendi, she was my absolute inspiration for this cake. When we had our eldest, for the first week after I was home from hospital, we had dinner delivered to our door, by friends and family. I have possibly tasted every version of shepherd’s pie know to man and each one was completely and utterly delicious. It gave us time to adjust to our new baby and we were loved and nourished in the process. Such a wonderful gift that we have both received and now it is my turn to help. Thank you for sharing your story. Sammie xx

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