Clandestine Cake Club Bolton - The Great Village Show

My favourite day of the month is here again. We've donned our pinnies, fretted over 'whether it's done' and lived through the trauma that is 'cake carriage'. Today was the third meeting of the Bolton Clandestine Cake Club. Due to popular demand, I decided to go back to Thyme Deli as Amanda and her team are such amazing hosts! I can confirm that lots of Fentiman's pop was consumed, fancy tea brewed and beautiful cookware was purchased.

Today's theme was the Great Village Show, so I asked members to take the traditional show categories as inspiration for their cake. This might include jams, fruit, flowers, a well presented sponge or indeed best beast! The Bolton members are a creative bunch, and didn't disappoint me!

Once again, we had novice bakers, seasoned pros, new members, old friends, people from near, some from afar... but everyone had a great time and ate lots of cake! I must reiterate that we are really not here to judge. We just like to sit and have a natter over a brew and a slice (or 10...) of cake. At no other place is it socially acceptable to stuff your face with cake - several times in one afternoon, then take a massive box of it home. I took a bit of every cake on the table. Yes, that is over 20 pieces of cake. Hear my roar!

Here is a picture of some of the cakes - there were 22 in total.

The range included some of the following:

• White Chocolate and Raspberry Cake
• Chocolate Courgette Cake
• Chocolate and Beetroot Cake
• Orange and Hazelnut Cake
• Cinnamon Cheesecake
• Coffee and Pistachio Gateaux
• Best of British Apples Bundt
• Chocolate and Peppermint Farmyard Cake
• Victoria Sponge
• Meringue-a-Tang Cake
• Toffee Apple Cake
• Blueberry Cake
• Spiced Sticky Toffee Apple Cake
• Carrot Cake
• Lemon Curd Cake
• Spiced Raspberry Cake
• Lemon and Blueberry Drizzle Cake
• Fruity Loop Fruit Cake
• Rhubarb & Custard Tea Cake

There were others, but I don't have their names! Here are a few close ups...

Thank you to Amanda for once again for the use of her fabulous venue, and not minding that we covered her floor in crumbs. Again. And of course, thank you to her husband and two boys who 'dealt' with the leftover pieces of cake. Good work boys. Warrior-like behaviour. If you've never been to Thyme, you really must pay them a visit. They do the best full English this side of the Pennines and stock an amazing range of deli goods too. 

When is the next meeting I hear you all cry? Well, it is on 9th June and the theme is 'All Rise... The Diamond Jubilee'. And... I have booked the July one as well! This is on 21st July and the theme is 'Sweets for my Sweet'. Email me at dollybakes@gmail.com to book your place. 

Thank you to everyone who came for putting in so much effort and for loving our little club as much as I do! Cake ache has well and truly set in. And just for the record, eating chips when you get home is not a remedy. Definitely not. 

Members - please leave your best bits below!
All - please feel free to leave comments.