Clandestine Cake Club Bolton - Back to School

They day started as a challenge, but ended in a huge success. The sun shone on Bolton on Saturday, meaning other plans being made and cakes melting in overheated cars. In they came, one by one... with their own tales of woe from a stressful morning of baking or travelling disasters. However, this is the wonderful thing about cake club. When one layer cake slides into the side of the box on the passenger seat, we all feel the pain. Saturday was one of those days.

It's amazing what a little support from your friends can to to instantly calm the anxiety and stop those tears toot sweet. After all feeling the pressure a little yesterday, we sat down to enjoy what we all love about being part of the Clandestine Cake Club, and that's a good natter with friends old and new.

Our theme for September was Back to School. I asked our bakers to take inspiration from schoolday favourites or recipes packed with nostalgia. This could be in the form of decoration, inspiration, the recipe or one of the ingredients.

We had a spectacular venue for our September meet. The lovely folk at the Albert Halls in Bolton had heard about our club and offered me their spacious Lancaster Suite. They put out a huge table for our cakes as well as our own bar. It was also noted by our members that they had the best disposable napkins we have ever seen! We even had our own event manager. Ella is a keen baker and told us wonderful stories of making a hundred doughnuts using over fifty egg yolks! She may be joining us next time...

Loads of room for cakes on the longest table in the world!

I have to admit that this month's theme was meant to be a challenge. My aim was to push people's creativity in the hope of getting a diverse mix of cakes. They delivered. The cakes included:

• Cherryade Cake
• Giant Chocolate Doughnut Cake
• Stop Children! Lollypop Sign Cake
• Lemon Love Cake
• Harriet Hedgehog Cake
• Jammy Wagon Wheel Cake
• Alphabet Baking Coconut Carrot Cake
• Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Banana and Pink Custard Sponge Cake
• Cheer Up Cherry Cake
• Sticky Toffee Cake
• Jam Sponge and Custard Cake
• Fairy Liquid Cake - Ginger Loaf with Ginger and Lime Icing
• Spotted Dick and Custard Cake
• Conkers and Marbles Cake
• Sticky Toffee Traybake
• My Pencil Case Cake
• Eton Mess Cake
• Cinder Toffee Cake
• Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake
• Staff Room Jaffa Cake

And of course... I have some pictures too...

Once again, thanks to everyone who came and to the venue for being so accommodating.

Next month's theme is Monster Mash, so I'm certain there'll be some fantastic cakes!

If you attended, please leave your comments... If you didn't let us know your thoughts!