Christmas 2016

I'm loving the simplicity of these Christmas cakes decorated with silver and white.

2014 McKeough Family Christmas cake.

This family Christmas cake is made with  a recipe selected by my late mother.  The fruit and nuts are soaked for several days in Grand Marnier, giving it a lovely moist flavour.

Christmas get's a a makeover

 

The colours may be traditional of Christmas  but the design is a little more contemporary and could be adapted for any occasion.

2013 McKeough Family Christmas Cake

Christmas Day is a very special day in my family and each year I make the cake. My young nieces, Ruby (5) and McKenzie (3) suggested the design wanting a "Mary" cake. I do think they would have preferred a chocolate cake rather than the fruit cake recipe my late mother selected.

A Festive Welcome.....

I don't usually make a Christmas cake for  my husband and I but this year we are hosting some international friends for a couple of days so I thought a festive welcome would be appreciated.

A Christmas Gift

A simple traditional fruit cake, a small gift for my next door neightbour.

"B" Platoon 2012 Christmas Cake

A little something for my husband (a firefighter) and his crew to enjoy over the festive season.  A tradition fruit Christmas cake decorated with handmade and painted Santa Clause faces finished with a bow and fondant spirals.

2012 Family Christmas Cake

This year's family Christmas cake was a bright and festive nativity scene, complete with handmade figures and of course the three wise men bearing gifts.

Although, my youngest niece (McKenzie - 2yrs old) was a little concerned I put baby Jesus on the grass.

2012 Christmas Gift Cakes

Christmas Cheer

A bright and modern twist on Christmas; lime green, pink and red.

It's Christmas Time

All Wrapped Up!

This is it......the final 2011 Christmas Cake! A miniature 5" fruit cake covered with patterned fondant and finished with a pearl lustre. A fondant ribbon and bow added the final decorative touch. All 100% edible, and from the comments received, delicious!

2011 McKeough Family Christmas Cake

My favourite Christmas Cake of 2011 - the family's cake.  I baked my first family Christmas Cake in 2007, and at the time I sat down with my late mother and we selected the recipe. She gave me some advice on how to bake and decorate it and I guess that's what started the passion.  

This cake was baked with that same special recipe, and it reminds me of all the special times I shared with my mother on Christmas Day.

My Mother, our last Christmas Day shared together (2007)

Merry Christmas "B" Platoon

My husband who is a Firefighter worked on Christmas Day and his Platoon had a "cook up" planned, so I offered to make a cake.

Blue Dog  gave me a detailed list of the  decorative effects he wanted; crimping, quilting, reindeers, fondant ribbon and bow, and finished with fondant spiral curls. I did suggest 'less is more' - but delivered his wishes. All elements are handmade and edible, yes even the hand painted reindeers. 

I actually like the fun appearance this cake. Merry Christmas "B" Platoon!

Gift Cakes

Christmas Gift Cakes.....  cakes I baked and decorated to give to some of my dearest friends (all 6" cakes)

Christmas Cup Cakes

One of my final Christmas order this year, 24 Cupcakes. I was given a little creative freedom but I chose a traditional theme.

Sweet As Bro!

Yes we all know who won the 2011 Rugby World Cup. A Kiwi mate asked for a Christmas Cake to be enjoyed by all her friends on Christmas Day, requesting a silver fern leaf with a little kiwi bird and a black and white colour scheme.

Hidden underneath the hand cut fern leaf, hand painted detail and fondant ribbon and bow is a Devils Food Cake filled with dark chocolate ganache.

Snow Flakes.....

By special request..... an order for a local business owner.

 

Candy Cane......

I received an order for a  Christmas Cake with a special request to include candy canes. After some discussion with the client who admired a cake I had previously made, I went to work. 

The cake is a fruit cake covered with fondant and 100% handmade decorations, all naturally 100% edible. (The fruit mixture soaks for a considerable time in brandy ..... yum!)

A Festive Welcome!

This week some very special friends are arriving from the USA for a "vacation", so I have made  a little gift they can enjoy on their travels during the festive season.