Ever since I started baking for pleasure when my daughter was a baby 15 years ago I have always loved to give cakes as gifts to my special friends and family to show my love and appreciation to them.  I enjoy the therapy and comfort that baking gives me as I create something that I hope the recipient would enjoy. I think love is an invisible ingredient in baking as well as the butter, sugar and eggs.  I know there are some out there who would think “Oh no not another box of cupcakes!” but I honestly say the presents I receive that are handmade and made thinking of me and that I would enjoy the gift means more than something expensive that is bought without a thought. Though I wouldn’t say no to  huge bottles of Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir perfume!

This blog post shows some of the cakes I have made for Valentine’s Day in the past three years.  I make the heart shaped ones regularly for Sam’s Smart Cookies customers but the other ones have been made with love for those close to me.

Over the next few days I am going to be a very busy bee baking Valentine’s Day cakes, cupcakes and cookies so watch this space to see what I bake.

Happy Baking!

Love Sam xx