It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve been able to bake and I’ve really missed it. Our kitchen has had a revamp- a new floor, painted walls and soon to have new light fittings. Why not a completely brand new kitchen? For a start there is nothing wrong with our old one and we hope to move house eventually. No point in spending a fortune on a new kitchen when our buyers will probably rip it out anyway.

As Mr S had to take the old flooring up so he could paint the skirting boards, we had a bare concrete floor for nearly two weeks. Minimum time was to be spent in the kitchen so that meant microwave or ready made meals for dinner. As someone who enjoys cooking from scratch, heating up ready meals was strange.

The new floor is now down and it looks fantastic. It feels warmer than the old one and I was so excited to get back in the kitchen and bake.

I chose to make a Dundee Cake as my first bake back in the kitchen. Not only is it a bake we both love, but it is a challenge to scratch off my #100bakeschallengeposter.

My favourite Dundee Cake recipe comes from those amazing and down to earth guys, the Hairy Bikers. I met them both at the Good Food Show once and they signed my Hairy Dieters Book. They were honestly the nicest guys I’ve ever met. No arrogance or full of themselves attitudes like other celebs you see. Their British Classics Book is a favourite out of their cookbooks and I’ve made the Dundee Cake several times over the past four years.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/dundee_cake_22157

This is the link to the recipe on the website, although as I mentioned above, it is also featured in the British Classics Recipe book.

A bit of history behind the Dundee Cake: it was made by the Dundee Marmalade Company, Keiller’s back in the 19th century but has also said to have been invented as far back as Mary, Queen Of Scot’s time. It was also rumoured that our late Queen Elizabeth II liked Dundee Cake. The feature of the concentric rings of almonds studded into the top of the cake is what makes a Dundee Cake recognisable. This version has glacé cherries inside but some usually don’t.@samssmartcookies

Dundee Cakes usually keep well for up to six weeks if they are wrapped up carefully. However, we love eating them so much, they don’t last that long!

Here’s how I made our Dundee cake!

Update: the Dundee cake didn’t last long in our house. Between Mr S and I we troughed the lot. Sorry, not sorry!

Happy Baking!

Love Sam xx