Get Ready To Indulge...

WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH

IMAGES: MARCEL AUCAR

We all deserve a treat this festive season, and what better way to celebrate than with YUMMY cake!

Whether at the end of the meal or an entire meal, a pretty dessert is a must-have at the end of every festive meal. Actually, every meal! And why settle for something simple when you can bring something fun, unique and delicious. Let’s start with a true centrepiece for the festive table, this gorgeous vintage-inspired Christmas Cake by The Butcher’s Daughter. This buttercream-frosted beauty is almost a beautiful, light festive green decoration! Decorated with baubles and ric rac styled edible frosting, this vanilla cake is a surefire crowd-pleaser - not just in looks but in taste. Similar in style but shorter in stature is the vanilla frosted cake with green ric rac. There is something about having two cakes in reverse colours that really brings the table's styling together. With their finger-licking edible frosting details and pops of reflective green baubles, these cakes will be demolished come Christmas Day!

Christmas Pudding and Mince Tarts from Philippa’s have been my go-to for years. As much as I love to see what is new, creative and unique every festive season, I always have to have a little stash of the old-school favourites to keep everyone happy. Philippa’s Mince Pies are melt-in-the-mouth pastry that encases aromatic fruit mince made from the unwaxed candied peel, organic Australian vine fruit and fresh premium spices. Yum! A traditional Plum Pudding with lashings of cream and custard cannot be ignored, and this one is filled with candied orange peel, loads of Australian vine fruit, Phillippa’s Breadcrumbs and plenty of brandy.

Suppose you were to get behind one charitable item this season. In that case, it should be the amazing Jo Gunnerson and her handmade boiled Christmas Cakes, where all profits from the Christmas cakes go to cancer research through the Cancer Council Victoria. This is the fourteenth year Jo has been cooking up a storm at Christmas time, and boy, has it grown. Cancer Council Victoria is an independent, not-for-profit organisation. They play a leading role in reducing the impact of all cancers on all people. Jo’s Christmas Cakes sales have generated a total donation of $197,000.00 to the Forgotten Cancers Project.