Craig's Gluten Free Cakes

Christmas... yes, it's time!

2010-10-21T13:18:00.000+01:00

With a new baby on the way in Jan, I'm trying to get really organised before the end of the year... including getting ready for Christmas. So, with it being very late October, it's probably time to start thinking about Christmas cakes! Rich, moist, brandy-soaked fruit cake, covered with marzipan and snow-white sugarpaste... great for giving as presents or, just for munching over the festive period!

7" 6"

Decorated Christmas cake.... £25 £20

Covered cake only................£20 £15

Please get in touch to order now ------------ Other sizes/ styles available!

Baby Shower Cake

2010-10-19T11:27:00.000+01:00

Although I'm not the biggest fan of novelty cakes, somehow it seems just right for a baby shower cake....! The sex of the baby isn't known yet, so a neutral gold ribbon was used and multicoloured blocks for the bears to play with.

Gluten Free Baking Class

2010-07-05T22:14:00.001+01:00

Unfortunately, the GF baking class with Loaf Cookery School had to be cancelled - hopefully another class can be organised soon.

Craig

Next month, I will be running our first Gluten Free Baking Class, in association with Loaf Cookery School in Cotteridge, Birmingham. This promises to be a great evening making GF bread, cakes and pastry, sharing some GF baking tips and enjoying some lovely GF food!

The class will take place in the HQ of Loaf Cookery School, which also doubles as Loaf director Tom Baker's home, so places are limited. You can read more about the class here: http://www.loafonline.co.uk/cookeryschool/introduction-to-gluten-free-baking/

The class will run from 6.30 - 9.30pm on Mon, Aug 9th - hope to see you there!

Hopefully this will be the first of many, so if you can't make this date, please get in touch and I can let you know plans for future classes.

Craig

Gluten Free bread

2010-03-30T10:43:00.001+01:00

Anyone who has tried to make gluten free bread will know how difficult it is. Many a rubbery loaf has ended up in the bin or thrown out for the birds. So the advent of fresh GF bread (Genius, of course!) in our supermarkets has been a revelation for all coeliac sufferers. Fresh bread on the shelves, gluten free? it hardly seemed possible a year ago. Now even Starbucks are offering a tuna sandwich on GF bread- very impressive.

But it is possible to make gluten free bread at home that doesn't resemble a small house brick. The premise is that your expectations have to be adjusted somewhat before you start! Forget the rules for 'normal' bread - there's no gluten here to knead! And with a bit of care, you can produce a very tasty, light textured loaf, that slices well and - as with most GF breads - toasts well.

This recipe is one I've had some success with, giving a nice brown crust, good texture and slightly sweet taste. It uses fairly readily available ingredients that can be found in your local health store.

Ingredients
120 ml warm water
2 tsp sugar
4 tsp dry yeast
300g white rice flour
225g tapioca flour
50g sugar
4 tsp xanthan gum
75g millet flakes
1.5 tsp salt
360ml water
4 tbsp melted butter
1 tsp white wine vinegar
3 eggs

Instructions
makes 2 loaves

1. Place warm water, sugar and yeast in a small bowl, mix well and set aside for 15 minutes
2. Sift together the flours, sugar, xanthan gum, millet flakes and salt in a large bowl and mix well.
3. In another bowl, combine the water, melted butter, vinegar and eggs
4. Add the butter and yeast mixtures to the dry ingredients and beat well, preferably with an electric mixer, until well mixed. It will be very moist and sticky.
5. If you can knead it, do so, otherwise divide it between two, greased 450g loaf tins. Put them in a warm place to prove for about 30 minutes. The dough will rise slightly, but don't expect too much.
6. Preheat the oven to 180C, 350F, gas mark 4
7. Brush the top of the loaves with some vegetable oil and sprinkle on a handful of golden linseeds/ millet flake mix. This will give a nice brown crust with some texture as most GF flours tend to produce a whitish crust that isn't particularly apetising.
8. Bake the loaves for 30-35 minutes until golden brown, or until a skewer comes out clean, and cool on wire racks.
9. Best eaten on the day or within a few days. If freezing, slice it first and freeze on the day you make it.

Sweet fig and white chocolate

2010-02-25T21:46:00.000Z

This is a fantastic looking cake - ideal for special occasions (such as my mother in law's birthday, which is what this is for!) The white chocolate edging and fresh figs on top look amazing. Gluten Free recipe adapted from Jane Price's excellent Home Guide to Cake Decorating book

Open for business!

2009-11-24T16:31:00.005Z

Enquiries and orders for Craig's Gluten Free Cakes are welcome using the form below or by calling me on 07769725135.

All cakes are delicious, hand-made and gluten free using Doves Farm gluten free flour. The price list shown opposite is for standard 7" round cakes. Free delivery in the Birmingham area is included.

If you don't see the cake you like, want a larger cake or a bespoke celebration cake, these can be made to order - please call to discuss requirements!

Craig

In the beginning...

2009-09-07T13:19:00.001+01:00

Hi

I'm Craig and this is the first post on my blog to tell you about my bakery.

Anyone with coeliac disease or a wheat intolerance will tell you that getting good quality, well priced gluten free cakes is not particularly easy. Yes, there are some around, but often they are bought just because they are gluten free, rather than for their taste.

What I want to bring to you are cakes that taste so good, you would choose them anyway, gluten free or not!!

More information to come soon - watch this space.

In the meantime, if you are interested in gluten free cakes, please email me.

thanks,
Craig