Pistachio Baklava Birthday Cake

 

Baklava is one of Hannah's favourite sweet treats and so what would be more fitting than to turn it into a cake for her nineteenth birthday? (Eeeesh it's been all go on the birthday front recently and soon it will be Christmas gaaaah so many occasions so little time so little dollar) This cake/baklava extravaganza is made up of two layers of spiced cake laced with honey syrup and coated in a mix of chopped pistachios, almonds and pumpkin seeds (OK so technically it's a mixed nut + seed baklava birthday cake, feel free to omit the latter pistachios are expensive but I wanted green!!) and two layers of sweet sweet spiced, honey-syrup-drowned, pistachio covered baklava.

Vanilla Orange Upside Down Cake

Hannah has been banging on and on and on and on and on and on and on and ON at me for a very long time to make her an upside down cake. OK she asked pretty nicely all ten thousand times but as someone who cannot understand why anyone would want to make a cake as ugly as an upside down cake it felt a lot like someone banging on. Anyway, she was at college and I wasn't at uni so with lots of work nothing to do I wanted to make something yummy for her coming home and I couldn't think of much she'd appreciate more than me giving in and making an upside down cake. I didn't fancy the more traditional toppings (bottoms? who knows) of apple or pineapple and was feeling a little adventurous so I bought some perfect looking oranges from my favourite fruit and vegetable stall in town. I know I keep harping on about the sun but it seriously does influence my baking choices! I was a little skeptical about not taking the skin off the oranges but to my delight and sheer amazement the cake was super scrummy! I still stand by it being pretty ugly and it was a nightmare to photograph but ya know the things you do for love and all that!

This cake is perfect for summery days and goes brilliantly with custard