MERRY CHRISTMAS! A SLICE OF FESTIVE FUN
Ah. Christmas. It’s the time of year for carols, cavorting, and of course, cake! We asked baker Lily Vanilli to bake up a showstopping cake creation to celebrate Penhaligon’s House of Toys this festive season.
Penhaligon’s has quite the sweet tooth, don’t you know – and what better time of year to indulge than Christmas? To surprise our playful-nosed patrons this year, we asked baker extraordinaire Lily Vanilli to bake up a showstopping creation to celebrate the opening of Penhaligon’s House of Toys.
Lily runs a small bakery in East London, where she whips up colourful, bespoke (and it goes without saying, delicious) cakes and treats, so we couldn’t help but ask her to bring the House of Toys to life with her baking.
Inspired by William Penhaligon and his toy friends, the six-tier showstopper is playfully decorated with a ‘P’ toy block (we wonder what it stands for), as well as tiers of green icing – which, come to think of it, look awfully similar to our signature gift boxes. What a coincidence!
Ever eager to learn from the best, we also asked Lily to share her top three tips when it comes to decorating a cake.
ONE
Remember, ultimately a cake looks good when you knows its going to taste good. Don't be afraid to keep it simple - decorate with fresh fruit or dripping in chocolate or caramel. If it looks appetising, it looks good. It doesn't need to be fancy!
TWO
If you're using buttercream (especially Swiss meringue) for icing and piping, always beat until fully smooth then turn the mixer down to the lowest speed for a while to knock out the tiny air bubbles. It will make the icing silkier and your life easier.
THREE
If attempting piping, practise before going on to your cake. you can keep reusing the same icing, just pipe onto a clean surface and reuse.
We’re sure you’ll agree that, much like our fine fragrances, this cake smells good enough to eat! Now, what other wonders await in Penhaligon’s Joy-Filled Advent Calendar? One shall have to keep their noses tuned in.
Further Reading
STROLLIN' DOWN SAVILE ROW Anniversaries certainly do come around like buses or, more appropriately, Rolls-Royces when one is stood on the corner of Savile Row, Mayfair. A street steeped in hist...
CARE FOR A TIPPLE? Far be it from us to lecture, but this much we know to be true: the ties they are a-changing. Being a very British brand we thought we could step in with some very Briti...
Ah, Halfeti – the jewel in Turkey’s crown. With its wonderful mix of Byzantine, Armenian, Egyptian and Ottoman heritage. And a town well-versed in trading with the world, too. Spices an...
Back in William’s day, any self-respecting London dandy could be found bouncing around between Jermyn Street and St. James's Street. Here, a gentleman’s every tailoring and grooming need could be tend...
An intoxicating smell as one enters. Unrivalled care and attention from fragrance experts. Every one of our boutiques has its hallmarks, but there is nothing more distinctly Penhaligon’s than our icon...
Have you ever paused to take in the scent of a fresh rose and felt instantly uplifted? This is no mere coincidence. Floral scents are scientifically proven to make one feel happier. A fragrance ca...
It’s been a few years since the esteemed Portraits family took permanent residence in Penhaligon’s stores around the world. The ever-growing Portraits fragrance collection continues to offer something...
Just as wild animals mark their territory, a person’s fragrance extends the personal space they inhabit. Indeed, perfumes smell different depending on the wearer, so one must choose a fragrance tha...
Many a work of art is greater than the sum of its parts. A painting, with its carefully composed shades, hues and textures. A piece of music, with floaty highs, sinewy middles and deep basses, coming ...
1. Londoners are not typically known as the romantics of the world. Did you know that St Valentine’s Day was the invention of a Londoner, Geoffrey Chaucer in 1343. The 14th February or Saint V...
