With the sunshine comes the urge to get out into the garden and what’s better than getting family and friends together for a garden party…vintage style!

fabulousplaces.co.uk features a great Derbyshire based company called Vintage & Cake who offer you the opportunity to hire stunning vintage crockery in addition to having scrumptious homemade cakes made just for you.  Julie from Vintage & Cake has very kindly offered her advice, and a yummy cake recipe, to help you enjoy your own garden party.

The Perfect Afternoon Tea

Requirements:  flowers, vintage china, vintage cutlery, vintage vases, bowls and vintage cake stands plus some pretty bunting… its essential!

Traditional Afternoon Tea…
A selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches.
Warm scones with clotted cream and preserves.
A variety of home made cakes.
Your choice from a range of teas.

Here are some of the more common teas, but of course there are so many to choose from out there:

Darjeeling
An aromatic and astringent tea from India, with a hint of almonds and wildflowers.
Earl Grey
A blend of black teas scented with oil of bergamot named after Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834.
Lapsang Souchong
A Chinese tea fired over smoking pine needles, which produces a striking smoky odour and flavour.

A recipe for the perfect Coffee & Walnut Cake

Sponge
250g butter
250g soft light brown sugar
4 eggs
300g self raising four
200ml strong coffee
50g walnuts chopped (roughly)

Buttercream
100g unsalted butter
225g icing sugar sieved
3 teaspoons strong coffee (dissolve the coffee in just enough water to make a paste)

Method
Beat the butter and sugar together for 5 minutes.
Add the eggs and flour in one go and mix well.
Add in your walnuts and half of the coffee and mix until completely even.
Pour into 2 8 inch round tins and bake for 25-30 mins at 180c (160c fan oven).
Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 mins, then empty them out onto cooling racks.
Mix the remaining coffee with 4 tbsps of light brown sugar and sprinkle 2 tbsps each over the sponges.
Leave to cool further

Buttercream
Cream the butter, icing sugar and coffee for 5 minutes until it resembles a whipped creamy texture.
Spread liberally inside your sponges and then on top.
Decorate at you please with walnuts
NB:  Always lick the bowl
You will be left with a ridiculously light and delicious cake to share with friends and family!

Here’s some information about the fabulous Vintage & Cake…

Julie, the owner of Vintage & Cake, says the company was borne out of a love of ‘doing things properly’ like her gran always did.  It’s about indulgence, enjoying life’s treats and celebrating a bygone era.  Vintage and Cake hires out beautiful vintage tableware for tea parties and tea dances and bake delicious cakes for all occasions, from lovely classic Victoria sponges to elaborate wedding cakes and cupcakes.  Individuality is very important to Julie, so each of her customers are more than welcome to pop round for a consultation, where you can eat cake, drink tea and chat about your ideas.  Click here to go to their page on fabulousplaces.co.uk.

Vintage & Cake will be exhibiting at the upcoming fabulousplaces.co.uk Summer Fete.