It's not an octopus, but ...

[Robinne Weiss]

I know we have some cake lovers here, so I thought I'd share this year's first birthday cake. Not quite as spectacular looking as last year's octopus cake, but now that the girl is officially an adult, I figured she could handle a cake made for flavour, not looks. Strawberry cake with strawberry icing to take advantage of the garden's bounty. I think this is my new favourite cake. Go ahead, have a slice. The coffee's on. The recipe for the same cake baked as cupcakes is on my blog for those who are keen to make your own.

 

[Emily]

That's looks utterly and unbelievably delicious Robinne! And I'm so jealous it's strawberry season where you are!! There's nothing as perfect as fresh, in - season strawberries

 

[Robinne Weiss]

That's looks utterly and unbelievably delicious Robinne! And I'm so jealous it's strawberry season where you are!! There's nothing as perfect as fresh, in - season strawberries

And strawberry season here lasts 5-6 months! It doesn't get any better, really.

 

[Emily]

And strawberry season here lasts 5-6 months! It doesn't get any better, really.

You are living "the dream"

 

[Hannah F]

No cake, just the strawberries for me, thanks.

 

[RK Wallis]

Gorgeous! Looks yummy Hope she liked it And Happy birthday to her. Sounds like a big one.

 

[Pamela Jo]

OH LOVELY! Wexford is the strawberry capitol of Ireland. You know it's Spring when the first strawberry huts appear in late May. I've a Swiss recipe for Schoggi Igel, Chocolate Hedgehog, cake that you maybe could use for a future birthday. I surround it with mint and strawberries. Still a favourite, though mine are adults. I did think I'd poisoned all my aged Aunts and Uncles at a hot Memorial Day picnic with it, but that's another story. I don't have any good pics at the moment, but message me if you'd like it. It can be gluten-free but not vegan. My sons are having a fencing tournament this weekend. I just learned yesterday, so I'll be baking vegan, gluten-free as well as regular cakes out of my 1949 cookbook.

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Is your chocolate hedgehog like this? The critters beside this guy are huhu grubs made of marzipan (hedgie food). I've had a glorious 20 years of fun birthday cake making, but the kids are all grown up now, and I'm afraid last year's octopus (also below) was probably the final really fun cake until there are grandkids.

 

[Pamela Jo]

Is your chocolate hedgehog like this? The critters beside this guy are huhu grubs made of marzipan (hedgie food). I've had a glorious 20 years of fun birthday cake making, but the kids are all grown up now, and I'm afraid last year's octopus (also below) was probably the final really fun cake until there are grandkids.

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Love the Octopus. It's the only one I'd eat now I've seen the Netflix series. No the Swiss one is a bit like Tiramisu. It's dark chocolate eggcream layered with ladyfingers, toasted almond slivers for the prickles. I usually use almonds for the eyes and a bit of black choc for the nose then put strawberries and mint around it. It is more grown-up in flavours. Made with the Swiss chocolate they give the military it is incredibly good. Each bar has about 1k calories because they are running up and down the mountains all day. If I find a pic I'll send it.

 

[Julie]

@Robinne Weiss Robinne that octopus cake is amazing!! I'm a grown-up and I'd still eat a fun cake! You're very talented. Are huhu grubs aka witchetty grubs? Ewww!

 

[Robinne Weiss]

@Robinne Weiss Robinne that octopus cake is amazing!! I'm a grown-up and I'd still eat a fun cake! You're very talented. Are huhu grubs aka witchetty grubs? Ewww!

Thanks! Huhu grubs are the larvae of a NZ endemic longhorn beetle, so while they look a little bit like witchetty grubs (and they'd probably be called that in Australia, since the term refers to pretty much any big insect larva used for food), they're not the same.