Shoot For The Stars With A Show-Stopping Cake

Thanks to GBBO (that’s Great British Bake Off for the uninitiated) we’ve been exposed to some mind-boggling cake creations, none more so than the seemingly impossible, physics-be-damned work of art that is the defying gravity cake.

As we eagerly await the return of our favourite cake-and-pun-filled show, learn the secret to these precariously balanced beauties and create your very own gravity eluding showstopper at home. Here’s what you need to know…

Defying gravity cakes blend delicious bakes with a good pinch of magic. They’re topped with sweets and fondant sculptures that appear to float unaided above the cake.

The secret ingredient is a carefully concealed structure – anything from straws and wooden dowels to purpose built frames – that holds everything in place while giving the impression that wizardry is at work. Great news! This is definitely something you should try at home.

Start your technical challenge by baking up a firm base. This isn’t the time for a lovely wobble or – dare we say it – soggy bottom. You’ll want to choose a good basic sponge to support your marvellous creation.

Avoid a cake-tastrophe with the Cake Factory, perfect for achieving that all-important even bake. Once it’s cooled and ready, set it on a cake board or something equally stable before you start to decorate.

Now the real fun can begin. Whether you’re working from a recipe or your own dreamed-up design, make sure you have everything you need and get to work.

Test that your structure is rigid before you pour your efforts into decorating. While these cakes appear to flout the law of physics, there are limits so check it can hold the weight of whatever it is you want to float above it. Note: solid fondant icing weighs a ton.

There are endless tools, toppings and pre-made embellishments out there to buy but you can create an impressive effect with just a wooden skewer, some icing, sweets and the packaging they came in.

Ready to attempt your own signature bake? Don’t be afraid to take whisks (ahem) at home. A good cake to start off your defying gravity adventures is this classic sweety cake.

Once you’ve nailed an entry-level cake, be a little more adventurous with this eye-catching popcorn cake or this super cute raining sprinkles cake.

Before you know it, you’ll be baking up fantastic creations like this epic watering can gravity defying cake. That’s just how you roll…

So what are you waiting for? On your marks, get set… bake!

Ps. If you’re in need of some first-hand inspiration, the London Dessert Festival promises to be a feast for all the senses by way of the capital’s finest and most fanciful creations. We’re predicting wall-to-wall confections with cakes as far as the eye can see. That should really bake your day.