Ooops I forgot to mention ...

It was my wonderful husbands birthday on Friday; whilst he was with me at hospital, then nursing me better at home, he should have been celebrating his birthday, but that never really happened. However I did buy him a really good present to make up for it! I bought him a Google Nexus 7 Android tablet computer; he always moans that I am stealing the iPad, so it only seemed fair that he had his own!

I have been very fortunate this year that I have not had to bake or arrange a birthday cake for him as a week ago, I was asked by the kind people at Baker Days if I would like to review one of their "letterbox" gift cakes. I jumped at the opportunity, anything to make my life a little bit easier and making sure he had a birthday cake.

Ruby and I browsed their website and decided to opt for a personalised cake. We decided on a lovely design with two elephants, one big and one small; we also picked our own wording. Their website is very easy to use and navigate around, you can even have a photo placed onto the cake.

I was not really sure what to expect from the cake as they said it would be sent through the post; I had images of it all being squashed and completely wrecked, but it was not; it came delivered in a metal tin that protected the cake really well.

Along with the cake came a little packet of balloons, party streamers and candles; I really liked that I didn't have to buy anything else to go with the cake, it was all ready to go.

Prices start at £14.99 for a five inch (in diameter) "letterbox"sponge cake, which they claim offers three to four portions. Once you have selected from the many stock designs, or created your own custom design, you have the option to upgrade the sponge cake recipe for fruit cake, Belgian chocolate chip sponge cake or Gluten and Wheat Free cake. We went for the chocolate option!

Ruby could not wait to try the cake, and I think it is fair to say that it did not disappoint. The flavour and texture of the sponge and icing were spot on.

We were sent one of the five inch letterbox cakes and on first impressions, I thought the cake was a little expensive given that it only served 3-4 portions, but when you factor in postage, packaging and the personal touches etc, I think it is reasonable value for money. The company does offer larger cakes, but as you would imagine, there is a bigger price tag on them.

The letterbox cake is a good idea and would be great to send to someone who you would not be seeing in person, for instance a university student living away, or a relative who lives at the other end of the country.

I was very impressed with the cake and the shopping experience, however I think if I were to use the service in the future, I would have to have a real need for the cake to be delivered directly, in order to justify the price.


Disclaimer: I was sent a cake from Baker Days for free to review, however all opinions and thoughts are my own.