Burn-Away Photo Birthday Cake

I wanted to create a cake that felt like theatre — something that didn’t just sit on a table but demanded attention. The reveal gives the cake its gasp moment, but the sponge and buttercream still have to do the proper work once the cameras are down.

It’s not only the spectacle that matters. Each cake is crafted from light sponge and smooth Swiss meringue buttercream, in flavours from lemon to pistachio. The finishing touches — classic piping, rainbow sprinkles, a name on top — add charm and wit to the magic.

This is for people who love surprises, for those who want their party cake to be both indulgent and unforgettable. Think milestone birthdays, surprise gatherings, or the friend who has everything except a cake that reveals their face.

Sponge:

Vanilla - Flour (wheat, gluten), sugar, egg, milk, buttermilk (milk), yoghurt (milk), sunflower oil, baking powder, vanilla extract, salt.

Chocolate - Flour (wheat gluten), sugar, egg, milk, cocoa, sunflower oil, sodium bicarbonate (raising agent: E500), instant coffee granules, vanilla extract.

Lemon - Flour (wheat, gluten), sugar, egg, milk, buttermilk (milk), yoghurt (milk), sunflower oil, baking powder, lemon zest, lemon juice, natural lemon flavouring with other natural flavourings, vanilla extract, salt.

Red Velvet - Wheat flour (gluten), eggs, milk, buttermilk (milk), sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, colouring Red [Vegetable Glycerine E422, Mono Propylene Glycol E1520, Water, Ponceau 4R E124, Allura Red E129].

Cookies & Cream - Wheat flour (gluten), eggs, milk, buttermilk (milk), sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, Oreo [Wheat Flour, Sugar, Palm Oil, Rapeseed Oil, Fat-Reduced Cocoa Powder 4.5%, Wheat Starch, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Raising Agents (Potassium Carbonates, Ammonium Carbonates, Sodium Carbonates), Salt, Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, Sunflower Lecithin), Flavouring].

Pistachio - Wheat flour (gluten), eggs, milk, buttermilk (milk), sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, Pistachios (nuts).

Buttercream: Sugar, egg white, butter (milk), vanilla extract, salt.

Icing sheet: Modified starches (E1422, E1412), maltodextrin, glycerol, sugar, water, thickeners (E460i, E414, E415), dextrose, food colour (E171), emulsifiers (E435, E471, E491), preservative (E202), acidity regulator: citric acid (E330), artificial flavour, edible ink Black (Water, Humectant: E1520, E422, Colour: E151, E110, E102), edible ink Yellow (Water, Humectant: E1520, E422, Colour: E102, Acidity Regulator: E330), edible ink Magenta (Water, Humectant: E1520, E422, Colour: E122, Acidity Regulator: E330), edible ink Cyan (Water, Humectant: E1520, E422, Colour: E133, Acidity Regulator: E330).

Wafer sheet: Potato Starch (86%), Water (11%), Olive Oil (3%) - Aroma: Vanilla - Sweetener: Sucralose (E955).

*Although not necessarily present in this particular product, the colours used across our range of products may include the colours E102*, E104, E110, E122 & E129 - which may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in some children. All products are produced on premises handling eggs, gluten, nuts, peanuts, milk, sesame and soya hence may contain traces. Please note cakes may contain cocktail sticks and dowelling for support.

Each cake is hand-made individually and carefully and while will look similar to the images, may not be identical.

Our cakes are vegetarian and made in bakeries that handle wheat, gluten, eggs, milk and nuts. We do not offer vegan or gluten-free cakes. Standard delivery is by our own drivers within the London and Surrey areas we serve; further-afield delivery may be arranged in advance. Our bakeries are not customer collection points.