The Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the last year or so you can't have failed to notice the Clandestine Cake Club. It's 'Britain's first and only underground cake club' and it's been so popular that it's now gone global! They've even been featured on the BBC's One Show as well as in various national newspapers.

The Clandestine Cake Club was founded by Lynn Hill who was inspired by the popularity of Supper Clubs. The premis is simple, advertise your event on the CCC website, give it a theme and only disclose the secret location once the bakers have signed up. From small beginnings 'thousands of home bakers are now meeting covertly in hidden locations with the same simple mission: bake, eat and gossip about cake'.

The events are free to attend and may be hosted in all sorts of unique venues. Events generally tend to occur monthly. Each baker must bring with them a cake that fits the theme. However, the rules forbid cupcakes, muffins, brownies, pies or tarts...it's just cake, cake and more cake.

When I attended a CCC meeting, the theme was March Madness with the cakes being inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I made a teapot cake which features in the tea party in Alice in Wonderland. Some of the themes for forthcoming events include Easter Eggstravaganza, Spring Clean, New Beginnings, My Favourite Ingredient, Sweet Shop and Continental Cakes, plus many more...you can be as inventive as you like.

There are now over 100 affiliated clubs in the UK and over 150 in total so there's bound to be one near you...and if not you could start your own! You can find out about the events here.

 

Due to the popularity of the CCC, Lynn Hill has recently published a cookbook of all the best recipes from CCC members around the country. The book contains '120 sensational recipes from Britain's most famous cake club'. It has been split into the following sections:

1. Classic Cakes
2. Victorian Cakes
3. Fruity Cakes
4. Global Cakes
5. Zesty Cakes
6. Chocolatey Cakes
7. Celebration Cakes
8. Creative Cakes

So what's it like? Well I have to say that this is a lovely book and if you're a keen baker this could be just the thing for you. The greatest selling point is the fact that it doesn't contain all the cupcakes, muffins and brownies etc which are forbidden at CCC events. These all have their place and I enjoy them as much as the next person but it's really great to see so many enticing cakes all in one place...there's bound to be a cake for any occasion.

It also contains some more unusual cakes that you may not have come across before as all the recipes come from CCC members, with many putting their own creative spin on things. Sometimes when you buy a new cookbook it's just the same old recipes that you can find in all your other books but with the CCC book you are bound to find something new and exciting.

Finally, nearly all the recipes are accompanied by a full page colour photo which is always a bonus as you know what you're aiming for. The photographs are all very enticing too and are guaranteed to have you heading to the kitchen to try out the recipes.

So all in all a highly recommended book and I for one can't wait to start working my way through the 120 recipes! The Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook is widely available in stores such as WHSmith and you can also buy it online from retailers such as amazon.

 

Please note that I was sent a copy of the CCC Cookbook to review but with no expectation as to the content. All opinions are my own and I genuinely would recommend this book! :-)