Party season

I love the fact that once I reached my thirties I reset the party counter and now I go to 1 year old and 2 year old birthday parties. Of course there is still a lot of the 30ths and 40ths to attend but I love nothing more than an adult get together under the guise of a baby's birthday. Lets be honest before they can talk they can’t even tell you what they want to do to celebrate. So let me be the first to suggest popping open a bottle of champers to celebrate the fact that both the child and the mother made it through that first, very traumatic, year.

Once the children learn to talk and start going to day care they make their own little friends and then mummy’s friends no longer get invited to the party, so we have to make the most of those formative years. My very good friend H had the most beautiful baby girl this time last year and so we had a little get-together to celebrate. This was my excuse to make a cake. Initially I was thinking of something elaborate with many layers and flavours. I have recently purchased the Desserts by Pierre Herme book and there were so many gorgeous options in there. But then I thought about it and I came to the conclusion that this little one year old would much prefer a mushy, messy ice-cream cake and this honorary aunt would much prefer to make said cake in no time at all.

My sister has always made the most excellent cakes for her girls. She buys a chocolate cake and then she covers it and the plate it's on with all kinds of chocolate mini bars and sweets. This is quick and simple and is probably exactly what the kids really want to eat at their parties. I went for something along the same lines. I bought a 1 litre tub of vanilla ice cream and let it melt a little. Then I mixed in some berries and some smashed up maltesers. I put cling film in a pudding bowl and then poured the ice-cream mixture in and popped it in the freezer over night.

Just before heading to the party I put the pudding bowl in some hot water to melt the edges slightly. I then turned it out onto a cake plate and stuck maltesers all over it.

There were a few store bought fancy cakes on offer at the party but I have to say I think the ice-cream cake went the fastest. There’s nothing like a 1 year olds birthday party to bring out the child in everyone.

Note: If you're making this in Australia Peter's Ice Cream is a good choice as it refreezes without forming crystals