Amy stays busy so you can ‘cake it easy’

If you want to know the recipe for success, ask clever cake baker Amy Panter if she’ll share her secrets with you. From the kitchen of her home in the quiet village of Lavendon, she whips up the kind of sponge delights that look almost too good to eat.

She told Pulse’s Sammy Jones all about her crumbly business..

Nothing is off limits for Amy, who relishes a challenge, and her cakey exploits have recently been devoured by some very familiar faces.
“I was asked to make one for McFly’s Danny Jones to celebrate him reaching the milestone of one million Instagram followers, and he had just become King of the Jungle…”

And so, while most people were busy organising the brussels sprouts, making mince pies and dealing with seasonal plate-fillers, Amy was working on a mini figure of Danny, and creating all sorts of jungle themed bugs for a not-very-festive cake.

The cake portrayed a very accurate depiction of jungle life for the popular I’m a Celebrity… campmate: “There was a snake on there, and I made some maggots! I used Isomalt to recreate the campfire flames, too.

“It was really exciting to be asked to do it, but I did feel a little bit of pressure ensuring the model looked like Danny. I think it went down well though – he put a video out on Instagram on Christmas Day about it.”

The celebrity baking continued when she was invited to help reality star turned Strictly hero Pete Wicks celebrate the launch of his TV show, the warm, fuzzy and addictive, For Dogs’ Sake on the U channel.

“He absolutely loved it!” Amy promised.
Amy has been working to serve up sweet treats for the past six years, but like many of us, her earliest baking memories were serving as ‘Mummy’s little helper.’

“When I was a little girl I would bake with my mum and I really enjoyed it. I would be forever licking the bowl, but I can’t think of anything worse now, because I am with it all the time!” she laughed.

‘Can anyone bake?’ we ask, because we have yet to find the rhythm!

“Anyone that can read, can bake,” she insists, “You just need to follow the recipe. You do need to be patient when baking, things won’t always come out the way you had hoped or the way it looks in the recipe book, but keep practicing and you will soon get there,” is the advice.
She relishes the challenge that comes with making cool, random items, and has previously created everything from footwear (a trainer) to a box of chicken nuggets, and a jar of Marmite in cake form.

We’re vegan, but even we can’t fail to be impressed by the aesthetics of those chicken bits: “The box is normal sponge and the nuggets were mixed with butter cream so I could mould them,” she explained, “The chips are made of cake as well – I put them in the oven for longer!”
But, just like fashion, the cakes she makes are dictated by what is on trend: “Right now? Drip cakes are really in at the moment, they are fine to do, but not very taxing…”

Although that wasn’t always the case. “When I first started, a lot of my work was drip cakes and I never could get the hang of how you get it so smooth around the edge. Sometimes, when putting the drip on the cake the bottle with the drip in would explode, or the lid would fall off and go everywhere and I would have to start all over again!” she giggled.
“But you learn from your mistakes…”

Amy certainly has. Her Heavenly Cakes by Amy business is now thriving, and she is receiving calls every day from people wanting a cake to wow. The large bulk of her business is birthday and celebration cakes, but she is keen to always make the visions in your mind, a reality. The more unusual the better.

While Amy would love to test out her edible art in the next series of Great British Bake Off, she’ll not get the chance – as a business owner, she’s not allowed to compete. But she has enough fans seeking out her work to keep her occupied.

When we speak with her, she has just delivered a batch of cupcakes spelling out the words We Need To Talk. They were made for Married at First Sight expert Paul Brunson, to celebrate his podcast by the same name.

Perhaps cake could be the way to a happy relationship?!
“Earlier today, someone asked me to make a barbecue and the customer wanted a figure of a family member standing in his apron next to it. I’ve never done anything to that size, and I am really looking forward to it.”

Prices usually start at around £80, and sculptures take at least six hours to form. It’s time consuming: “It does take a long time, and I do have to ask for as much notice as possible, so that I have time to make sure that everything is perfect.”

While people might be getting adventurous with some of the designs they ask for, flavour wise Amy’s clients are pretty predictable: “The most popular would be plain sponge or chocolate, and next to that would be white chocolate and raspberry…”

Perhaps not surprisingly, you’ll not often find Amy sitting down to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake when she has a rare moment to chill. Cake isn’t really her thing… “I prefer a bag of crisps!” she giggles.

Having already charmed Danny Jones and Pete Wicks, who would Amy most like to make eat cake, in the nicest sense?!

“I’ve always loved Peter Andre!” she laughs, “And I’d love to make one for David Beckham…” but after a little more thought she realises there is someone even higher on her wish list: “I would absolutely love to make a cake for Paul Hollywood and get that famous handshake!”

Search FB: Amy’s Heavenly Cakes and on Instagram: @heav.enlycakesbyamy