With my birthday and the Platinum Jubilee landing on the same day this year, I thought why not be a Queen for the day, and go all out. So, I treated myself to not one, but six cakes to celebrate from Patisserie Valerie. I’m a massive fan of the bakery, their Black Forest Gateau Slice is to die for, so when I spotted the six-cup cake-sized cake box, I couldn’t resist.
OK, the Patisserie Valerie Mini Cake Box isn’t cheap at £32.95, plus £4.95 for nominated day delivery if you order in advance or £9.95 for next day delivery. But if you love cake and want the wow factor, as well as a selection for your guests to choose from – then these six cakes will be perfect as it has a little of everything. Plus, fancy saving money on that delivery fee, sign up to their newsletter as I got a free code, which helped bring the cost down.
What’s inside the Mini Cake Box
Basically, the Mini Cake Box is a selection of all the favourite Patisserie Valerie birthday cakes you could ever want. There’s my favourite Black Forest Gateau with its rich sponge and cherry cream coated with dark vermicelli and finished with dark cherry, the incredible tiered red velvet cake with its delicate cream cheese filling and the delicious naked carrot cake with its lightly spiced sponge and cream cheese frosting with cinnamon swirls.
There are also two birthday-ready candy stripe vanilla sponge cakes, just waiting for candles on the top. The blue stripe offers delicious layers of vanilla sponge with a raspberry cream filling wrapped in blue and white buttercream and finished with sugar sprinkles, while the contrasting pink stripe boasts layers of pink sponge segmented by raspberry jam and cream finished with hand-piped buttercream and glitter confetti.
Finishing off the cake selection is the statement and very indulgent chocolate orange ombre, complete with ganache drip detailing, orange cream rosette and a Terry’s chocolate orange segments. Seriously, this cake not only looks incredible but tastes just as good.
Was the cake box really worth it?
For me, for a combined birthday and Platnimum Jubilee afternoon tea celebration – most certainly. All I can say is, why have just one birthday cake when you can have six? Plus, think of it like this – it is £5.50 per cake – and they are beautifully done – and you don’t have to share!!!
The only problem for me was the delivery, not enough care and attention was given to them, considering they were delicate cakes. Even with the box clearly stating that it needed to be kept upright, the DPD driver left it outside my house on its side. So, of course, the cakes got a little squished. They weren’t damaged beyond recognition, but even looking closely at these pictures you can see that there are marks in the buttercream frosting, especially on the candy stripe cakes, the top of the carrot cake and my favourite Black Forest. Out of the six, only two didn’t have any damage on them, which was such a shame.
Would I buy again?
You know, I probably would, for the right occasion. Even with the damage in transit, they were delicious cakes. However, I think I might opt for one of their different selection boxes. Maybe the Classic Patisserie Box, filled with ten slices including double chocolate gateau, Black Forest gateau, Mille Feuille, and classic New York-style baked cheesecake for the same price as the six mini cakes.
They also do an afternoon tea box, which I think could rival the Kettle & Crumb one I loved as a treat during lockdown. Also, how delicious does their Eclair Patisserie Box look? Six eclairs for £27.95, including the traditional, chocolate, banoffee, salted caramel, coffee, and my fav raspberry. Seriously, just writing this blog is making me want cake!!!
Have you had Patisserie Valerie delivered to your door?
Also, do you love the main plates? They are from Cath Kidston’s Platinum Jubliee range. I got the plates and mugs as they are so adorable with a picture of The Queen and her corgis.
