A reason to celebrate with Birch House Bakery…

At times like these it’s great to find reasons to be cheerful and cake along with lovely sweet treats can bring a smile to our face. We are lucky to have in our village the wonderful Erin who owns Birch House Bakery. We talk to her and she also shares with us a vanilla bean sponge recipe that we can all try at home in lockdown….

I’m Erin and I set up Birch House Bakery, a specialist cake making business, in 2016. I’ve lived in lovely Balcombe (at Birch House) since 2014 and really love the village and surrounding areas. Having a baking business has given me the opportunity to be creative, doing something I love, and to be at home for my two boys, Henry and Oscar. 

I specialise in designing buttercream celebration and wedding cakes with a natural seasonal style often using fresh flowers and macarons. I also teach French Macaron making classes from my country kitchen. 

Have a go at the vanilla bean sponge cake by clicking here to get the recipe

1) How did you get into baking? 

My mum was a keen baker and made the most incredible lemon layer cake so I’ve always grown up eating homemade cakes. I love to bake and I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I’ve spent many many hours test baking recipes. 
I’m mostly self taught but did train in Macaron making. Its incredibly hard to get them right unless you have been taught. There are a few essential tips-  come along to my classes if you want to know how!

2) What is your favourite thing to make and what’s been your biggest challenge? 

My favourite cake to make and eat has to be my carrot cake. Its so light and delicately sweet. 

I love to design cakes for clients weddings and celebrations and using fresh flowers with a natural feel. I’m currently learning buttercream paint effects which is like painting a design onto a cake.

My biggest challenge has been marketing myself and getting my business known. And with that clients. I’m still to develop my website which will help – it’s coming very soon folks! 

3) What do you love about living in Balcombe? 

The quiet, the countryside and the people. I’ve made some amazing friends in the village who’ve been wonderfully supportive to me. 

4) Apart from cakes what is your favourite thing to eat? 

I love Asian food, especially Thai. Its the spicy flavours and memories of incredible food whilst travelling there in my 20s and 30s. In fact I’ve recently learnt how to make Xaio Long Bao… Chinese soup dumplings. They are amazing! 

5) What are your dreams for the future? 

I’m looking to grow my business to expand more into weddings as well as offering more my Macaron Making Workshops –  and possibly cake decorating classes. 

I’ve a garage on the side of my house that’s crying out to be converted into a beautiful catering kitchen and workshop for cake and macaron making classes! Watch this space…

Keep up to date with all Erin’s wonderful creations and follow her on her Facebook page, click here