Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker's man!

Bake me a cake as fast as you can in this fabulous bakeware, please! Brisbane based design company Treeparty Design has "branched out" (oh dear) into creating silicone bakeware products. You can choose from the Bug and Beetle design, or the Blossom Flower pan.

The Bug and Beetle mould includes two dragonflies, ladybirds, bees and butterflies.

Isn't it exquisite?! Now the glorious thing about these moulds is that even the most ordinary cook can whip up little creations that looks truly amazing, either for a birthday party, or indeed for treats that can be enjoyed anytime.  All you need is a basic butter cake recipe - we've got one at the end of this blog entry, courtesy of the http://www.treepartydesign.com website. (If you're not a baker, this is a great recipe to try).

One great feature of the moulds is that the little baked treats they create are the perfect size for kids, and their lunchboxes. Give them a ladybird or blossom cake and you can be sure they won't fill up with cake and have no room left for their sandwich and fruit!

If you've never used silicone bakeware, it has much to recommend it. It's so easy to clean, and gone are the days of turning out a cake, only to make the disheartening discovery that half your creation is stuck to the bottom of the pan.

But the moulds can do more than just turn out great cakes and muffins. They're microwave, oven and dishwasher safe, and can be used for setting ice treats, jellies, fudge, and even plaster shapes your children can paint. 

Here's the sweet Blossom Flower mould.

This pan creates delicate flower shapes. Here's an idea for the next school holidays: why not purchase a few of these pans and bake some gorgeous treats for a girl's garden tea party!

The production of such beautiful and easy-to-use moulds is a splendid idea from the Treeparty Design team - here's some of their other creations - some lovely brooches (love the two birds in a tree!) You can find Treeparty Design this Saturday 17 April at Mathilda's Market in Brisbane, or visit their store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/treepartydesign

Love these old school style flashcards!

Click here to sample some of the other stallholders you'll find at Mathilda's in Brisbane this weekend. 

Oh and here's that butter cake recipe we promised you!

Simple Butter Cake Recipe

125g butter
2 cups of self-raising flour
125 g caster sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla
½ cup milk

Preheat oven to 160 degrees celsius. Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend till smooth.

Use canola or vegetable oil spray to grease the silicome bakeware. Fill trays half way up with cake mix (except the ladybird - fill half way up eyes). Gently drop the pan on a plat surface 5 or 6 times to help reduce air bubbles.  Bake for 12 to 15 mins. Allow cakes to cool before popping out of the trays.

(If you'd like, you can glaze the cakes with a runny mixture of icing sugar and water by placing each cake on a spatula and spooning the glaze over. Allow to set on cooling rack).

Mmmmm ... sending you good baking karma!

Peta x
Mathilda's Market blogger