May's Calendar Cakes Challenge - Bank Holiday Bakes

What a belting month; two Bank Holidays, the weather's picking up, there's blossom on the trees and a spring in our step. Two extra days off work generally means time with the nearest and dearest, trips out to enjoy the countryside and of course, a spot of culinary magic. 

Show me what you make to relax, to share with friends or to take on picnics. 

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add a link on your post to your host DollyBakes. Laura is having a break from blogging for a bit, but will hopefully be back soon!
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet me a link to your post @dollybakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest

April's Calendar Cakes Challenge - Easter Bakes

Easter baking rules. Pretty pastels, hot cross buns, fruit cakes, biscuits, chocolate... the list goes on my sweet-toothed tribe of bakers. I love the Easter break, not only do we get two Bank Holidays, but the weather is usually improving too. This is the perfect time to whip up some sweet treats for your nearest and dearest.

So then, show me your buns... I want spice, flavour, garish fluffy chicks and terrifying bunnies - the whole shebang!

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add a link on your post to your host DollyBakes. Laura is having a break from blogging for a bit, but will hopefully be back soon!
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet me a link to your post @dollybakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest

March's Calendar Cakes Challenge - Spring into Action!

I love spring time. Bulbs popping up and birds singing remind me that the dark mornings and chilly evenings are almost behind us for another year. At this time of year I'm craving fruity bakes with zesty flavours, bright colours and pretty florals. Bye bye fleece, hello frocks!

This month I want to see your springtime inspired bakes. This could range from decoration to what ever makes you feel a little more energised. 

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes Challenge' as a label on your post.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest

February's Calendar Cakes Challenge - Oh L'amour!

So here we are again. We've landed back at Valentine's Day bakes! I couldn't resist doing this one again because I know you all love to bake for the occasion, whether you adore it or think it's a load of old slush. I took inspiration from a bit of cheese for this one, in the form of the Erasure classic, Oh L'amour!

Roses are red,

Bananas are yellow,

Now bake me a cake,

Like a nice little fellow!

Show me your ruby red bakes, heart shaped home-mades and sweet nothings for your loved ones... 

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes Challenge' as a label on your post.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest

January's Calendar Cakes Challenge - If it makes you happy...

Firstly, apologies for the absence of the Calendar Cakes Challenge so far this month. Laura has decided to take a wee blogging sabbatical, and I have had to take a little time off too. Anyway, enough of the excuses, here I am with your new challenge!

January really sucks. It's cold, damp and generally very grey indeed. I want to see what makes you happy! Have a think about:

• Colours
• The promise of Spring
• Favourite flavours
• Fun
• Trying something for the first time
• The things you share with friends
• New Year's resolutions
• Whatever makes you crack a smile!

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes Challenge' as a label on your post.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest

December's Calendar Cakes Challenge - Jingle Bell Rock!

Ho Ho Ho! Tis the season to get baking folks! 

Christmas is one of my favourite times of year to bake because there's such a wide variety of goodies to be made. Cakes, biscuits, meringues, bread... it's all going on! Let your Christmas creativity go wild - we want to see them all! It might be something you've knocked up in the past, or indeed a new creation for 2013. 

Think about:

• Spices
• Decorations
• Colours
• Fruit
• Rich flavours
• Booze
• Special treats

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes' as a label on your post.
• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest

October Calendar Cakes Challenge

Something wicked this way comes...

How on Earth we got to this time of year again is beyond me! 

All the best bakes come in the Autumn and Winter months - with colder weather and darker nights come puddings, pies and rich cakes. This month is also Halloween, so whether your interpretation of 'wicked' includes ghosts and ghouls or the sinful ingredients piled into your bakes - it's up to you! Either way... something wicked this way comes... 

Think about:

• Scary decorations
• Wicked ingredients
• Creepy names
• Gruesome colours

Anyway, I'm off for a finger butty...

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes' as a label on your post.
• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

August Calendar Cakes Challenge - Summer Lovin'

When we were kids, most summers we went to Minehead in Somerset. The weather was always fantastic, and as an adult I pine for those long hot days where you always had a tan from playing out and water fights were an every day occurrence. Well it looks like the sun has got his hat on once more! We're experiencing the best summer for about a decade, so lets celebrate with some summery bakes!

Think about...

• What is seasonal
• Holiday memories
• Places you have been
• The seaside
• What you bake when it's just too hot...

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes' as a label on your post.
• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

Join me on Facebook
Tweet me @dollybakes
Have a nosy at my pics on Pinterest 

Calendar Cakes Challenge - Pump up the Jam!

My good friend Susan from A little bit of heaven on a plate... is not only a champion marmalade maker (she won gold don't you know!) but she's an avid campaigner for keeping British jam the way it should be. She recently took on some jam meddling baddies at DEFRA in her quest to keep the fruity stuff as sweet as it should be. If you don't like sugar, eat a piece of fruit!

I was inspired by her work and by a recent cake club I ran with the same theme as this month's challenge: Pump up the Jam!

This month's challenge is quintessentially British. We want to see your perfect preserves, fantastic fruity numbers, marmalade mash ups and of course curd creations. If it involves jam, we're all over it!

This month is a Blog Hop, so feel free to share - just pinch the code below!

Entry Guidelines:

• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• TIP: If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes. Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Challenge Rules:

• You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
• It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
• You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
• If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
• You must submit by the last day of each month.

April's Calendar Cakes Challenge - The Great Village Show

On 23rd April we celebrate St George's Day, which got us thinking about not just English, but good old British institutions. Springtime sees the first of the annual village fairs, fetes and shows. We're thinking classic cakes, British ingredients, preserves, award winning fruit and vegetables and prized beasts! Let your imagination run wild...

This month is a Blog Hop, so feel free to share.

Entry Guidelines:

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes' as a label on your post.
• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just share the picture online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr etc), right hand click on it and copy image URL or link address. Add this to the Linky et voila! 
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the last day of each month.

February's Calendar Cakes Challenge - My Achy Cakey Heart

We love an excuse to bake... What's better than to feed the ones we adore or to spread a little love to those around us? Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to parade your pretty bakes. Hell fire, we'll even allow the savoury sensations you make for your special someone this month...

Think splashes of pink and red, roses, rich ingredients, wine... all made with a twinkle in your eye and a spring in your step...

What?! Hate Valentine's Day? In that case submit food that warms your heart and makes you happy!

Entry Guidelines: 

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo
• Add 'Calendar Cakes' as a label on your post.
• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your post to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes.
• Link to your blog from here using the Linky tool below. It's dead easy...
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just email us a picture and a bit of information about your bake. Email to calendarcakeschallenge@gmail.com
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes.

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules:

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the 'Calendar Cakes' logo and link back (see above).
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit by the 28th of each month.

Pop over to my Cakendar Cakes tab to enter! 

Calendar Cakes - October

October's Calendar Cakes Challenge - Halloween!

Mwah ha ha! We just couldn't resist a Halloween theme for this month's calendar cakes! 

We're expecting some bloody good entries including some treats using your favourite baking tricks. You're all an imaginative bunch but you face some stiff competition. Up for a challenge? Of corpse you are... Witch bake will you enter? I'm sure they'll all be wicked, make no bones about it! Here's some brain food...

• Halloween decoration
• Gruesome colours
• Gross names
• Halloween flavours 

Please remember real severed body parts do not constitute a cake, and will therefore be banned. There are laws agains that kind of thing... 

What is Calendar Cakes?

Fancy a new challenge? Something that gets into the spirit of current events? You read our minds... I have teamed up with one of my favourite bloggers, Laura from Laura Loves Cakes to create a brand new blogger challenge. The idea is to link up all the wonderful seasonal things we make throughout the year to form a wall of wonder every month. 

How will it work?

The latest ‘Calendar Cakes’ challenge will be posted on the 1st of every month and will run until the 30th of that month, after which a round up of your goodies will be posted. We'll be hosting alternately, so watch out for our posts at the beginning of each month when we will also set the theme. Once you've decided what you're making...

• Post your entry on your blog and include the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo (just copy and paste the bad boy in!)
• Add 'Calendar Cakes' as a label on your post.
• Follow Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes' blogs using the Google Join this Site button.
• Add links on your site to your hosts Dolly Bakes and Laura Loves Cakes. 
• If you don’t have a blog you can still join in, just email us a picture and a bit of information about your bake.
• If you're on Twitter, tweet us a link to your post @dollybakes and @lauralovesbakes - otherwise we won't see it! Use the handle #CalendarCakes. We'll retweet the pants off it!
• Use the Linky Tool below to enter - use your cake as your thumbnail picture! It's dead easy...

Calendar Cakes Challenge Rules

1. You can enter as many times as you like. Bake to your little heart's content.
2. It can be your own recipe or one you found elsewhere (please just state where you found it).
3. You can use old posts as long as you update them with the ‘Calendar Cakes’ logo and link back (see above). 
4. If you want to enter your bake into other challenges too then please feel free.
5. You must submit your Linky by 31st of October.

So…happy baking, we can’t wait to see what you come up and we’d be delighted for you to join us in our challenge!

Let your imagination go wild! We're excited to see what you all come up with!

POP OVER TO MY CALENDAR CAKES PAGE TO ENTER!