I need to make a Statement Cake for Family gathering?

[Shosha1]

Im a good baker, but need inspiration.

For the first time in about 20 years extended family (as in my aunts and uncles) are coming for afternoon tea at my house, to see DF who we almost lost with a stroke this year.

Now I know they are going to expect WOW cakes, as my DM always did them (with seemingly no effort)

I would love to do one.

I often do a really fancy cheesecake, but it is very very rich, and the average age of my guests is 80 :) so might be a bit much

I thought I had found one but again terribly rich, I need something stunning to look at, but not too rich.

There will be French Fancies, tea cake and such as well.

You could do a huge baileys cheesecake topped with thorntons continental chocolates. Do it in a square or rectangular oven tray rather than a round one but you already have some lovely cake suggestions.

Anyone know where to buy chocolate cigarillos without paying an absolute fortune?

The December issue of Good Housekeeping has loads of recipes for christmas cakes in it as well as alternative christmas cakes including the recipe for Nigellas chocolate yule log. She sticks little sugar mushrooms on top of it as well.
There is also a free recipe booklet with the mag.

I did a test run of a Bundt Cake today using this recipe

OMFG it is to die for!!!!!

pannetonne..lush

Thanks for that link Shosha1 just waiting for my NW pan to arrive ...