Need to enter a cake competition. What can I make that has the wow factor but is also foolproof?

[MrsJohnDeere]

Cake competition at ds1's school next week. Lots of the other mothers are brilliant at this sort of thing. My cakes usually taste ok but look so-so.
Was going to avoid Victoria Sandwich or chocolate because others will make those. Don't want to do lemon drizzle as small children never like it (they will be eating it afterwards), likewise fruit cake.

Tempted to do something in a bundt tin, but know what.

Does it have to be a sponge cake? James Martin did fab meringue cake on Saturday kitchen last week. Did the meringue in a mixer. Filled it with cream whipped with lemon curd - simple! Could substitute chocolate or chopped strawberries?

Make a Victoria sponge cake, drop fresh raspberries in randomly as you pour it into the bundt tin. When it's cooked and cooled, drizzle over white chocolate. Foolproof but different and gorgeous

This is really nice - also done it with raspberries which is equally delicious.

Iced Coconut Cake?? - makes a lovely light but moist nutty cake - its a favourite around here - even with me & I hate coconut

basic cake recipe - you know, equal eggs, butter, sugar & s/R flour, dash of milk

& replace milk with coconut milk, add1/3 box desiccated coconut

make up runny icing, as you would for lemon drizzle, but instead of adding lemon juice to the icing sugar & mixing up to a runny paste, replace lemon juice with coconut milk

toast a large handful of desiccated coconut in a dry fry pan until golden brown

spoon runny icing over the cake & allow it to run over the sides, & sprinkle toasted coconut over the top

check my photos, I'm going to try & upload a photo of one, so you can see what I mean for the decor :)

Thank you all for the ideas.

Rockinhippy - your cakes look fantastic!

Lovely as they look, I think I'd better err on the side of caution and avoid the ones with nuts (occurs to me that if the dcs arent allowed nuts in their packed lunches then I shouldn't put them in cakes for them either).

Thank you :) -

though it might be worth you asking the School if the nut ban still applies to the competition -

DDs school has a very strict nut & seed ban for lunches etc, but when it comes to fetes, fundraisers etc - anything goes so long as you clearly label it as containing nuts, eggs, soy etc etc

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1838/chocolate-dipped-cherry-cake

This one is ace,the fact that I produced an impressive looking cake prooves it's definately foolproof!

Hope it goes well

Didn't Miranda on the Great British Bake Off do a pretty impressive looking raspberry pavlova brownie cake?

Can't find the recipe but this looks like a pretty impressive alternative. You could loose the booze if you prefer.

Alternative Nigella's gingerbread with lemon icing is easy and delicious. Some chopped stem ginger and lemon zest on the top would look lovely. Good luck!

This is the chocolate brownie meringue cake I think you mean - 'tis very yummy indeed!

Delia's Iced Lemon Curd Layer Cake is stunning. I've made it loads and all the children love it. I never bother making the lemon curd - I use Sainsbo's TTD Lemon Curd - its very good and not a bad price. 3 tiers of delicious springtime goodness. You could add some edible flowers eg violas to make it even prettier. Or just zest lots of strips of lemon, boil briefly in a sugar/water mix and put on top once dried.

I always make chocolate cakes but for dh's birthday I was tempted by http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/mary_berrys_perfect_34317 Mary Berry's Victoria Sponge. It's the all in one recipe so it's very easy but rises so well and is so light that it makes a real impact. I decorated with whipped cream and whole strawberries.

Trying link again - here we go

Well, my first attempt has been a disaster. I made a sponge with raspberries in a bundt tin but it stuck to the sides and looks awful when turned out. Tastes fab though, so at least I can eat it at home.

I'm going to attempt Nigella's gooey chocolate stack (meringue plus cream, really) instead. If that fails, I may just give up!

I am unconvinced of the benefits of bundt tins personally, having had a few disasters as described.

The gooey choc stack may be a mare to transport? Why not just do a 2 layer cake with drooly icing and a few flowers/zest?