Knowing the gender of a couple’s baby before their family or even they do is something quite special. But for Let Them See Cake owner and baker Gareth, his partner Ryan and their incredible cake-baking queens, creating such a special cake to sweeten the moment is just another day in the life at Wales’ most instagrammable bakery. Over a year since the perfectly pastel pink Cardiff shop front was revealed to the world, brand new BBC series Hot Cakes follows the delicious team as they bake their way into the hearts of the nation - and their social media feeds.
Read More: Cardiff's newest cake shop will make you wish your birthday was every wee k
Episode one sees Gareth, 29, who has been baking for 10 years, bake a gender reveal cake for beauty therapist Sophie and railway worker Jamie’s baby. “I can't believe we get to know the sex of Sophie and Jamie's baby before they even do,” Gareth gushes.
Upon receiving the scratch card with the secret information on it, we hear Ryan, 28, telling the team his woes of gender reveals, as a memory of the time he once ruined a surprise gender reveal party by accidentally telling a mother-to-be she wasn’t on her way to a cupcake making class but her own surprise party, resurfaces: “I'm worried about handing the cake over now. Just in case I slip up!”. Thankfully, he holds his tongue when Sophie and Jamie arrive to pick up their pink lemonade celebration cake complete with jam and american buttercream, allowing them to find out for themselves whether the cake inside is in fact pink or blue.
But a baby isn’t the only thing the pair are toasting to. Having popped the question in Santorini recently on a stunning clifftop, Jamie’s magical proposal and the pair's engagement is also represented in a stunning celebration cake. With a talented team of bakers and decorators, made up of Emily, Maria, Mared, Lowri, Chrissy and "social media queen" Akhi, customers can request a cake - or cupcakes - for any elaborate occasion, with an equally stunning finish.
Hannah is a professional golfer - and serious cake lover - who is looking forward to celebrating a milestone birthday, her 25th, and needs a cake. But for Hannah, this cake isn’t just about celebrating a birthday, she tells Ryan. It's celebrating another year of life.
“I had a cancer health scare,” she says. “I had a cancerous lump that got found out only through an accident. I didn't go to the doctors for that particular reason... [we] got chatting and very quickly, I got sent to the dermatology ward. From that, I got told they wanted me in for an operation. It was very quick."
Having thankfully recovered, Hannah, whose "zesty" energy is inspiring, adds: "I'm fine now, I'm all good… It actually, in a way, made me re-evaluate everything, but also saved me in a way that made me go: ‘Woah.’ You don't need to lose yourself in the process of trying to compete and play and work and be an athlete and try and have a little bit of a social life at the same time - and failing at both. You can have it all." She adds: "So for me this is another year of living, so let's celebrate that!”
In theme with her golfing background, Hannah chose the “botanical beauty cookies and cream” cake, made up of a light vanilla oreo sponge and oreo crumbled buttercream topped with dried flowers to match the decor of the golf course. Delivering the cake to Hannah’s zip wire party at the end of the episode, Gareth says: "I'm always so nervous when I'm showing people their cakes. I just want it to be perfect!” But it seems the cake went down a storm, as the baker received his very first clap from a customer.
Where is Let Them See Cake?
The shop is located on Cowbridge Road East, by Victoria Park. Being the most fabulously fronted shop on the row, it’s a sight you are unable to miss.
How can I watch Hot Cakes and when it is on?
Focusing on different customers each week, all five episodes are available to watch on iPlayer now. But if you want to catch the show on live TV, new episodes are out every Monday at 8.30pm on BBC One Wales and BBC Three.
Find out more about Let Them See Cake at their website.
What is happening where you live? Find out by adding your postcode or visit InYourArea
