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I'm sure you all wouldn't have failed to notice that Heavenly Cakes have been back on the ChocolateMission radar recently. Their reappearance on ChocolateMission of late has been met with a big thumbs up from the JCM community and amongst all the positive comments there have been several readers asking that I review their Very Berry Meringue cake. Well ask JCM readers and you shall receive :D Indeed today I bring you my thoughts and two pennies worth on this very delicacy. Described as a very tempting sounding concoction of 'all-butter shortbread, covered with a tart summer jam with light meringue chunks on top & sprinkled in summer berries & white chocolate' it was little surprise that this one had attracted so much attention from curious JCM readers.As with all the other cakes recently, Heavenly Cakes sent me some single serve packs that I shared with the ever willing JCM-family tasting panel. With products like Heavenly Cakes it is natural to expect that the pictures they feature on their website are going to be 'touched up' versions of the actual product, and that the reality is likely to be somewhat different. Hopefully my photos (... well the Old Man's!!) showcase that this was really once again not the case. They looked every bit as fantastic with each layer of the intricate cake highly visible and the inner ingredients seemingly well dispersed throughout.
Over a fine cup of tea we tested these delightful berry laced slices out and without spoiling things too much (like you all have haven't looked at the score already anyway haha!!) they were to coin a phrase 'exceedingly good'. With so many different layers involved this was a cake notable for it's ever developing flavours with the butteryness of the shortbread, sweet sugaryness of the meringue and the tarty red berries making for some interesting flavour contrasts. Additionally all these different elements made for sensational variety of textures with juicy fruits, chewy meringue and crunchy biscuit - it was a sheer delight. One thing I'm yet to get out of Nigel & Maeve at HC is the kind of white chocolate they use for their cakes. Whatever it may be it gets the JCM thumbs up - the creamy vanilla noted taste provided a fitting end to each and every bite - this is where they tell me its Cadbury Dream :D
Overall all round this was felt to be the best cake in the most recent selection that myself and my family were treated to. As I have alluded to above the cake provided a delicious fruity sweet slice that was both rich and moreish. It's sweet white chocolate and sticky fruity jam taste sent sugar levels sky rocketing, but it's moreish nature commanded that important 'just one more bite' attractiveness. If red berries are your thing and you like your chocolate sweet then I see little reason why this Heavenly Cakes Very Berry Meringue wont meet all seals of approval. If I was hosting a party and was looking for a fruit themed option to entertain my Heavenly Cakes platter (now that's a good idea!) then this Very Berry Meringue would likely be my cake of choice.
8.7 out of 10
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62 comments:
If Heavenly wanted they could just rename this the 'Merry Berry Cake' and then claim that they created it especially for Christmas lol.
You know thats exactly what someone like cadburys or mcvities would do if they were given half a chance. Even Mr Kipling has done it with his so called 'Festive Fancies' lol. What a joke those guys are.
Show me any you cake you lot from these lot but for me it's going to be Billionaires or bust.
Your reviews have got so much better since you first started. I just re-read one of your older ones which I used to think were just as good. The difference is night and day though. They are so much better now.
I see Heavenly Cakes have got new cakes up Jim. You should have sold them your ones lol.
If I asked them to do you think they would make this with milk chocolate instead? I like the sound of the meringue and berries but I'm not keen on white choc in the slightest.
Typically great review Jimbo. You know how to make a guy hungry in the mornings don't ya.
Do we get a friday review this week or not? Remind me why you stopped doing them again.
For me this has to be the best Heavenly Cakes one you have reviewed. I do like my cakes to have some sort of fruit in them and the only ones you have reviwed before that do were those lemon meringue ones. This berry slice ticks all the criteria for me. It looks great + has white chocolate. I would nearly say it would be the perfect cake for me but I would want to try it before I confirm that :P
Dx
High scores and discount on P&P. Grrr this is all getting too tempting for my liking.
Since when did they start making this one? Unless I've been totally stupid and missed it on their site the whole time this is a new one right?
Shortcake gooooood
Berries gooooood
White Chocolate gooooood
There doesn't sound like there is anything to dislike here. This is yet another cake from these groovey guys I would happily try. Great review J.
I think we are going to have to buy you a gym pass for Christmas Jim. All this cake musn't be good for your waistline.
You got loads more to come to come with the Xmas cakes aswell haven't ya.
Their cakes are golly expensive but they sound like they are worth it.
Jim i think you should review the Christmas ones in this order (lol the ones im most interested in coming first of course)
1 -Crimbo crumble
2 -Chocolate christmas cake
3 -Midnight mint
4 -Cinnamon shortbread
Thats just my selfish view of course ;P I don't expect you to do that just because I said so lol
They have so many cakes now it's a nightmare just choosing the one lol.
Do they say what sort of berries they use? I'm fussy I only like blueberries and cranberries.
Jim I'm teetering mate. Tell me I should buy some because I really want to try out some of their cake but im finding it hard convincing myself it's worth £7.50. It's their rocky road one that has my name on it. I do love a good bit or rocky road and it's hard to find decent stuff.
This is why chocolate mission is one of my fave sites. You don't know whats going to be on here each day. You've been ultra random lately lol.
Good read Jim + well done to your dad for the drool inducing photo again. What a team you guys are =]
Hey J
You see England last night or did you give it a miss again? I want to let you go first with your thoughts this time lol. I'm always the first one to go giving you what I think. I want to see what you say without my 'influence' this time lol.
As for this cake. Well, it isn't my sort of thing but I showed it to my mum and she thought it looked amazing. She was a little off put by having to order it online and it coming through the post though. She didn't understand how they could be 'fresh' if you had to go to the hassle of them coming through like that. If they could be bought in the shops I think there's a good chance she would have bought them tbh.
Cheers
N
I'm so asking for this as my birthday cake next year.
Do the larger family packs come in seperate serving or do they just come us one big cake? If its one big cake it's going to be just perfect :)
I still want to see a post on how you do your rviews step by step. Seeing how you do it from getting the food to posting the review would be mega interesting.
Betty Bakes will be pleased with this rating again wont she :-)
Who controls Heavenlys twitter feed Jim? It's going to be very odd if 'Betty' turns out to be a bloke lol.
I was close .... I looked at the photo and read the review without peeking at the score. I had it down for 8.5! Impressive once again Heavenly. I will have to stop just taking Jim's word for it and order some cakes for Christmas.
This sounds like an Eton Mess type thing. Lol don't tell me it's actually made with strawberries aswell, it's silly if it is because eton mess chocolate meringue sounds ten times better as a name. Obviously they wouldn't of called it that if the fruit is different.
Once again thats a lovely looking photograph you took there Jim. I'm not sure it's as good as the one on the HC site mind. Yours will obviously be the more realistic view of it I suppose. You can tell theres are more staged that your ones.
Do you review chocolate bars anymore or is it just cakes and biscuits :P
I could see just a smaller gift pack one of these making it's way into my bigger xmas order if I do decide to get some of the xmas crumble. I want to see that review first though cause it would be a shame to order a large quantity of something that sucks.
Are they still doing gluten freen versions of every single cake they make or is it just selected ones now? It's amazing if they make seperate recipes for each one.
A dollop of ice cream and a splash of cream and you have yourself the best dessert ever. It looks like something they would serve in a resturant.
When are the reviews of their Christmas cakes coming? I'm happy knowing that this one is good but it's the newer Christmas crumble and chocolate pudding one that I'm more interested in for the minute.
p.s. if your prioritising make sure you do the Christmas Crumble first ;) That one looks badass.
It was a great decision to use white chocolate instead of milk chocolate. I've always thought a sweeter, creamier choc goes best when you have berry fruits in the mix. i would imagine you get a strawberries and cream like effect with this one here. Mmmm I'm salivating at just the thought of it all.
Do heavenly cakes pay to get a review like this? They get such high scores all the time, they have to have one of the highest averages for a make appearing on Choc Mission.
Are they doing orders for Christmas yet? Do they do a choc version of this one? Any special christmas cakes on the way? So many questions sorry :-]
Give us a word of warning next time you plan on having cake like this on show. You are giving me all sorts of ideas lol.
I need to get in to this blogging business. Sampling cakes like this all the time sounds like plain fun.
They haven't done my chocolate mince pie idea! Boooooooo.
I'm so surprised they don't exist btw. You would have thought that some make or brand would have tried it for a laugh at least.
Soz for going on about it, lol I don't even like mince pies that much
Are you any less busy yet? Any chance of us going back to the old number of reviews any time soon?
This looks decent enough but the brownies they have on their website just looks uber amaze.
The food porn levels are off the chart this week.
You aren't doing half bad with your cakes recently are you J man. Good work heavenly cakes. It is great seeing you back on chocolate mission again. Why the absence all year in the first place is a question that I want to ask. Fill us in Jim.
They have some new fancy ass pictures on their site now. Did they get a pro in to do it? Was it your dad that did them jim lol.
Sorry but those cakes are just too dear for me. I like cakes, but I can't imagine them being so nice they are worth that money. Knowing me I would be just as happy with the tesco budget swiss roll. I'm not exactly a conniseur lol.
You lot are obvs a lot more passionate about your cake then I am.
Do they make cakes for weddings or birthdays? If they do I'm very interested!
Give us a break Jim. It's not easy seeing so many yummy cakes all the time. Lol review some dark chocolate I have no interest in please. It would make things an awful lot more simple to resist.
You have a way with words young man. I feel like I can almost taste these things when you review them.
Are their going to be any xmas hotel chocolat reviews this year Jim? Thats going to turn out to be a highly stupid question isn't it.
Lol you are teasing us all holding off with the Christmas cake reviews aren't you :) Lol I hope they come soon so I can get an order in if they are good enough. Get a wriggle on and get them up Jim :-P
Hi All
I have received word from Betty Bakes via Twitter that she will be responding to comments ASAP.
As this is the case I will let her do the honours ... thanks for all your kind words on the reviews and photos. The Old Man loves nothing more than hearing from his ever growing fan base!
Thanks
JIM
They make this one with blueberries right?
If they do that's brill. It not only means you get to eat tasty cake, but you can also claim it's healthy because blueberries are a super food. This cake must come recommended by all health experts therefore ;)
I've noticed another one you've not reviewed Jim. Chocolate meringue with almonds!! Is it new or have you just not bothered doing it? I've got pretty plain tastes so some of the others looks a tad rich for me. That one sounds more simple lol. You know what they say "simple things for difficult people" lol.
Well done Jim, yet another excellent review of these cakes of their's. Lol I feel like I'm fatter just reading about them sometimes. I can't imagine actually eating one.
p.s. @Nigel I refuse to watch England now we are fronted by that idiot John Terry. I'm not going to waste my time watching a team led by that moron. Even if they are my home nation, I think he's just a disgrace.
Jim when they send you cakes how do they get them to you? Do you pick them up from them or something? They always look in perfect condition when you photo them.
Nigel you mention something I have always thought. I think the logic of heavenly is a little backwards isn't it. They are supposed to be good because they make 'fresh/homemade cakes' yet they have to come through the post which surely defies the logic that they could be fresh :S Nothing that goes via royal mail is treated with any sort of respect. Unless they get courier driven ensuring freshness isn't something I imagine they can guarantee anything.
Good review m8 but come on it's the Christmas cakes we desperately want to hear about. They got to be up next yeh?
This isn't my sort of thing but I can see how it could be good for someone that it is. You know what I mean =)
@David lol that's such a good point about the 'merry berry' thing. Don't go giving them ideas now lol. I find that sort of thing pathetic to be honest. It's such an insult to our intelligence trying to convince us all that the product is something new.
Heavenly still haven't changed their packaging much have they Jim. That was something you previously criticised them about but you haven't in your recent reviews!? Is it because you think it's been made better or is it just because you are used to them being like that now!? Interested in hearing your views.
I'm not a fan of white chocolate i'm afraid. This one isn't one on their website that had chaught the eye to tell the truth.
What sort of chocolate do they use? Is it good quality stuff or is it cheapo to keep the costs down. For a small company like them you would have to expect it not being the highest chocolate ever.
The new pictures of things like the millionaire shortbread looks tons different to the one in your pictures now. Have they changed how all their cakes get made or sumtin? Can you ask them please.
Yuck! How gross does lavender shortbread sound :-) Why the hell did they think of making that. All the rest of their cakes sound uber nice but I just saw that on their website and started laughing. They can't of had anyone asking for it. Whatever made them think that would be a good idea. Have you tried it Jim?
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