Few people can resist a well-baked cake. A dessert integral to weddings and celebrations, a cake has to look inviting before being consumed. Now imagine this scenario where you get that much-desired promotion at work.

Your well-meaning colleagues drop in announced at your home and insist on an impromptu party. Thankfully you still have that cake mix you bought at the supermarket the week before.

While the cake is being baked in the oven, you are wondering how to clothe it edibly, invitingly. In that case, it is time to prepare the ganache. Place a pound of chocolate – semi-sweet – over a bowl.

In a separate pan mix a cup of cream, a cup of sugar (1/4) and unsalted butter and boil the mixture. Now pour out this mixture onto the pound of chocolate in the bowl, while stirring the mixture with gentle strokes. Cover the cake with thin icing and let it freeze for about 15 minutes.

Next, make sure to place over a cookie sheet a cooling rack. Once the icing on the cake is well set, you may place your cake over the cooling rack.

Now start pouring the ganache over the cake, making sure that the top and sides are covered. Use a spatula to smoothen out the surfaces. Go gentle with the smoothening process as the hot ganache is likely to melt the icing. 

Excess ganache can be removed by tapping the rack. Refrigerate the excess for later use. Allow your cake to chill now until it solidifies.

You can add other variations to your delightful labor of love. On the side, for instance, you can have a flan and arrange fresh fruits over it.

You can brush the fruits with an apricot glaze. The glaze can be prepared by boiling water and jam over a saucepan.

Putting icing on the cake is like placing a veil over a blushing bride. You can ice your cake with the help of a pastry bag and a tip. You can go wild with your imagination in terms of design but it’s usually safer to stick to flowers and florets.

It is usually advisable to practice your designs over pieces of waxed paper before going on to the real thing. If you have edible flowers distribute them symmetrically all over the cake.

A cherry at the center would complete the picture. If you don’t have a cherry, a lively red berry would do just as fine.

Now, with everything done, all you need to do is transfer your cake onto a presentable serving platter. Voila! Your cake is ready for your guests to eat. Just watch them drool.