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Blood Orange + Earl Grey Bundt Cake | The Polka Dotter

A Sweet Farewell and a New Beginning

September 30, 2024

Dear friends, After eight incredible years of sharing recipes, stories, and baking adventures, it’s time for a bittersweet farewell to this chapter. This blog has been a source of joy and ...

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Sour Cherry & Chocolate Heart Crust Buns

Sour Cherry & Chocolate Heart Crust Buns

April 6, 2023

It would appear to me that every year as Easter rolls in, the world is divided. Not by religion as one may assume, but by the humble hot cross bun. The hot cross bun lovers and the hot cross bun ...

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Roasted Plum Swirl Ice Cream | The Polka Dotter

Roasted Plum Swirl Ice Cream

March 21, 2023

This ice cream was created as a celebration of autumn. Vividly coloured with rich, swirled shades of plum, and spicy cinnamon and cardamom notes to match, this ice cream captures the essence of autumn ...

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Blackberry & Chocolate Cupcakes | The Polka Dotter

Blackberry & Chocolate Cupcakes

March 3, 2023

Rich chocolate mud cake pairs beautifully with the fresh burst of sweet blackberries and luscious blackberry cream cheese frosting in this decadent treat. These cupcakes would make the perfect ...

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Honey Lavender Ice Cream | The Polka Dotter

Honey Lavender Ice Cream

February 23, 2023

This deeply flavoured honey ice cream is infused with the sweet floral fragrance of lavender, in a dreamy combination inspired by the most charming and picturesque visit to a local lavender ...

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Rosewater Panna Cotta + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter

Rosewater Panna Cotta + Fresh Figs

February 10, 2023

I adore rosewater and cardamom. I imagine if you’ve found yourself here, you feel the same way. Rosewater and cardamom infused together in milky drinks and desserts conjure up so many comforting ...

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Welcome!

Salma Sabdia | Food Photography

Hi, I’m Salma, and I love creating beautiful images and sweet treats. If you’re looking for a little baking inspiration, you’ve come to the right place.

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“It’s never too late to be what you might have “It’s never too late to be what you might have been”

I heard this sentiment recently, and though it dates all the way back to the 1800s, it seemed like a fitting way to bring in the new year.

Happy 2025 dear friends. I hope wherever the year finds you, it is with the courage to be exactly who you dream to be 🩷

#happynewyear2025 #foodphotographyandstyling #australianfoodphotographer
The beauty of blowing out the candles for another The beauty of blowing out the candles for another year. 

I had the pleasure of creating this Pink Passionfruit Curd Cake for @marimekkoaustralia a few months back to welcome in the 60th celebrations of Unikko.

A delightful easy sponge cake sandwiched together with passionfruit curd and drizzled in a lightly flavoured rose and raspberry icing.

Perfect for any birthday celebration 😊

Recipe on the @marimekkoaustralia website | Link in profile

#passionfruitcurd #raspberryicing #layercake #birthdaycandles #birthdaybaking #marimekko #marimekkoaustralia #unikko #foodphotographyandstyling #australianfoodphotographer
Macadamia Gingerbread & Raspberry Trifle, one of m Macadamia Gingerbread & Raspberry Trifle, one of my my festive favourites from last year.

I know trifle can be rather polarising but I wonder whether the canned fruit of yesteryear doesn’t do it any favours? Because who wouldn’t love that wonderful mouthfeel of cake meets jelly meets custard meets fruit?!

Anyway, if you need a recipe to change your mind - this is the one. Fresh raspberries suspended in raspberry jelly, mingled with lashings of vanilla ginger custard, tender portions of macadamia gingerbread cake and a delectable spiced orange syrup.

Yes, there are a few elements, because most good things take time, but they can all be prepared in advance making serving (and eating!) a breeze 😊

Recipe created and shot for @ausmacadamias | Recipe link in profile 

#macadamiadessert #australianmacadamias #ausmacadamias #raspberrytrifle #gingerbreadtrifle #festivebaking #holidaybaking #festivedessert #foodphotographyandstyling #australianfoodphotographer
Just a little sprinkle of sugar to sweeten your da Just a little sprinkle of sugar to sweeten your day 💕

An outtake from my current holiday campaign for @marimekkoaustralia & @marimekko 😊 I shot so many images of these pavlovas that they couldn’t all be included 😂 but this little video seemed so lovely I had to share! 

Raspberry & Roasted Almond Spiced Pavlovas on the @marimekkoaustralia website | Recipe link in profile

#raspberrydessert #raspberryalmond #spiced #minimeringues #minipavlova #holidaybaking #festivebaking #unikko #marimekko #marimekkoaustralia
A few more sweet details from last weekend’s Pin A few more sweet details from last weekend’s Pink Ribbon Afternoon Tea at @pappasvens.

I think the blood orange & earl grey teacake was the winner for me, but the raspberry coconut milk cupcakes filled with lemon curd were a close second!  And then again, the cute pink gingerbread hearts are always a fan favourite. Which would you pick? 💕

#pinkribbonbreakfast #pinkribbon #fundraiserevent #breastcancerawarenessmonth #nbcf #nbcfaus #pappasven #pinkcakes #pinkcookies
Event Announcement! 💕 Join us for an intimate Event Announcement! 💕

Join us for an intimate and heartwarming Pink Ribbon Afternoon Tea, hosted by Salma Sabdia (@thepolkadotter) in the cosy surrounds of Pappa Sven’s Apartment (@pappasvens).

We’re raising funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (@nbcfaus), a cause that’s particularly close to our hearts, and we would love for you to share this special event with us.

Immerse yourself in our much loved ‘Pappa Sven’s Apartment’ and savour a selection of delectable pink-themed cakes, cookies and more, all specially crafted for this occasion. 

Event details:
Saturday 14th October at 2pm
Pappa Sven Apartment in Cooks Hill, NSW, Australia

Click the link in profile for more details and to book your ticket through the @pappasvens website.

We can’t wait to see you there!

#thinkpink #pinkribbon #afternoonteatime #pinkcupcakes #nordiclifestyle #pappasven #fundraiserevent #nbcfaus #foodphotographyandstyling #newcastleevents
SAVE THE DATE! OCTOBER 14 💕 We have a VERY sp SAVE THE DATE!

OCTOBER 14 💕

We have a VERY special event coming soon to one of Newcastle’s favourite spaces.

If a little sweet indulgence in a stylish Nordic setting is your idea of a good time, mark the afternoon of Saturday October 14th in your calendars, because you’ll be sharing it with us 😊 and best of all, you’ll be supporting a very worthy cause 💕

Tickets go on sale this week, and with a very intimate gathering planned, they will be limited. Keep an eye out on our socials do you don’t miss out 😊

#strawberrycupcakes #coconutcupcakes #nordiclifestyle #pappasven #pinkribbon #afternoonteatime #fundraiserevent #nbcfaus #foodphotographyandstyling
Blood orange season has arrived, gently floating i Blood orange season has arrived, gently floating in with the soft spring breezes. It’s always one of my favourite times of the year.

Last year’s signature blood orange cake was this delicately striped Blood Orange + Earl Grey Bundt Cake, a crowd favourite that you can find on the blog.

(Along with the other twelve blood orange recipes. Yes, I just checked and would you believe there are no less than specifically THIRTEEN blood orange recipes. And I still think there’s room for number fourteen 😂). 

What’s your favourite flavour to pair with blood oranges? And are there any blood orange recipes you’d like to see this year?

#bloodorange #bloodorangecake #earlgreycake #bundtcake #teacake #springbaking #weekendbaking #foodphotographyandstyling #harrisfarm #redbellycitrus
And that’s a wrap! Had the absolute pleasure of And that’s a wrap!

Had the absolute pleasure of teaching a delightful group of women over the weekend how to bake this Earl Grey Lavender Cake from scratch, complete with delectable Honey Salted Caramel drizzles. Thank you @thehunterspantry for helping me to host this very special Layer Cake Masterclass, I certainly couldn’t have done it without Leonie’s infamous cooking school and the organisation behind the scenes from bubbly hardworking cooking school coordinator, Maya.

All our participants were treated to a gourmet gift box with a selection of products from favourite local and Australian suppliers @the.tea.collective @olssonssalt and @wellingtonapiary to name a few, which were used to infuse and create this masterpiece.

Edible flowers to decorate the cakes were a very special surprise at the end of the class, fresh from the garden of @ambleandtwine, one of the sweetest souls I’ve recently had the pleasure of meeting.

If you live in the Hunter region and would’ve loved to attend (but couldn’t because it sold out!!) or are interested in attending a future class, please register your interest by sending through a DM with your name and email address so you can be one of the first in the know for the next one! 😊

#earlgreycake #lavendercake #honeycake #saltedcaramelcake #drizzlecake #layercakes #cakeworkshop #cakeclass #newcastlensw #thehunterspantry
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Latest Blog Posts

Blood Orange + Earl Grey Bundt Cake | The Polka Dotter
Sour Cherry & Chocolate Heart Crust Buns
Roasted Plum Swirl Ice Cream | The Polka Dotter
Blackberry & Chocolate Cupcakes | The Polka Dotter
Honey Lavender Ice Cream | The Polka Dotter
Rosewater Panna Cotta + Fresh Figs | The Polka Dotter
Chocolate Macadamia Black Sesame Cake | The Polka Dotter
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