Every year, the British cancer charity Macmillan invites to a Coffee Morning to raise funds for cancer care, which takes place on Friday the 25th of September this year. The idea is simple: sign up, get a pack, invite your friends, bake cake, serve them coffee and get them to donate money.

Here in Britain, Macmillan has become synonymous with cancer care: dedicated Macmillan nurses support patients and their families emotionally as well as financially. Faced with the diagnosis cancer, many patients benefit from the dedication and experience of Macmillan nurses, who help them along the rocky path of treatment and hopefully recovery.

Macmillan Coffee Mornings have been running since 1991 and have been a great fundraising success, raising over £71 million over the years. Many people use the opportunity to invite friends for a coffee, but there are also public Coffee Mornings run by schools or in church halls. Having lost close family members and friends to the disease, I wanted to host my own morning this year, virtually inviting my friends at Fiesta Friday, as we lost one of our most well-loved members, the inimitable Selma. I am sure the idea of confronting cancer with cakes would have appealed to her wonderful sense of humour.

To get you involved in my Coffee Morning, I would like YOU to decide which cake I should bake on the day. Obviously you won’t be able to come and eat it in person, but you can still pay for the privilege of making the decision!

To take part, vote for one of the following 5 cakes by either donating £5 to the Macmillan Trust (see below), or by donating a similar amount to a cancer charity of your choice. Then post a comment with your favourite cake. I’ll be counting up the votes on Sunday September 20 and will keep you posted – the results as well as the pictures of the day!

Here are my suggestions for cakes that I could bake for the occasion:

1 Schichttorte

My most popular cake on the blog – thanks to the Great British Bake Off 2014, which introduced this speciality to the nation. Thin layers of batter are grilled individually to achieve the characteristic look. Not hard to pull off, but a little time-consuming. Best prepared a few days beforehand as the rest improves the texture, they are a real show stopper!

2 Topfenstrudel

Another popular post, and for a reason! Not that easy to make (see disaster pictures of the process) but I’d try my best. If you liked the look of my filo pastry recently, you’ll love this cake!

3 Torta Rogel

One of my readers sent me her mum’s version of this glorious Argentinian speciality, which I am yet to make. Also, it would be the perfect opportunity to show off my freshly-made dulce de leche…

4 Postre Chajá

Another South-American speciality, and my personal favourite! Layers of sponge, meringue, apricots, dulce de leche and cream – what more do I need to say?

5 Ensaïmada

This one’s the bonus choice, really, because I’ve never managed to pull it off. Instead, I got my son to bring me one back from his visit to his grandparents, who live in Mallorca, the home of this delicious yeast cake.

Made with lard (I know – that in itself ii a sin, I know!), ensaïmadas have been taunting me for ages, but after one unsuccessful attempt I had given up all hope. Then this package arrived yesterday, and with it the desire to make my own.

Just look at the wonderfully airy texture! Who would have thought it was made with lard …

Have I managed to get you excited? Fancy taking part? Then either set up your own event, or take part in this virtual Macmillan Coffee Morning by voting for your favourite cake.

If you would like to take part you can give a donation to Macmillan by texting CUPCAKE to 70550 (one text=£5), go to macmillan.org.uk/coffee or phone 0845 074 2606. Alternatively, donate to a cancer charity of your choice. 

See you on the 25th!