Hints, Tips and Tools (5 Viewers)

A hard bristle brush can be picked up from any store relatively cheaply, once washed and dried properly it can be used to make texture on your icing fondant. For example: 1. Indent green icing fondant to make grass strokes. 2. Dig into a light brown icing fondant to create sand grains. 3. Or press into any colour of your choosing to add a small pattern. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

Yep, we've all done it, yes you know that fight with the cling film when you can't find the edge of it, or it's ravelled itself around the tube, and you spend ages picking at it or in the end, you get a sheet of it, and you have to waft it about, so it doesn't wrinkle! Well, my lovelies, have no fear, as there is now a straightforward yet effective way of storing your cling film, and all you'll need is your freezer! You see, by storing the film in the freezer, the coldness alters the molecular structure of the wrap by removing the static and 'stickiness', therefore, making it much easier to unravel and cover your dishes. Now don't worry, this is only temporary, and once the film/wrap has acclimatised, it will then revert to its...

Baking times define whether a brownie is gooey or not so if you want to add some extra scrumptiousness then try adding some Greek Yoghurt or Sour Cream to your recipe for an extra soft, moist bake. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

If you don't have a cake template for the shape you need, then here's a tip on how to make your own. All you need to do is draw or trace the shape onto a clean piece of cardboard and then cut it out with a pair of scissors. Once you have the correct sized shape, place the template on your cake and cut around it carefully with a knife. If you don't have pieces of card, you could always use baking paper or drawing paper as an alternative. You can make triangles, waves, hearts, animal shapes etc. The designs are endless. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

Most people will have a roll of kitchen towel in their kitchen, so you'll be pleased to know that not only will it wipe up your messes it can also come in handy for a quick decorating idea too. If you have a buttercream cake and would like a quick pattern design etched into it, then lightly press the kitchen roll into the cake when set. The design from the kitchen towel will transfer onto the buttercream, giving you an instant pattern. If you wish you can leave it like that or enhance the cake by piping over it. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

If you are using nuts in your recipe, then cast your eyes over these quick tips. Chopped Nuts - The best way to chop nuts and give them a good texture is to cut them by hand with a large knife. Flavour - Slowly pulsing them intermittently in the food processor releases the flavour. Nut Paste - By placing your nuts on high speed in a food processor, it releases the oils and creates a nut paste. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

If you have ever had a problem with meringue, whether it be cracking, dense, or weeping. Here are a few tips that will help you perfect your pavlova and make a magnificent meringue. Chewy Meringue If you would like your meringue to be a little chewy, then try folding in a teaspoon of cornflour and a dash of white vinegar into your mixture before baking. Egg Whites Use egg whites at room temperature and mix them using a hand whisk or kitchen aid until the whites are thick and glossy. Sugars Always use caster sugar when making meringue or a mixture of caster and icing sugar as granulated sugar doesn't work well at low temperatures and may causing weeping. Light/Dense For a very light meringue, add the sugars after you have...

To add colourful texture to your buttercream, just add coloured sprinkles to your mixture, which will give little pops of colour to your cupcakes or cake filling. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials Choc Chip Tip

If you want to keep the moisture in cinnamon rolls, then try the following. Immediately after you have removed the rolls from the oven and transferred them to the counter, place a tea towel directly over the top of the tray or pan containing the rolls. The heat trapped will turn to steam, causing additional moisture to be re-absorbed into the rolls, thus making them fresher for longer. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

I have put together a quick overview of some of the easiest and most straightforward tips that are worth checking out before your next bake. Here are five top tips to help you achieve Cake Baking Success! Oven – I say this time and time again, and I’ll say it again always, always, always (do you get my point 😊 ) pre-heat the oven and bring it to the optimum temperature before putting your cake batter anywhere near it. Once the cake is in the oven, step away and do not be tempted to open it until your cake is well underway. Recipe – For special occasions, always use a tried and tested recipe that you know works or do a pre-run of a new recipe before the big event. There is nothing worse than putting your heart and soul into baking...

Here are a few tin tips to help with your baking. Using the correct-sized tin in both width and depth is paramount when baking as this will affect your baking times; therefore, please ensure you read the recipe and use the required size. Remember: Deep Tins - Due to the depth of the cake batter, these should be baked on a lower temperature for a longer period. Shallower Tins - As these are shallower and generally thinner, they bake much quicker, therefore, bake on a higher heat for a shorter time. Cheap Tins - These are not as robust as quality pans and tend to warp in the oven, causing baking issues. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

Don't let the sandwich tins touch in the oven; if they do, the cake batter will rise towards each other, giving you angled peaked cake layers when baked. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials