Did you know that today is not only a national cupcake day, but it's of the chocolate variety! Yes, that's right, today we get to celebrate our two favourite things, chocolate and cake, all in one go.
So with that being said, the best way to celebrate it is to make a batch of delicious Chocolate Cupcakes, right? The answer to that question is clearly Yes!
So if you're feeling inspired then try out this step by step tutorial showing you how...
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A traybake in the UK is a cake or sweet treat that is baked/made in a square or rectangular tin/pan and then cut into squares or slices.
Examples of traybakes are Blondies, Brownies, Tiffin, Millionaire's Shortbread and Lemon Squares etc.
If you'd like the chance to have a go at making your own, then here are a few recipes and guides below to help you.
Chocolate Tiffin Tutorial
Rich Chocolate Brownie Cake Squares
Millionaire's Shortbread
If you've ever had any trouble making Macarons, here is a quick list of hints and tips that may help you with your issues.
Macarons Tips
Read the recipe and weigh out all your ingredients as instructed.
Sift all your dry ingredients.
Ensure your mixing bowl is free from grease.
Whisk your egg whites using a hand whisk or stand mixer, you will not be able to incorporate the amount of air manually.
If the temperature is too warm, it will be hard to get the right consistency.
Temperature is...
I've been looking at updating some of my shape cutters recently and came across these rectangular ones from the Decora range. There are four different sizes in the pack, and they can be used for a multitude of projects such as biscuits, cookies, and cake decorating shapes, to name but a few.
Product Packaging
The cookie cutters arrived in a good quality plastic box, which keeps them intact.
Product Care
The instructions on the packaging state that the cutters should be washed before...
Focaccia is an oven-baked Italian bread that you can make into a sweet or savoury dish depending on what you put in it. So if it's something you're looking at baking, then here are some hints and tips to make sure you get the very best out of your bake.
Hints and Tips when making Focaccia
Focaccia is quite a wet dough and needs a lot of water to ensure it doesn't end up with a cake-like consistency.
You may wish to make it in a stand mixer.
It should be proved twice.
The first prove will...
For all you Squid Game Fans out there, here are some cupcake toppers for you to have a go at. I must confess I've never seen it, but my daughter raves about it and seeing as it's one of the most talked-about shows on Netflix, it was definitely worth putting these together.
My daughter came up with the designs, and I then made them on my dummy cupcakes. If you'd like to know how I made them, please find a mini-tutorial below showing you what tools and colours I used on the Squid Game...
Yes, that's right, the UK's leading Cake Baking and Decorating show, Cake International, is returning this year and will be held at the NEC in Birmingham between 5 -7 November.
Packed with awe-inspiring treats and all things cake, it promises to include the latest trends, demos, competitions and workshops, and with Cake Artists such as Enrique Rojas, Emily Hankins and Dawn Butler, to name but a few, it's definitely worth noting in your diary.
If you cannot attend the show, they are...
If you're stuck for some Halloween Treats and don't want to spend ages making toppers, then why not give these a go? These Easy Ghost Cupcake Toppers won't take long to make, and you'll only need a few bits of equipment from your kitchen. If you do have more time, they are definitely one worth making with the kids. There's nothing sharp involved, so you'll have lots of fun making them or letting the kids utilise their skills and leaving them to their own devices.
How do I make Easy Ghost...
I recently made a Harry Potter Slytherin Cake for my daughter's birthday and thought it would be a great idea to put together a tutorial on how to make the Sorting Hat. It's relatively easy to do and looks quite effective too. So if you'd like to make your own, here's a step by step tutorial showing you how I did it.
How to make a Harry Potter Sorting Hat
Equipment
Chocolate or Brown Icing (I used both)
Rolling Pin
Silicone Mat
Dresden Tool
Paintbrushes
Black Lustre dust
Tin/Cling Film...
A cake belt, cake strip, baking belt or magic strip, as it's also known, is a damp strip placed around the exterior of your tin before being placed in the oven.
What do Cake Strips, Cake Belts, Baking Belts or Magic Strips do?
They are used to help cakes rise evenly.
How do they help with the baking process?
They are used to reflect the heat, which prevents the outer edge of the cake from baking faster (thus preventing crusty edges) and help give a more even bake preventing peaks. In...
If you're looking at making Brandy Snaps or Brandy Snap Baskets, here are some tips to help you out.
Brandy Snap Basket Tip
If making a brandy snap basket, place a layer of chocolate on the base between the basket and the filling; this acts as a barrier and will prevent the filling from melting the sugar in the snap and stop it from going soggy or disintegrating.
Brandy Snap Tips
You want the brandy snap to look like it has a lacy pattern going through it.
It has to have holes in it...
Calling all bakers! Here's another cake fest being held, only this time it's in the Philippines!
Cake Fiesta Manila is the first international cake show in Asia, and there's a whole host of things going on! In addition, they are running competitions, giveaways, workshops and have Cake Artists from around the world. So for a rundown of their upcoming events, be sure to check out their Facebook Page: Cake Fiesta Manila, for all the latest news!
As you can see from the banner, there are...
A cake ring is a tin that is made without a base.
What is a cake ring used for?
The cake ring is a multi-functional tin that allows you to shape, refrigerate, or bake perfectly circular desserts. They are particularly great for holding soft ingredients and can be used when making desserts, tarts, mousse cakes and ice cream cakes.
This black acrylic number topper was just the ticket for my recent Harry Potter Slytherin inspired cake that I made for my daughter's birthday.
I don't tend to put black decorations on my cake and usually opt for more vibrant colours; however, as the colours of the Slytherin cake were grey, green, black and brown, this topper was exactly what I needed.
Product Packaging
The black acrylic 16 topper came stuck to a large piece of sturdy cardboard with a label attached stating the...
Ingenious Edibles Safety Seal is a food-safe barrier that creates a protective layer between your cakes, bakes and decorations.
What is the safety seal used for?
Fresh Flowers that need to be inserted or placed on top of your cake.
Wires, picks and sugar flowers.
It's great for the internal wired structure of cake models and toppers.
It can also be used as a protective layer between different types of boards and structures.
How do I use the safety seal on my cake decorations?
To use...
Muslin cloth is an ideal piece of fabric/cloth that can be used for many purposes around the home; however, when it comes to food, it can be used for straining, steaming and preserving foods.
What is muslin cloth used for in food?
The muslin cloth can be used to remove the whey from cheese, draining buttermilk when making homemade butter, and straining fruit and pips from jam.
It is food grade safe and can be washed after use.
If you are inspired to make this old school staple, then be sure to read the below advice and tips to ensure you get the best possible bake!
Advice & Tips when making a Malt Loaf
Ensure that you mix the ingredients properly and there are no flour pockets; if you don't, you will have white flour pockets throughout the bake.
Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this creates gluten, causing the loaf to be chewy and tough.
If you underbake the loaf, it will sink in the middle.
If you...