hints

If you've ever thought about freezing pastry dough, here are a few tips you might like to keep in mind. Pastry Dough You can freeze both raw dough and blind-baked pastry dough. Raw pastry dough (wrapped in a disc shape when frozen) can be thawed in the fridge and then baked. This will be a...

If you are looking at making some Garibaldi Biscuits, then be sure to check out these hints and tips before you bake. To ensure the best out of your Garibaldi Biscuits, try some of the following:- Roll the dough thin. Chop fruit into small chunks, soak in juice and then heat and soften on...

If you have any cookies leftover and don't want them to go to waste, here are a couple of hints and tips on what you can do with them. Tips Blitz them in a food processor and use them in a deconstructed cheesecake. Chop them up and use them as a chunky ice cream topping. Add a little texture...

I've put together some hints and tips on making paint with Gold Lustre, and some do's, don'ts and possible outcomes when making edible paint. What alcoholic products can I use to make edible paint? You can make edible paint using Vodka, Rejuvenator Spirit or Vanilla/Lemon Extract, as they...

We all know that ginger is a funny shape, and when cut with a knife loses half its actual size. Therefore to stop and prevent this from happening simply peel your ginger with a teaspoon. Yes, I did say a teaspoon! The curve of the spoon sits nicely on the outer edge of the root and peels...

This double ended ball tool has multiple uses, the large ball tool can be used for flower petals, thinning out icing, making ruffles and frilling edges etc. Whereas the small end can be used to add indentations, eye sockets and details to shapes and models. These are a must-have for your cake...

In the event, you have ground in mixture in your tin simply soak the tin in warm soapy water and then run a cocktail stick around the rim or edges to remove the excess ground in cake mixture. Once removed, re-wash and then rinse. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating...

If you are storing cookies in a sealed container, remember to add a sliced piece of apple or an apple wedge in with the cookies in order for them to remain moist. Hints, Tips and Tools Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Recipes and Guides Tutorials

If you have forgotten to pull your butter out of the fridge and wish to soften it quickly for baking simply place the butter on a plate and then cover it with a warmed glass or bowl. This will surround the butter with warm air and will make it soften quicker due to the heat radiating from the...

If you lightly brush your swiss roll sponge with stock syrup before you roll it, it will moisten the cake and prevent cracks from forming when rolling up. https://www.helpmebake.com/threads/stock-syrup-recipe-and-guide.403/ Picture courtesy of our lovely member Kari and his Swiss Roll Recipe...

This Bismark nozzle and the #230 nozzle are ideal nozzles for helping you fill cupcakes, eclairs and doughnuts with a scrumptious filling. Just insert the nozzle straight into your dessert, squeeze and drag the nozzle out slowly whilst piping the filling in at the same time. These are...

If you do not have a cupcake tray or cupcake box to transport your newly decorated cupcakes in then here is an alternative for you. 1. Get a Muffin tray and some Aluminium Foil which is bigger than your tray. (US - Aluminum Foil) 2. Then start to make a mould of the tray by pressing the...

If you are making cylinders or towers for a cake you can either use a swiss roll and cover it in icing fondant or you can place cake mix/batter in a greased and lined clean aluminium baked beans or spaghetti tin (removing the label of course) and simply bake the cake in the oven. Once baked...

To make a heart-shaped cake, make a circle and square cake the same size then cut the circle cake in two and place the half sections on top. You can either then cover in buttercream or fondant.

How to free up one of your hands from holding the cupcake in place whilst piping. Simply put your cupcake in a small rimmed glass as in a tall thin one, and now you can pipe using two hands freely.

In order to ensure you have enough icing rolled out, you can use a handy trick. Get a piece of ribbon and place it on the end of you cake board (before using buttercream or jam etc.) then place the ribbon across the edge then up the side of the cake over the cake, down the other side of the...

A cheap way of creating hair for cupcakes or models is to use a garlic press. Simply place fondant/icing through the press and watch the hair appear. Cut with scissors and attach to your model or cupcakes using edible glue or water. Basic Baking and Cake Decorating Cake Decorating and Model...

If your buttercream is too dry or stiff, add a teaspoon(s) of milk/boiled water to the mix and whisk in. Do this until you reach the required consistency. If your buttercream is too cold, this can also cause problems therefore use additional whisking to soften your batch or leave at room...

There are different types of Tylo powder (depending on the make you buy): - Granular Tylo powder is widely used to make edible glue; this is because its granules do not absorb well into icing or fondant. Superfine Tylo powder, although superfine tylo powder is made of the same ingredients as...

When you have potted your homemade jam/lemon curd, you can use a wax circle to seal and preserve it. The wax circle should be placed directly on top of the jam whilst still hot to form a seal. You can then place the lid on, and this will create a vacuum. Tip: In the event you do not have wax...