As the cost of living keeps getting higher and higher families are being forced to cut back on luxury items. This means custom birthday cakes are no longer included in the budget. A solution to this problem is to learn how to make your own, which is easier said than done for someone who has never fired up an oven let alone turned on a stand mixer. But the good news is, you can learn, and, it really is easier than you think. Sure, your first attempt might not turn out the way you visualised, but remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Once you have learned the basics of baking, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start years ago. There’s nothing more satisfying than watching those who you love the most enjoy a quality home made masterpiece for a fraction of the price to purchase it.
A batch of beautifully decorated cookies or cupcakes make a great gift or centrepiece at any celebration, from weddings to children’s parties. My plan for this website is to share recipes for every occasion, some quick and easy, and some requiring a little more patience. You’ll find cakes for birthdays, simple muffins that go well with a cup of tea, and a few sweet ideas for lunchboxes as well.
Baking is a fantastic way to introduce children to the kitchen, and some of the recipes here will help teach the basic techniques. Children also love the decorating part, and there are lots of ideas here to choose from.
So what is the best part of baking your own cookies and cakes? Well, they give so much pleasure; you get a sense of satisfaction when you create a fresh batch of delicious bakes, accompanied by the wonderful aroma of baking that fills your home; and just watch the reaction when you share them with your friends and family.
Before you begin!
If you are a first time, or less experienced baker, remember that the secret to baking is in the planning and execution! What do I mean?
Read the recipe. Then read it again! It’s essential that you fully understand the task ahead. There’s nothing worse than getting to the part where you need to add an ingredient that needed some sort of prep in advance and you haven’t prepped it! This can make or break the final result. So read, read, read!
Pre-measure your ingredients and line them up in the order that they go into the mix. There’s a reason cooking shows do this. It’s not for show. It’s so you don’t forget to add ingredients!
Set out your equipment. Get your hand mixer, stand mixer, bowls, whisks, spoons, whatever you need for this recipe and set it out in easy reach.
Check your oven. Each recipe begins with an oven setting, and it’s important to preheat your oven to the correct temperature before placing your mixture in to bake. As well as preheating the oven, it’s important to arrange the shelves in the correct position inside the oven before you start. The best position for cakes and cookies is just above the centre of the oven and the best results are achieved by baking only one tray at a time. If you bake two trays at once, you may find that the lower tray will come out differently.
Many of us have fan-forced ovens. These circulate hot air around the oven and heat up very quickly. For fan ovens, you will need to reduce the temperature stated in the recipe by 10 percent, which is usually 20ºC. For example, if the stated temperature in a recipe is 180ºC, reduce it to 160ºC for a fan-forced oven. However, ovens do vary, so do follow your manufacturer’s instructions and get to know how your oven heats. If your oven is too hot, the outsides will burn before the inside has had time to cook. If it’s too cool, your cakes may sink or not rise easily. Try not to open the oven door until at least halfway through the baking time, as a sudden drop in temperature will stop cakes from rising.
If you’re unsure about your oven temperatures, you can buy an internal thermometer, these are inexpensive and easy to use.
Weighing and measuring. I live in Australia, and all of my recipes are measured in metric.
All spoon measurements should be used level (as opposed to ‘heaped’) for accuracy, and always use a recognised set of metric measuring spoons for best results. Do not use domestic teaspoons and tablespoons as measures, as these may be deeper or shallower than a proper measuring spoon.
Never estimate weights, a set of digital scales are a vital piece of equipment that will ensure accurate results. As well as this, after you have mastered the art of baking you can measure ingredients straight into your mixing bowl to save dirty dishes and utensils. A measuring jug is also essential for liquids and needs to be marked with small measures for small amounts.
