I take a different approach to butter and sometimes use a cheaper brand than I would eat, but I do always use butter because it tastes better and you know what's in it. What if you don't have large eggs? The main thing though is not to use drinking chocolate because it is largely sugar and milk powder. Butter Magimix Food Processor– Of course, any processor will do, but I can recommend the Magimix, having had the same one for 25 years. It’s needed a couple of new bowls and lids in that time, but the motor is still going strong.

For coffee buttercream icing, add 2 teaspoons of instant coffee dissolved in as little hot water as it takes. Preparation is only one half of the baking equation. Once you’ve created the perfect mix for a light, fluffy sponge or a moist fruit cake, it’s down to the baking to bring out the best results. We’re here to help at every stage of the process, not only with baking utensils and ingredients, but with cake bake trays and tins in different shapes and sizes - all made to the same unbeatable standard of quality we’re known for. The cake calculator is designed for the home kitchen, and all you need to bake the cakes is a cake tin, a simple electric mixer or mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, a spatula and a handful of ingredients. The traybake and layer cake make up to 40 servings, and the cupcakes and fairy cakes make up to 24 cakes. If you're baking for larger numbers, simply re-run the calculator for a second batch. Recipes for larger layer cakes mix and bake one layer at a time, so you can mix a manageable amount of batter and re-use a single large tin.This isn't a rich chocolate cake but it tastes very good. It's one of the best cakes I know, because what makes a good cake isn't how elaborate it is but, rather, the quality of the ingredients. I tend to make a lot of buttercream for this classic chocolate cake because we like it. You could get away with less, or you could spread a layer over the top as well and run a fork through to get a pattern. Secrets of Success All-in-one recipes need soft butter. Room temperature is fine unless you have a cold kitchen. Some brands of butter soften at a higher temperature than others, so it may need a little help. Why is my cake dry? This recipe is for an 18cm (7-inch) chocolate cake. To make it bigger or smaller use these quantities, which work for all cakes based on a Victoria Sandwich recipe, including Coffee Cake and Lemon Drizzle Cake. It's worth using good quality cocoa in chocolate cakes. It's tempting to buy a cheaper brand for cooking with but you're paying for the quantity of cocoa solids. The more you have, the better the cake will taste, making this easy chocolate cake into a really tasty chocolate cake.

This chocolate sponge cake recipe is a variation on a Victoria Sandwich cake, using the all-in-one method, so it's a nice easy cake to make. Essentially, you just substitute cocoa powder for some of the flour and make it in the usual way. Lakeland’s bakeware provide amazing heat distribution, so all your deep cake bakes will be cooked completely evenly. You’ll even see handy fill lines on the inside that indicate when to stop filling the tin with cake batter. That way, you’ll get the ultimate tin-filling rise every time you bake. And when it’s time to take that cake out of the oven and get decorating, the large handles and silicone sure-grip inserts make it easy to remove the tin without a hitch. Just don’t forget to put oven gloves on! Big cakes, small cakes, and everything in between So, if you’re looking for 6-inch cake tins, 8-inch cake tins, rectangle cake tins or some standard cake baking tins, we’ve got everything you could possibly want to perfect your bakes. What to look for in a cake tin

We’ve allowed 30g/1oz buttercream icing for each cupcake and 20g/¾oz for fairy cakes. This is enough to pipe a modest rose, but not a skyscraper swirl. If you like a lot of icing, you may want to double the recipe. Fondant icing When the cake is cold, wrap it well in double greaseproof paper and store in an airtight tin. I like to ‘feed’ it at odd intervals with brandy during the storage time.