Liz Hinds 
Your grandmother probably made the art of cake baking look like a cinch but in reality, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. One of the things that I always like to keep in mind when baking is that there’s always a lesson to be learned. So, …
A lot of chefs are now turning to silicone bakeware instead of some of the more traditional materials. While there are a lot of good reasons for this including affordability and being dishwasher safe, there are some notable downsides. Most obviously is that your cake might stick to the silicone …
Crumpets, pikelets, Scotch pancakes and English muffins: all traditional British tea-time treats but what’s the difference? That’s a good question! They’re all cooked on a griddle or bakestone (a heavy-based frying-pan can be used as an alternative) but crumpets and muffins are both yeast-based. To make crumpets, you need egg …
Mention scones and most people will think of jam and cream, but the basic dough is very versatile and can be used for a variety of savoury treats as well. Simple Scones 225g (8oz) self-raising flour Pinch of salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 50g (2oz) margarine 150ml (5fl oz) milk …
A friend phones and asks if she can pop in to see you; she says she’ll be with you in half an hour. Your cookie jar is empty, you don’t have time to nip to the shop but you know she’ll be expecting something with her coffee. The quick and …
When it comes to baking it seems the Irish have less of a sweet tooth than the rest of us. Researching their cookery it was hard to find many traditional cakes listed; however we did manage to come up with three. Barm Brack is a traditional Fruited Bread-cake, while Whiskey …
Grasmere is famous for its gingerbread; in Kendal it’s mint cake that the visitors queue to buy; in Bath it’s the buns and the Sally Lunns. Nearly every county in England has its own baked speciality although, in these health-conscious days, whether many people ask for farmhouse dripping cake when …
Scotland has developed a culinary repertoire of exceptional quality of cakes and biscuits, when it comes to cake baking it seems the Scottish have have a lot to share. Dundee Cake You’ll probably never hear the Dalai Lama say ‘Oh, I could murder a piece of cheesecake.’ After all, as …
When the Cake Baker team received a request for a Scottish Dumpling recipe we sprang into action! Cloutie Dumpling Traditionally served at New Year it has became popular throughout the winter or colder months of the year. Sometimes spelt “cloutie” it is named after the cloth or “clout” that it …
Picture the scene. The table is laid with a crisp white linen cloth; the china is daintily-patterned; and the cutlery is sparkling. Taking pride of place is a perfect sponge, beautifully risen, and oozing strawberry jam and cream. Sounds like someone else’s house, doesn’t it? Well, while you may not …