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<h2>A Little Background on Vanilla</h2>
 
For hundreds of years vanilla was a secret flavour known only to the Totonac Indians of Mexico. Vanilla pods grew on orchid vines and were pollinated by a native melipona bee, which was the only insect able to navigate the small trumpet shaped orchid flower.&nbsp; 
 
In 1520 vanilla began to travel across the world, when a Spanish conquistador carried &nbsp;vanilla pods from Mexico to Spain.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vanilla then boomed in popularity and some years later, a way to hand pollinate the orchid was developed to meet the demand; a method still used to this day.
<h2> 
 
&nbsp;About Nielsen-Massey 
</h2>
<figure data-asset-id="b79e3764-f9cb-4851-a691-970f74add701" data-image-id="b79e3764-f9cb-4851-a691-970f74add701"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/3c81e04c-102b-43a6-bb4e-ed108bd6174f/Nielsen-Massey-History.jpg" data-asset-id="b79e3764-f9cb-4851-a691-970f74add701" data-image-id="b79e3764-f9cb-4851-a691-970f74add701" alt="image of the original Nielsen-Massey team"></figure>
&nbsp;Founded in 1907, “Massey’s” by Otis Kline and Richard Massey set out in producing aromas for cleaning products. About 10 years later Chatfield Nielsen joined and under shared leadership the company became focused on offering a variety of food flavours including vanilla. During the 1960’s more family members joined and the company name was changed to Nielsen-Massey to reflect the strong partnership. Today, the company is owned by third generation siblings Matt, Beth and Craig Nielsen who continue their family’s legacy and commitment to sourcing and crafting only the finest quality vanillas and flavours. Nielsen Massey’s little brown bottle of vanilla remains a store cupboard staple for passionate home bakers and professional chefs alike.
<h2> 
Why choose Nielsen-Massey? 
</h2>
<figure data-asset-id="512ea45e-d7ec-4374-bf7d-d77e464eb932" data-image-id="512ea45e-d7ec-4374-bf7d-d77e464eb932"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/35ac8285-ed97-4b32-8efd-845806f7ee07/VANILLA%20fresh.jpg" data-asset-id="512ea45e-d7ec-4374-bf7d-d77e464eb932" data-image-id="512ea45e-d7ec-4374-bf7d-d77e464eb932" alt="fresh vanilla pods"></figure>
Nielsen-Massey have been experts in vanilla for over one hundred years. From bean to bottle, they take care every step of the way to ensure you get the best quality vanilla for your baking. 
 
The best way to explain is to firstly understand the sheer process of harvesting and producing the vanilla. You’ll be amazed how tricky it is: 
 
Vanilla orchids can take up to 4 years for the first flowers to appear. Each flower only opens for one day a year, and must be pollinated by hand that same day! Vanilla Beans (or pods) then take up to 9 months to mature. Once grown and picked, the vanilla beans dry in the open air as part of the curing process, which takes 3-6 months to truly intensify their flavour. Nielsen-Massey vanilla beans are checked by hand, bundle by bundle, to ensure they are of the highest quality. 
 
Nielsen-Massey, believe heat damages the delicate essential oils of the vanilla beans, so they use a cold-extraction method to produce their extracts - gently drawing out and preserving over 300 distinct flavour compounds. It takes time, but they know it’s worth the dedication to provide that creamy, sweet, full vanilla taste for which Nielsen-Massey is famous. Once the vanilla extract is ready, it’s stored in a little glass brown bottle that ensures the vanilla extract stays safe from bean to bottle to bake. 
 
Lots of professionals, like our friends master patissier, Eric Lanlard and cake queen, Juliet Sear, as well as home bakers, love Nielsen-Massey. To them, it’s the only vanilla of choice. If you want to use the best ingredients and get the best results in your baking, you can be assured that Nielsen-Massey provide you with the best for your baking.
<h2> 
 
Vanilla types &amp; Best Recipe Uses</h2>
 
&nbsp;PODs-&nbsp;Vanilla bean pods are harvested from the vanilla vine then slowly sun cured, graded for size and plumpness and then sorted. Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Pods are gourmet quality. 
 
Scraped out pods are ideal to infuse in milk or cream creating a subtle vanilla flavour, or you can use them to infuse a jar of sugar to create vanilla scented sugar. &nbsp; 
 
You can use vanilla bean paste or extract in place of pods in many recipes if you find it hard to track them down in your local shop. 
 
&nbsp;Extract-&nbsp;Vanilla extract is made by infusing vanilla beans in a mixture of water and alcohol. 
 
Extract is ideal for regular cakes, biscuits and <a data-item-id="9496ad83-ef0c-5001-9de4-e5298bd66fa8" href="">pancakes</a> as the small amount of liquid won’t change the consistency of the end result. 1Tbsp vanilla extract is equivalent to 1 vanilla pod. 
 
Paste- Vanilla bean paste is made from vanilla extract with the addition of real seed flecks from the vanilla pod. 
 
It can be used in place of extract or pods. (In my opinion, both paste and extract are easier to work with than pods). For a thicker consistency in your recipes, use bean paste. It has a syrupy texture, so it’s perfect for adding flavour without thinning out your mixture. &nbsp;Also, the flecks of the vanilla seeds produce a gourmet visual delight. 1 tbsp./15ml vanilla bean paste is the equivalent of 1 vanilla bean pod. 
 
Vanilla Bean Paste is perfect for use in cheesecakes, custard, <a data-item-id="02f6382a-d0f5-58f7-8c17-0acd82570e30" href="">buttercream</a>, ice cream or crème brûlée.
<h2> 
 
&nbsp;Essence vs Extract. What’s the Difference?</h2>
 
 
There is a big difference between vanilla essence and vanilla extract. Vanilla essence is a synthetic (chemically produced) vanilla flavouring that is cheaper than natural extract. In my opinion, if you’re going to bake, purchase the real stuff as essence tends to have a weaker, often a poor aftertaste. Splurge on the real stuff, it’s truly worth it. 
 
If you love vanilla as much as we do, check out our <a data-item-id="e5f16989-071d-5168-bfbe-46630fe7c4c9" href="">‘Alternative uses for vanilla extract</a>’ article. 
 
Matt Nielsen flew over to Eric Lanlard's house recently and talked about all things vanilla. Take a look at what they said.

Where Vanilla Comes From and Which Vanilla Type to Use

Number cakes look stunning, but it can be frustrating to buy a tin and not know what recipe to follow to bake your cake. This simple tip provides the solution we have all been looking for, no matter which number tin you have bought.

How much cake mixture you need for a number cake

The glorious wedding cake - the piece de resistance of any wedding party. Not only is it a delicious way to celebrate, these days it is also a personal representation of the happy couple. Gone are the days of the smiley bride and groom on top of the cake, these days there are a whole host of wonderful cake toppers to choose from to add your special touch.&nbsp; 
 
Our opinion is if you have put all that time and effort into selecting or even baking your own special wedding cake, why would you not find a beautiful cake topper to complete the look? I wanted to share with you some of my personal favourite cake toppers that are available to purchase for your big day.&nbsp;
<h2> 
Mr and Mrs Penguin – Suzy Q Designs 
</h2>
<figure data-asset-id="b7f2b78e-87cd-4f76-b04b-73a1d29e2958" data-image-id="b7f2b78e-87cd-4f76-b04b-73a1d29e2958"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/f668c1de-0b1b-47f7-a700-bf7cfc624f09/Mr-Mrs-Penguin-cake-topper.jpg" data-asset-id="b7f2b78e-87cd-4f76-b04b-73a1d29e2958" data-image-id="b7f2b78e-87cd-4f76-b04b-73a1d29e2958" alt="Penguin cake topper"></figure>
We just love this penguin design! When it comes to love, Penguins just know how to do it right. 
 
Did you know that Penguins only have one mate for life? When a male penguin is wooing his mate, he will search high and low for the smoothest pebble to present as a gift of his love. If the female penguin is pleased with the pebble she will then place it in her nest as a symbol of her affection and acceptance of his proposal. 
 
So, what better way to decorate your wedding cake than with the most romantic animal of all? This topper comes in 3 sizes standard, medium or large and is available in 9 different colours to perfectly match your colour theme. 
 
Made of acrylic, this topper is sure to stand the test of time and will make a beautiful keepsake of your special day. 

<h2>And So The Adventure Begins – Ginger Ray</h2>
 
<figure data-asset-id="02d2ca94-ec0b-474a-a1f3-b422a63f02c8" data-image-id="02d2ca94-ec0b-474a-a1f3-b422a63f02c8"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/331fa151-8b73-489d-bacb-251b2170c286/And-So-The-Adventure-Begins-Cake-Topper.jpg" data-asset-id="02d2ca94-ec0b-474a-a1f3-b422a63f02c8" data-image-id="02d2ca94-ec0b-474a-a1f3-b422a63f02c8" alt="Cake Topper"></figure>
What a perfect way to describe the new chapter ahead of you as a married couple? It is sure going to be an adventure! 
 
This wooden crafted cake topper is just gorgeous and gives a bit of difference from the classic Mr &amp; Mrs toppers that you can buy. The wooden texture adds a lovely natural theme to your cake complimenting the current boho wedding themes around at the moment. I&nbsp;think that this would look great on top of a delicious naked cake. For recipe inspiration check out our <a data-item-id="65c33b4b-51a1-52f3-ac7d-419cf00358b1" href="">recipe</a>. 
 
This topper is available for £4.99 from <a href="https://www.gingerray.co.uk/and-so-the-adventure-begins-wooden-cake-topper-beautiful-botanics.html">Ginger Ray&nbsp;</a> 

<h2>Love – Ginger Ray</h2>
 

<figure data-asset-id="7ca89361-a943-4811-bfb3-74024aa5c96b" data-image-id="7ca89361-a943-4811-bfb3-74024aa5c96b"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/ca6c1f64-eb14-4794-b530-0b709af05a60/Love-Cake-Topper.jpg" data-asset-id="7ca89361-a943-4811-bfb3-74024aa5c96b" data-image-id="7ca89361-a943-4811-bfb3-74024aa5c96b" alt="Cake Topper with 'love' written on it"></figure>
All you need is love?… All you need is this love cake topper, we say! If you are looking for a rustic theme for your big day, this cake topper is the one for you.&nbsp; 
 
Beautifully carved, the word love is surrounded by vines and would be ideal to grace the top of any wedding cake. We think this topper would look particularly glorious on top of our <a data-item-id="ddee3d8b-40e2-57b0-8e4d-553d8f91cd7b" href="">three tier fruit wedding cake</a> -&nbsp;what do you think?&nbsp; 
 
What’s great about this topper is you could not only use on a wedding day, but also to celebrate an engagement or perhaps a romantic Valentine’s Day cake? 
 
Priced at £6.99 from <a href="https://www.gingerray.co.uk/wooden-love-cake-topper-rustic-country.html">Ginger Ray</a> 

<h2>Mr &amp; Mrs – Ginger Ray</h2>
 
<figure data-asset-id="ab14270f-c7eb-4e09-9140-85f29f38fcb2" data-image-id="ab14270f-c7eb-4e09-9140-85f29f38fcb2"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/bf111f20-d49a-4956-be37-588e841b43f9/Mr-and-Mrs-Cake-Topper.jpg" data-asset-id="ab14270f-c7eb-4e09-9140-85f29f38fcb2" data-image-id="ab14270f-c7eb-4e09-9140-85f29f38fcb2" alt="Mr and Mrs Cake Topper"></figure>
The big day should be all about the happy couple so why not the cake as well?&nbsp; 
 
This Mr &amp; Mrs wooden cake topper gives a natural, botanical feel to any cake and is sure to look fantastic in your wedding photographs. 
 
This topper is a great size too, not too big that it overshadows but ideal to complete the showstopper effect that you hope for on your wedding day.&nbsp; 
 
Priced at £6.99 from <a href="https://www.gingerray.co.uk/wooden-mr-mrs-script-cake-topper.html">Ginger Ray</a> 

<h2>Liberty Print Mr &amp; Mrs – Meri Meri</h2>
 
<figure data-asset-id="54787800-0eb2-41af-85b9-03f71dbef72d" data-image-id="54787800-0eb2-41af-85b9-03f71dbef72d"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/be62d974-17be-46be-b1f4-0d61d9f6c4e4/Meri-Meri-mr-mrs-cake-topper.jpg" data-asset-id="54787800-0eb2-41af-85b9-03f71dbef72d" data-image-id="54787800-0eb2-41af-85b9-03f71dbef72d" alt="Mr and Mrs cake topper"></figure>
Last but by no means least I have selected Meri Meri’s Liberty Print cake topper.&nbsp; 
 
This quintessentially British floral print gives a totally different look to your wedding cake than those above, if that is the style that you are hoping for.&nbsp; 

What we love about this topper is that each letter is on an individual wooden skewer, giving you the freedom to position it however you like. This works particularly well if you have chosen again a wedding cake and instead opted for a more modern twist of wedding brownies, cupcakes or maybe even doughnuts.&nbsp; 
 
This topper is priced at £7.00 and is available from <a href="https://theoriginalpartybagcompany.co.uk/product/liberty-mr-mrs-cake-topper/">various suppliers.</a>&nbsp; 
 
Check out our “<a data-item-id="615608b7-2721-5b7e-9f13-35c216a6d601" href="">5 things to know before baking your wedding cake</a>”&nbsp;article for more tips.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

5 Beautiful Wedding Cake Toppers & Where To Buy Them

Baking a wedding cake can be a really special experience but at the same time an extremely daunting task, but… &nbsp;it doesn’t have to be this way! With these 5 top tips we can take all the stress out of baking this momentous cake.
<h2>#1 Plan&nbsp;</h2>
<figure data-asset-id="fde53e7f-1417-4449-9154-5088754ef9bc" data-image-id="fde53e7f-1417-4449-9154-5088754ef9bc"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/3a9feb90-3e4b-4246-9568-c1ab0e427628/CAKE-SIZE.jpg" data-asset-id="fde53e7f-1417-4449-9154-5088754ef9bc" data-image-id="fde53e7f-1417-4449-9154-5088754ef9bc" alt="Infographic to show cake sizes to servings"></figure>
Step 1 – make a plan. Chances are you will have images in your head or multiple Pinterest boards of hugely elaborate 5 tier cakes, take some time to work how many guests will be attending and how many tiers you will need. You can use our handy <a data-item-id="a4b60664-de9f-5122-aa86-4e06e4f6a975" href="">cake size guide</a> to work this out. Next decide what the theme of the cake will be; what flavours will the sponges be, how will it be decorated. 

<h2>#2 Test Bake Your Cake</h2>
 
Once you have planned your cake, select a trustworthy cake recipe and give it a test bake. To avoid food wastage you could time this around a birthday or celebration. Check out our <a data-item-id="189e3883-46f3-5422-9251-206ee50aa586" href="">wedding cake recipes</a>&nbsp;to find a cake flavour that would suit your needs.&nbsp; 

<h2>#3 Bake in Advance&nbsp; 
</h2>
<figure data-asset-id="dd260570-434c-4f1a-b877-0de58761b9b2" data-image-id="dd260570-434c-4f1a-b877-0de58761b9b2"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/76b2015b-5984-4303-9803-025007f84114/Three-Tier-Cake_Header.jpg" data-asset-id="dd260570-434c-4f1a-b877-0de58761b9b2" data-image-id="dd260570-434c-4f1a-b877-0de58761b9b2" alt="3 tiered sponge cake"></figure>
Did you know that you can freeze cakes? The days running up to the big day are going to be pretty busy and stressful so to alleviate some of the pressure why not bake your cakes way in advance and store them in your freezer. Fruit cakes actually mature in flavour the longer that they are kept so this is another great benefit to advanced baking.&nbsp; 
 
To ensure that your cakes do not get freezer burn, wrap them up thoroughly with multiple layers of cling film and store in a plastic container, if you have room in your freezer. It is important to freeze these cakes before icing or decorating.&nbsp; 
 
Bring the cakes out of the freeze to thaw for at least 24 hours before the big day and do not decorate until they are completely thawed.&nbsp; 

<h2>#4 Make Sure the Cake Structure Is Sound</h2>
 
If you are planning on having a tiered wedding cake with the tiers stacked on top of each other then you will need to consider a structure to keep the cakes upright. This could simply be a thin cake board under each cake and cake dowels inserted in the center of each sponge to act as a platform to support the weight of your cakes. Check out our wedding cake video which shows <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbqeVDugij0&amp;t=34s">how to insert cake dowels</a> into a cake. 
 
If you are having a fruit cake layer it is worth considering having this as your largest layer as this will be at the bottom on the cakes and will help manage the sturdiness of the cake.&nbsp; 

<h2>#5&nbsp;Consider Alternative Wedding Cakes&nbsp; 
</h2>
<figure data-asset-id="b873a5a0-09d2-4fe9-ba18-c135bf0317aa" data-image-id="b873a5a0-09d2-4fe9-ba18-c135bf0317aa"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/326748ca-d262-4f56-b12f-60356dd7619d/5-things-you-must-do-before-baking-a-wedding-cake_Doughnut-Tower.jpg" data-asset-id="b873a5a0-09d2-4fe9-ba18-c135bf0317aa" data-image-id="b873a5a0-09d2-4fe9-ba18-c135bf0317aa" alt="doughnut wedding cake"></figure>
If the thought of making a giant wedding cake still puts the fear into you, but you really want to bake something for yours or a loved one’s big day why not consider an alternative wedding cake, such as brownies or doughnuts. We have an amazing&nbsp;<a data-item-id="e8dc4fab-3f74-5dd4-8feb-0464527961e3" href="">ultimate brownie recipe</a> and <a data-item-id="26e03f94-325b-5d36-a254-3c8a582ce40d" href="">fool proof doughnut recipe</a>&nbsp;for you to try.&nbsp; 
 
Over the past few years we have seen doughnuts take over from cupcakes as the hottest wedding dessert trend, and with this trend we have seen the rise of the doughnut wall – the show stopping backdrop used to display those sweet treats on your big day!&nbsp; 
 
Make you own <a data-item-id="142a4d52-1482-57e6-9af0-ef8b51796c72" href="">DIY doughnut wall</a> check out our simple guide.

5 Things To Know Before Baking a Wedding Cake

Rolling a Swiss Roll can be a daunting task. Here we break it down into easy-to-follow steps. Also, check out our <a data-item-id="9bf89772-dbf5-5317-b632-63b2ac96e2d7" href="">Swiss Roll recipe</a>.

How to Roll a Swiss Roll

Want to impress your friends and family this Easter? We have the Easter recipe for you! Why not try this amazing Ultimate Easter Chocolate Cake - not only does it look fantastic but it tastes just as good too!&nbsp;

How to Make an Ultimate Easter Chocolate Cake

Whether you’re baking at work, at home or for school – baking for a bake sale can sometimes be a bit daunting! The biggest question is: how do I make mine stand out from a crowd of cake? 
 
We have some great suggestions on creating some delicious showstoppers without the fuss plus tips on how to transport your goodies so they arrive at your destination in tip top condition. 
 
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get baking for charity! 

<h2>1. Choose Well</h2>
 
 
We think the easiest way to bake for a bake sale is to batch cook - that way you can feed plenty of people and are usually easier.&nbsp; 
 
The great thing about batch cooking is that you don’t have to wait until the day of the cake sale to bake – you can make these all the day before and they will keep until you need them – taking the pressure off a little! Why not try some of our favourite recipes:
<h3>&nbsp; 
Traybakes 
</h3>
One of the easiest things to bake for a bake sale is a traybake – they feed plenty of people and are usually a crowd pleaser. Check out all our <a data-item-id="353a386b-da72-517f-b678-1ec8a05f6255" href="">traybake recipes</a>&nbsp;or try our top recipes:
<a data-item-id="e8dc4fab-3f74-5dd4-8feb-0464527961e3" href=""> 
The Ultimate Chocolate Brownie</a>
<a data-item-id="1357f3d9-d66c-5d1a-bc8e-ac60d3341dd1" href="">Billionaire's Shortbread</a>
<a data-item-id="70b410d2-f202-58ec-9957-eb4b1f0741b9" href="">Peanut Butter Blondies</a>
<a data-item-id="fb4799e2-a6e0-505e-be16-b04f44f5b924" href="">Rainbow Traybake</a>
<h3> 
&nbsp;Loaf Cakes</h3>
 
Additionally, why not try a <a data-item-id="78d74305-dcee-54ad-901b-8da5ea7af91d" href="">loaf cake</a>? There are so many variations to choose and you can make them sweet or savoury! Those delicious slices are sure to go down well. 
&nbsp;
<h3>Cookies and Biscuits</h3>
 
A bake sale wouldn’t be complete without some deliciously homemade <a data-item-id="3bb99ae0-0582-534c-901d-78a4b8473bf4" href="">cookies and biscuits</a>. You could go safe and traditional with chocolate chip or you could go all out and try your hand at a homemade smores sandwich cookie.&nbsp; 
 
Why not try some of our favourite cookie and biscuit recipes: 
 
<a data-item-id="1a1e0a28-16f2-57d7-a367-3eb17ab82959" href="">Copycat Millie's Cookies&nbsp;</a> &nbsp; 
 
<a data-item-id="af558a96-3f0c-5138-975a-2d966d0f4302" href="">Chocolate Truffle Cookies</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
<a data-item-id="ee7102a6-d10b-51bb-81c9-d22abfc4622b" href="">Vanilla Star Biscuits</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; 
 
<a data-item-id="5e00310f-6cd1-5848-9268-12aa22d20173" href="">Shortbread</a> 
 
&nbsp;
<h2>2.&nbsp;Be Different</h2>
 
 
Don’t want to stick to the same old recipes and fancy offering something a bit different? We’ve pulled together our favourite ‘wacky’ recipes that will be sure to get a ‘wow’ when you unveil them. 
 

<h2>3. Go Retro</h2>
 
Why not step back in time and make some retro classics for the bake sale? We have a whole host of <a data-item-id="133ffff5-3e81-5af6-a36d-56761e02564a" href="">retro bakes</a> to chose from that are sure to be a great conversation starter.&nbsp; 
 
<a data-item-id="78347b17-76af-5764-83b9-9846ca89f26a" href="">Homemade Jammy Biscuits Recipe</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="22ed2953-1b5a-5a75-9fb6-084b71bc89f0" href="">Chocolate Concrete Cake</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="8b92b835-9afc-5085-9e78-45b55a9df9a1" href="">Love Heart Biscuits</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="6c65ca85-d5ec-5dcb-aeb0-52a75b471cf4" href="">Jaffa Cakes</a> 
 
&nbsp;
<h2>4. Theme Them</h2>
 
Why not theme your bakes to tie in with the charity you are raising money for? You could go as far as you like – from a hint of colour to full blown theming. They'll be sure to stand out and people will be impressed with how much effort you have gone to.&nbsp; 
 
Check out our <a data-item-id="f1f2b5b9-6993-50e6-b8a8-7c15169affc2" href="">Pudsey Bakes</a> and our <a data-item-id="e7780651-3248-5aae-9bf8-6d9738395e36" href="">Red Nose Day Bakes</a> for inspiration.&nbsp; 
 

<h2>5. Go Savoury</h2>
 
 
Not everyone has a sweet tooth - so why not opt for baking something a little more on the savoury side. We absolutely adore these cheese and marmite scones - they are so moreish. However, we know that not everyone loves marmite like we do so why not keep it simple with these options: 
 
<a data-item-id="c16b7ab2-3338-5508-88ec-ee566f7c5557" href="">Cheese Straws</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="40ac3a47-fea7-5ddb-b8f6-35133afac898" href="">Black Pudding Sausage Rolls</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="dba27b9e-fd65-5952-b266-3073164c7624" href="">Mozzarella and Pesto Pinwheels</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="7bf01889-8c01-5544-8467-42b0f547045d" href="">Cheese, Bacon and Tomato Muffins</a> 
 
<a data-item-id="b9d1e0ca-f6ac-5e80-acdd-9ceaa573bca0" href="">Fennel and Parmesan Bread Sticks</a>

Baking for a Bake Sale

Noone wants to go through all the hard work of baking a delicious cheesecake only to find that the top has cracked. Here are some simple tips and techniques to prevent it from happening again.&nbsp;

How to Stop a Cheesecake Top Cracking

No-one wants a dry and crumbly cake after all that effort and hard work - so follow our top tips to make sure you know when to take your cake out of the oven for the delicious, moist cake you deserve.&nbsp;

How to Tell if your Cake is Baked?

Baking a cake is a bit scientific - using too much or too little of certain ingredients can result in a cake that doesn't quite turn out the way you want it too. One of the most common issues is that the cake is too dry, but fear not, if this happens to you on a regular basis, we have some top tips on how to make sure your next bake is light and moist.&nbsp;

How to Prevent your Cake from Drying Out

Isn't it frustrating when you go to so much effort to make a delicious fruit cake only to find that the fruit has sunk to the bottom of the cake. Fear not - we have some helpful tips to stop it from happening. You can reduce the liklihood of dried fruits such as cranberries or raisins sinking by lightly dusting them in flour before adding them to your cake mixture. Simply toss the fruit in a small bowl with a small scoop of flour and add the lightly covered fruit to your cake mix and follow the rest of the recipe as normal.&nbsp; The light flour coating helps the fruit to 'stick' to the cake mixture better, stopping them from sinking.&nbsp; If you are using fruit such as glace cherries or larger fruits such as apple, you will need to halve or quarter them before dusting with flour, as if left whole they will be too large and will sink.&nbsp;

How to Stop Fruit Sinking in your Cake

There's nothing more rewarding than baking from scratch. Whilst they take a little more elbow grease, the taste of a homemade cake hit's any shop bought cake out of the park. 
 
To turn your cake batter into a light and deliciously fluffy bake, it's important to whisk in the right amount of air. Too much, and your cake with be dry. Too little, and your cake may resemble a pancake. Whilst we love pancakes, we also love a well-risen cake, that's bouncy to touch - as so will your family and friends!
Read on to find out how to strike a perfect balance when whisking up your batter.

How to Remove the Air Bubbles from Cake Batter?

Do you want to bake your own cake for celebration or party but don’t know where to start? 
 
The prospect can seem daunting when you don’t know how big it&nbsp;needs to&nbsp;be so all your guests&nbsp;will&nbsp;be able to&nbsp;enjoy the fruits of your labour. Don’t worry though; we’ve put together this handy guide to tell you what size tin you need to use and how many tiers it needs to be to ensure each of your guests get a slice. 
 
Top Tip: If you're baking for a wedding and want to keep the top tier for an anniversary or christening cake, don't forget to add this tier onto your serving calculations. 
 

<figure data-asset-id="e386e35a-4afd-4133-870e-6c888efdfaeb" data-image-id="e386e35a-4afd-4133-870e-6c888efdfaeb"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/404bc997-ca22-4b03-bff9-ab5a8f46d6de/Cake%20serving%20guide.jpg" data-asset-id="e386e35a-4afd-4133-870e-6c888efdfaeb" data-image-id="e386e35a-4afd-4133-870e-6c888efdfaeb" alt="cake serving guide"></figure>
 
 
Please note this guide is for reference only and serving size may vary slightly based on portion size cut. Calculations given based on 2"x1" servings.

What Size Cake Do I Need?

A whole year has a passed in the blink of an eye and my daughter is turning one. Many of the parents reading this, like me will have wondered how did that year go by so quickly? How are they beginning to look so grown up already? What am I going to do about their first birthday party?? 
 
Some parents are in the camp of “they are only one; let’s keep their birthday low key”. Some go the whole hog with bouncy castles and entertainers. Others are somewhere in the middle ground…and that was me.
<figure data-asset-id="f50dd05d-9329-4dad-8c9b-7fcff22f6313" data-image-id="f50dd05d-9329-4dad-8c9b-7fcff22f6313"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/55bdb17f-3075-434e-8457-8588d37f8196/Birthday_4.jpg" data-asset-id="f50dd05d-9329-4dad-8c9b-7fcff22f6313" data-image-id="f50dd05d-9329-4dad-8c9b-7fcff22f6313" alt="Blue birthday cake"></figure>
I know quite a few of my friends with young children had the inner debate about whether to bake their child’s <a data-item-id="4f299263-a740-5fe8-8d9c-0e4a7cf2aa1a" href="">first birthday cake</a>, or whether to pay for one to be made for them. Many of them are self-confessed novices in the kitchen and feared that if they tackled the daunting task of baking a cake it wouldn’t match their expectations. I suppose the point I want to make in this article is that it doesn’t have to be that ‘daunting’ challenge that it is perceived to be. There are many tips and tricks that you can use to make it everything that you hoped for (and the truth is if it isn’t, your little one will be too young to remember, you can destroy any photo evidence of the cake and it will be a story that you will laugh about with your family for years to come!) 
 
Being known as “Baking Mad” amongst my friends and family I felt an overwhelming pressure to produce a baking masterpiece for my little girl (all pressure I put on myself may I add!) To be quite truthful having been on almost a year-long maternity leave with very little time to get in the kitchen and bake, my confidence had gone a little. I pinned hundreds of magnificent ambitious birthday cakes on Pinterest, until I realised I needed to scale back and keep it simple. 
 
My daughter is a huge fan of aquariums and brightly coloured fish, and we have watched Disney’s Finding Nemo more times than I can count now, so I decided on a Nemo themed cake. Instead a slaving away on intricate fondant models of the characters (which I have been known to do previously) I opted for toy characters that I knew my daughter would enjoy playing with in years to come. I kept the cake flavour simple with a classic <a data-item-id="a6c6ecdd-1305-5f08-b423-169596637381" href="">Victoria sponge</a>&nbsp;filled and covered with jam and <a data-item-id="02f6382a-d0f5-58f7-8c17-0acd82570e30" href="">vanilla buttercream</a>.&nbsp;I covered the cake with blue fondant icing and made little coral reef plants out of brightly coloured icing to place around the cake. A lot of these were made by using flower cutters, or simply rolling up balls of icing and using toothpicks to make patterns on them or holes in the top of them.
<figure data-asset-id="cb39110b-6f69-4839-a485-7349a72b5bff" data-image-id="cb39110b-6f69-4839-a485-7349a72b5bff"><img src="https://assets-eu-01.kc-usercontent.com:443/559bb7d3-88a4-01c1-79a3-dd4d5b2d2bb0/49aed46d-a587-42ae-bd41-6ee4aef828a6/Birthday_5.jpg" data-asset-id="cb39110b-6f69-4839-a485-7349a72b5bff" data-image-id="cb39110b-6f69-4839-a485-7349a72b5bff" alt="girl with blue birthday cake"></figure>
I did make my cake two tiers as I have a large family that were attending the birthday party and worried that I would run out of cake, but this could just be one tier if you are more comfortable with that. You would need dowels to be inserted into the bottom cake for support if you are baking two tiers. 
 
To add a name to the cake, I would recommend drawing it out on greaseproof paper and cutting out the shapes of the letter, then with a knife cutting round them into fondant icing. All of the icing decorations can be attached to the cake by brushing the backs lightly with cooled boiled water so that they stick into place. 
 
Obviously this style of cake was perfect for my daughter, however, I know that children all have different likes, perhaps your little one is mad about Unicorns, desperate to be a Superhero or Jake and the Neverland pirates, so would prefer a pirate cake? I hope that this article has helped inspire you to get your apron on and dismiss all talks of birthday cake disasters. If you do still want an extra helping hand, why not try out our Baking Mad <a data-item-id="1680f4b0-2bb0-5e8c-af56-174891595526" href="">Celebration Cake recipes</a> for inspiration?&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
We would also love to see photos of your birthday cakes if you do give them a go. Feel free to share on Facebook or Instagram @BakingMad 
 
Happy Baking x

Baking a 1st Birthday Cake

If you've baked your sponge in the one cake tin and are left wondering how to layer it, your best bet is to leave it for a day as it'll be less crumby the second. &nbsp;Once you've done this, get yourself a serated knife and watch our 'How to' turorial.&nbsp;