A Thread For All Uk Bakers!!

Decorating By hailinguk Updated 25 Aug 2017 , 10:29am by Magic Mouthfuls

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hailinguk Posted 15 Mar 2009 , 1:43am
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Hi There,

I thought it would be a good idea to start a thread for all us UK bakers.

Here we can share recipes, good cupcakeries, suppliers etc.

At the moment I'm searching for good basic recipes. I've seen so many recipes that call for crisco / shortening or recipes that call for boxed cake mix but I'm desperately searching for a from scratch vanilla & chocolate cupcake recipe that calls for free range eggs, real butter and Madigascan vanilla etc!!!!

Do you have the ultime recipe for either of these flavours that you would like to share? I've seen cupcake recipes that also call for milk but then I see Peggy Porschen only uses a basic vanilla Victoria sponge recipe?!! So many recipes to choose from my head is starting to hurt!

Sorry, rant over! On a more positive note I'm baking all 3 mothers (my mum, step mum and mother in law) cupcakes for mothers day hence the reason I need a good solid recipe that will stay moist for a few days. I'm a bit scared about posting cupcakes via the Royal Mail all over the country but fingers crossed!

Looking forward to hearing from other UKers!

x

25,876 replies
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Cakechick123 Posted 15 Mar 2009 , 8:18am
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check out www.bsguk.org There is a sponge cake recipe from The dinosaur on there that apparently is marvelous, we dont get the flour in SA so I havent had a sucess with it.
HTH!

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hailinguk Posted 15 Mar 2009 , 1:44pm
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Hi Riana,

Thanks for yopur reply. I have already tried that recipe!! I tried the chocolate version though and had to add melted chocolate top the batter because it wasn't chocolaty enough. I will give the vanilla version a whirl though.

Thanks x

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brincess_b Posted 16 Mar 2009 , 10:57pm
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i stick to a victoria sponge too - it works! and you can do so much with it too. sometimes i add a bit of milk, depends on how its looking.
good luck with the posting too!
xx

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slush Posted 16 Mar 2009 , 11:06pm
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posting cupcakes by royal mail???
good luck dear!! icon_smile.gif

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jdconcc Posted 16 Mar 2009 , 11:17pm
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Hi

I'm a UK baker and it's a great idea to post some recipes relevant to our ingredients. I find the following recipe fabulous for either cupcakes or larger stacked cakes, it stays really moist for ages and tastes great, this is the smallest quantity and makes between nine and 12 muffin sized cupcakes (depends how generous you are):

125 g unsalted butter
125g self raising flour
125g unrefined caster sugar flavoured with vanilla pods
2 free range eggs (large)
a cap full of Nielson Massey vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk

This has never failed for me and for the chocolate version I weigh the flour and lift out a really generous heaped tablespoon of flour and replace it with cocoa but just do it to your taste.

Hope this helps, I would love a really good chocolate recipe that uses melted chocolate.

Claire x

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slush Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 9:42am
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hi justdarling,

I use this recipe for my chocolate cakes and it stays moist and yummy! I haven't used it for cupcakes though,

1/2lb marg
4oz chocolate
2tbs heaped cocoa
1/2 cup water

5 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups self raising flour

put first 4 ingredients in a pan to melt,
don't overcook!
leave to cool

whisk eggs with sugar add flour and then add cooled pan mixture.

bake on 150 for aprox 3/4hr

I have doubled this recipe and also done it without waiting for chocolate mix to cool and it works every time!

hope this helps you!

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jdconcc Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 10:36am
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Thanks Slush that sounds great I will try it later icon_smile.gif Do you do this as a hobby or do you have a business. I've been going about 7 months and the baking side is going well but the paperwork is freaking me out, I really need to tackle it this weekend.

Thanks again for the recipe x

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slush Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 11:05am
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Hi just darling,
am starting to do it as a business,
have advertised once and had a few orders.
also don't have paperwork in order!!
all the tools etc have cost a fortune!!!!
still a bit unsure on how to price my cakes, have started out quite cheap I think but then....am just starting.
How do you price yours? like the americans? per portion?
good luck with the recipe
I've just thrown one in the oven for a last minute order!!
may take a bit longer to bake than it says.

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bashini Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 11:24am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by riana

check out www.bsguk.org There is a sponge cake recipe from The dinosaur on there that apparently is marvelous, we dont get the flour in SA so I havent had a sucess with it.
HTH!




That is what I make. I have made vanilla, chocolate and Baileys flavours and its so yummy. Everybody loves that cake. You even can make Lemon or Coffee flavour.

Slush, I add up all the prices on ingredients, board, box, sugapaste, basicaly everything and multiply it by three and add another £10/£15 to it. Thats how I price my cakes.

HtH.

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 11:41am
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Well, I'm British but live in The Netherlands, I still use & import tons of stuff from the UK though as the Dutch baking scene is woeful! Nigella Lawson's 'Buttermilk Birthday Cake' from her Domestic Goddess book is fabulous for cupcakes, layer cakes and 3D creations. For chocolate cake to die for I use the 'Killer Chocolate Cake' recipe found in the recipe section here - very dense and REALLY chocolatey (with no weird ingredients). I also love Nati's 'Chocolate Buttercake' recipe again in the recipe section - that one is better for kids & 3D work. If you want to weigh your ingredients when using an American (volume based cups) recipe, this site is invaluable:

http://www.convert-me.com/en/convert/cooking

As for pricing, I don't find Bashini's x3 way always very helpful (sorry Bash!). If I've spent 12 hours modelling a cake that serves only 15-20, well I'm sorry, you ARE paying me for that time, I'm not running a charity here!

Hope that helps!

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eilidh Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 11:50am
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This thread is exactly what I need as I can do a really nice vanilla sponge but my chocolate one is not nearly as good, but I only add cocoa not melted choc so am now going to give that a go. I would love to sell my cakes but am a bit worried as I have not done all the Environmental health stuff yet so would need to do the one day food handling course then have the home check before I felt able to go ahead so really only doing cakes for freinds at £15 which is a massive bargain for them but meets costs and means I get time to practice and build a bit of a reputation and portfolio for when I get my act together.

Very interested to see how you get on with posting your cakes!!!

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Tartacadabra Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 11:54am
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I am also going for the Buttermilk Cake that Bonjovibabe says, its gorguous of taste and you can also easily carve it.
For a chocolate cake I always use the Whimsical Bakehouse recipe, very dark chocolate cake with coffee (that adhances the chocolate flavour) and Dutch processed cacao in it. But no melted chocolate in it, so if you are looking for that, try some suggestions of the other girls.

By the way the site of www.joyofbaking.com is also really good!

And now I am not British (as you can see by my English icon_wink.gif), but Dutch and recently moved to Spain (and they have almost nothing here for baking or decorating icon_sad.gif ).

Regards,
Lara

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bashini Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 12:40pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bonjovibabe


As for pricing, I don't find Bashini's x3 way always very helpful (sorry Bash!). If I've spent 12 hours modelling a cake that serves only 15-20, well I'm sorry, you ARE paying me for that time, I'm not running a charity here!




That's ok bonjovibabe. But If I have lots of flowers to make, then I calculate the price for flowers seperately and then add it to the final total. icon_smile.gif

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 12:49pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bashini

Quote:
Originally Posted by bonjovibabe


As for pricing, I don't find Bashini's x3 way always very helpful (sorry Bash!). If I've spent 12 hours modelling a cake that serves only 15-20, well I'm sorry, you ARE paying me for that time, I'm not running a charity here!



That's ok bonjovibabe. But If I have lots of flowers to make, then I calculate the price for flowers seperately and then add it to the final total. icon_smile.gif




Good plan Batman! I've just contracted for a wedding cake in May (for a wedding that will be featured in a wedding magazine here - can you say pressure - eek!), whilst the main design is simple (ivory fondant with ivory ribbons, diamante buckles and diamante trim on each tier), the tiers will be separated by handmade roses about 2in in diameter - I've estimated around 100 of them. So while the cake itself won't take too long those flipping roses WILL! Hence the price tag this cake will come with lol!

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hailinguk Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 1:44pm
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Thanks for all your posts ladies!! I can't wait to give all the recipes a go!

I tried the vanilla version of the recipe featered on www.bsguk.org but it wasn't moist enough and I didn't like teh fact the tops went a little crispy. They did dome very nicely though.

I'm getting nervous about posting the cakes but I'm determined to try it!! I will upload a picture of before and after!!! x

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slush Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 2:33pm
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eilidh,
Did you speak to environmental health yet?
coz I just called up the local office and they told me that as a home business - cake baking/decorating was low risk and all i had to do was fill in a form!
They didn't even want to come out to my kitchen (but said they would if I wanted!) I was so shocked!
It said on the form you have to apply a month before you start but the woman on the phone said I could start straight away! icon_smile.gif

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eilidh Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 2:45pm
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Slush,
That is really helpful to know. Not that I have any major worries but we do have a cat so not sure how that would play out with them. But obviously I bake in a disifected kitchen etc (must go through loads of dettol spray!). I am not really sure what is holding me back...had been thinking about doing my decorating diploma but not sure if I can spare the cash. People keep on telling me to go ahead and make it into a business, maybe just worried that nobody will buy at the higher price.

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slush Posted 17 Mar 2009 , 11:18pm
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eilidh
I'm no expert but I would say register with health and safety - it doesn't cost but you know you've covered your back, then take it slow.
I've only just started but I did 3 cakes in for 1 weekend and was hugely stressed! kind of took the fun out of it a bit but was gr8 towards building up a portfolio.
I don't have a diploma
a lot of my orders have come from word of mouth.
the more you do the more confident you get!
take in what others tell you - don't brush it off!!!icon_smile.gif
good luck!

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hailinguk Posted 18 Mar 2009 , 5:30pm
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Wahoo my boxes are here. I ordered 3 boxes with inserts that hold 12 cupcakes and 3 boxes with inserts that hold 6 cupcakes.

I'm using the larger ones to post my cakes!! The plan is to wrap each cake individually in a clear bag and seal. I'll then put them in the provided inserts and will sellotape securely to the board. I'm thinking of using scrunched up paper between the cakes and the top of the box and wala, hopefully they will stay secure and in one piece!!

I'll keep you posted. icon_smile.gif

P.S. I got my boxes from www.cakescraftshop.co.uk and it cost me £14.47 in total for the 6 boxes. Delivery was good too. I ordered them on the 12th and they arrived yesterday but I missed the post so had to pick them up from the depot.

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slush Posted 18 Mar 2009 , 8:11pm
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good luck!
let us know how it goes.
Can't wait to see pics!

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jdconcc Posted 19 Mar 2009 , 10:55am
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Hi Slush

You are an absolute star!!!!

On count one I've just made your chocolate cake recipe and the mix tastes gorgeous. They are in the oven now so fingers crossed, but have made them as cupcakes so will let you know.

Secondly I have registered with enviro and filled out the form and have been on eggshells ever since worrying about them turning up in the middle of feeding time at the zoo (I have two small children) and closing me down. I only cook/ice for business at night and always in a clean tidy kitchen but during the day it's like a bombsite of toys and mess so have been worried sick. They didn't bother telling me that I wouldn't have visits. I did my food hygiene course a while back and have followed all that advice but it's just nice to know. thanks xxx


Hi Hailinguk

I can't wait to see the pictures and your boxes sound great, I'm going to have a look at those for mine, I've never seen the inserts before.

Good luck with the post.
Cxxx

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slush Posted 19 Mar 2009 , 3:28pm
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hey just darling!
I hope the cupcakes worked!!

I didn't ask the enviromental health woman if they do drop visits but she didn't need to visit before i started,
I think they have more important things to do than drop in on us mums who work from home. (i hope they do anyway!)
I also have kids - 3 monkeys and a princess! my place only ever looks tidy when they're all asleep!!

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jdconcc Posted 19 Mar 2009 , 9:38pm
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I can vouch for Slush's chocolate cake recipe, I made it today but in cupcakes and it's gorgeous, it went down very well with my 'tasters'. Thanks for that! xxx

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slush Posted 19 Mar 2009 , 11:49pm
post #25 of 25877

I'm so pleased it worked for you justdarling!

This thread is a bit quiet - I thought there would be more uk cakers on here!

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eilidh Posted 20 Mar 2009 , 11:10am
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Update Slush,

Think i am going to try and do the food hygiene course in the next month or two but yesterday a friend asked if I would consider going into business with her doing whole kids party packages ( I am a bit obsessive when it comes to the party think in terms of following my themes through etc) so hopefully that would be a way for me to get my cakes out there a bit but with people paying REAL prices! We are meeting next week to properly get a plan of action. I am also dying to try your choc cake recipe but put on a whopping 3 lbs icon_eek.gif at weight watchers this week so am trying to stay away from baking unless it is to go straight out to someone else icon_sad.gif .

I am loving this thread so much!!!

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ngfcake Posted 20 Mar 2009 , 11:31am
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Hello everyone!

I'm also in the UK!

Have any of you bought an Agbay leveler? If so, did you have to pay any custom tax?

I really want to buy one, but it is expensive and I don't know how much it would be consitering the P&P and the taxes.

Thanks!

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slush Posted 20 Mar 2009 , 12:19pm
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hey eilidh!

sounds like you're on to a great idea with the party package theme!!
as for putting on weight I can totally commiserate with you - I haven't even been to get weighed I'm too scared!!!
good thing about the kids though is they eat all the cut offs!

am loving this thread too!!!
feel at home! icon_smile.gif

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hailinguk Posted 20 Mar 2009 , 9:18pm
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Hi Ladies,

What a day! I wanted to send off 3 x boxes of 12 cupcakes but after I'd made them and put them in the box, there was just too much room for them to move around.

I could only find 2 of the 6 insert boxes so I could only do 2 then as sods law would have it, after I got back from the post office I found the 3rd box under the table!! Grrrr.

Anyhoo, here are the pics as promised.

Image

My mum wanted PJ bottoms but I'd already planned to cupcakes so I made a little pair out of fondant and put them on top of a cupcake!
Image

Before I closed the lid:
Image

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hailinguk Posted 21 Mar 2009 , 1:34pm
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HURRAH!! My mum received the cakes this morning! I asked her to take a pic and she said she's eaten one already!

The good news - they arrived in perfect condition!! As soon as she sends me the picture I'll upload.

My new tip just arrived so I've just made these for my friends birthday party tonight.

Image

x

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