Ovens

If the recipe doesn’t give a fan forced oven temperature option use the temperature but lower the temperature by 20˚C.  

Butter

If a recipe doesn’t say melt or soften butter, always have it at room temperature - it's easier to beat this way.

If you are looking to make popcorn that extra bit sweet, add a sprinkle of icing sugar over it and it will make ordinary popcorn into a special treat!

Icing

Before putting icing onto a cupcake make sure the cupcake is completely cooled, as the the icing will melt if warm.

Flour

Even if a recipe doesn't say to sift the flour do it anyway, otherwise you will get big clumps of flour.

Bake your cookies one batch at a time, this way one batch won't be more cooked than the other.  Also bake your cookies in the middle rack so it is an even bake through out.

If you think the cupcakes are ready you can always poke a skewer through them and see if there is any cupcake batter on the skewer or lightly tap the cupcake and see if it springs back up.

When you are putting icing into a pipping bag, make sure you roll up the pipping bag from the top and then spoon the icing in.  This way when the icing is in the pipping bag you can roll it back up and it will be nice and clean!

Biscuits

To get the best biscuits wrap the dough in glad wrap and then roll them into a log. After that refrigerate for about an hour, and then remove the glad wrap and cut them into about 1 - 2 cm and place onto the tray.
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Chocolate

When adding chocolate to a recipe or when making chocolate icing always use dark chocolate, as the other ingredients will mellow the biterness of the drak chocolate out.

Baking is VERY precise so measure and weigh ingredients to the point, especially with baking powder, salt and yeast.

Recipes

Always read recipes before you start so you don't get any surprises about timing or equipment.

Brownies

When making brownies especially chocolate brownies add some raspberries to give it a sweet and more delicious taste!

Fondant

To get a marble effect through fondant, add a small amount of food colouring and only knead it for a short amount of time until you see a marble efect coming through.  DO NOT knead the fondant for too long as it will completely colour the fondant.

Chocolate

When melting chocolate in the microwave make sure you use it quickly as it will very quickly set.  If it does set then boil some hot water and pour a small amount into the bowl.

When adding mayle syrup to a recipe, heat a metal spoon with hot water and then dip it into the syrup - this will make it much easier for the mayple syrup to slide off!

When putting icing etc into a pipping bag, put the pipping bag over a glass cup (suitable to the size of the pipping bag), and fold then fold the edges of the pipping bag over the glass.  Then, using a spatula wipe the icing on the edge of the glass cup.  Finally, remove the pipping bag and your ready to go!

When prepearing a cake into a baking tin put the baking paper at the bottom of the tin and then clamp the side tin on that way the baking paper is perfectly to size!

Ingredients

Before you start making the cupcakes get out all the ingredients first or else you risk forgetting an ingredient.

When whipping cream add a table spoon of icing sugar to the mix to make it easier to whip and to add more taste. Vanilla essence works really well in cream as well for great flavour!

When making meringues and putting them in the oven sprinkle some caster sugar over the top so it can caramelise on the top.

Butter

Butter you pans and moulds heavily, otherwise your baking will stick to the pan.  Also the use of baking paper come in really handy when you are doing a batch of cookies as they will just slide off!