For those times when only a sweet treat will hit the spot, a delicious homemade cake must surely be top of everyone’s wishlist. Whether you’re baking for a coffee morning with friends, a post-lunch pick-me-up, an indulgent breakfast, a special afternoon tea or a family celebration, there’s nothing more tempting than the smell of freshly baked cake.
For those occasions when only a sweet treat will do but time is at a premium, our mug cake recipes are the perfect solution. Next time you have a cake craving, grab your favourite mug, mix your ingredients and pop it in the microwave. It really is as simple as that! Unexpected visitors will be surprised and delighted when you offer them a freshly baked mug cake with their tea or coffee. And best of all, there's hardly any washing up!
Cupcakes are the perfect party cakes, especially if you choose colourful cupcake cases and display them on your best crockery. You'll find recipes for familiar favourites such as carrot, ginger and raspberry Bakewell cakes, as well as more unusual flavours like pistachio and pomegranate, toffee apple and lavender to try out.
For all the chocoholics out there, we have a chapter dedicated to all bakes chocolate, with easy recipes for brownies, mini cheesecakes, pavlovas and macaroons, plus new twists on chocolate classics like Black Forest gâteau and millionaire’s shortbread.
No children’s party would be complete without a special cake, so we’ve included some fun recipes for larger bakes – a train cake complete with engine, carriages and railway tracks, a bejewelled butterfly cake and an impressive-looking (but still easy to make) white chocolate rainbow cake with six colourful layers. These take a little more time, but are definitely worth the extra effort! And if you’d prefer smaller cakes for your little ones, we have lots of playful cupcake ideas that kids will love, from Snakes and Ladders party cupcakes to irresistible ice cream cupcakes complete with chocolate flakes and sprinkles.
We know that not everyone has time to spend hours baking and decorating (we certainly don’t!), so we’ve made sure that all our recipes are clear and straightforward. They’re aimed at the novice baker and you’ll find plenty of tips and suggestions throughout. Let our pretty, modern vintage range of bakeware, china and fabrics inspire your presentation, decoration and choice of mug; serve your bakes piled high and gather your guests round for a proper celebration.