SIMPLE CAKE RECIPES
How to bake a basic cake
Do I need to line my cake tins? If a cake recipe tells you to butter and flour a tin then do so. The batter might not rise as well if you don’t (it needs the butter to help it slide upwards). If it tells you not to, don’t! Some cake mixes need a rough surface to help them climb up.
How do I make my cake rise higher? To help your sponge rise sift the flour a couple of times so that it’s nicely aerated when you add it. Sifting the baking powder along with the flour will make sure that it’s well mixed before beating.
Does the tin size matter? You can’t change the tin sizes willy-nilly when baking a cake, so if you do use smaller or larger tins, adjust the cooking time (more for smaller tins, as the cake will be thicker, and less for larger ones).
Does it matter where in the oven I put my cake? If your oven has a hot spot and your cakes always come up risen more on one side, rotate them half way through the cooking time.
How to fold and cream a basic cake mix
How do I soften butter for baking? It can be a painstakingly time-consuming task waiting for your butter to soften before adding it to pastry as if it is heated in the microwave it’ll be too soft/liquid to make a well-risen cake. For those impatient bakers you can cube your butter, get a bowl of warm water and place the cubes in the water for around 5 minutes and it will be at the perfect temperature for your pastry.
How long do I need to mix the butter and sugar when making a cake mix? Creaming together the butter and sugar is a traditional way of starting to make a cake, however many bakers do not mix them together for long enough. Spend at least 5 minutes creaming the butter and sugar on a high speed until the mixture turns extremely light, almost white and fluffy for optimal rise and a lighter cake.
How do I fold my cake mix correctly? Fold thick into thin when combining two lots of mixture for a cake or soufflé. For example, you would add the beaten egg whites to the base, not the other way around. Add a couple of spoonfuls first and stir them in well, then fold in the remainder.
Ingredients
- We use chocolate, lemon and other seasonal flavours for our cakes
Simple cake recipe for victoria sponge
A classic, simple cake recipe for victoria sponge is one of the recipes that you should have in your repertoire. Once you master this, bake sales and afternoon tea will no longer be daunting, and making variations will be easy.
Basic chocolate cake
Need a super easy chocolate cake? Check out this quick and easy basic chocolate sponge cake. This moist chocolate cake is a super simple, all-in-one cake for all those chocolate lovers out there. Serve with an extra dollop of cream for ultra indulgence. Best chocolate recipes here...
Red velvet cake
Give your chocolate cake a red tinge in this classic American cake recipe, covered in silky-smooth cheese frosting for extra indulgence.
Easiest ever chocolate fudge cake
Our really popular and easy chocolate fudge cake recipe is super easy and quick to make so it is perfect for when you need to bake a last minute simple cake for a special occasion. Why not try some of our other delicious chocolate cake recipes?
Easy banana cake recipe with peanut butter frosting
This is an easy banana cake recipe to try – a real nutty twist on everyone's favourite. Serve with your freshly brewed morning coffee. Discover even more banana bread, banana cake and banana muffin recipes here.
Easy coffee cake with cappuccino buttercream
Try our super easy coffee slab cake, this recipe is nut-free and comes with a creamy cappuccino buttercream. This simple yet moreish cake is perfect for parties, birthdays or just family gatherings. Check out more of our best coffee recipes here.
Easy pound cake
The oldies are the goodies. You can count on this classic vanilla pound cake recipe, perfect for slicing thickly and enjoying with a mug of tea. It doesn't get easier than this golden-brown beauty.
Simple carrot cake recipe
Try our simple carrot cake recipe that's easy to make. Everyone loves the spiced flavour of carrot cake. We’ve added muscovado sugar for a richer flavour, golden sultanas and pecans for texture and a shot of syrup to sweeten the frosting.
Children's birthday cake easy chocolate cake recipe
This easy chocolate sheet cake works brilliantly as a base for any kid's birthday cake. We've added a chocolate frosting here, but you could it personalise it with a different topping if you like. Try another of our traybake or sheet cake recipes here.
Frosted lemon fairy cakes
These cute little lemon cupcakes would work equally well for a kid's party, baby shower or just a treat to serve with afternoon tea. If you love cupcakes then check out more of our best cupcake recipes here...
Easy lemon drizzle cake
A classic lemon drizzle cake that sounds as good as it tastes. If you fancy some enjoyable baking with a great reward at the end, this recipe is for you. We've got more lemon dessert and pudding recipes here.
Chocolate orange cake
Chocolate and orange is a classic sweet flavour combination. Treat yourself to this indulgent chocolate cake, laced with orange curd and zest and slathered with moreish chocolate orange buttercream.
The lightest victoria sponge
Follow these simple steps to get a beautiful, classic jam and cream sponge sandwich that is lighter than air.
Simple sponge cake with passion fruit filling
A simple sponge cake layered with the tangy, fresh-tasting sweetness of a passion fruit icing. This easy cake recipe would make a lovely afternoon tea treat. Discover our best layer cake recipes here.
Coffee cake with pecan brittle
Classic coffee cake is one of our all-time favourite afternoon treats. In this easy recipe, we've given it a modern twist to include deliciously crunchy pecan brittle. See our best ever coffee recipes for more inspiration.
Easiest ever white chocolate fudge cake
Liked our easiest ever chocolate fudge cake? Then you really, really have to try the white chocolate version. It looks fantastic and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Blood orange polenta drizzle cake
Change up the classic lemon drizzle with juicy blood oranges. Our polenta cake is easy to make and the ideal sweet treat to accompany your morning coffee.
Raspberry custard cake
Check out this easy traybake recipe with sweet and juicy raspberries and creamy custard, a perfect teatime treat. Long-life custard is a bit more stable and usually thicker than fresh, so it's good for baking into cakes.
Rhubarb and ginger cake
Bake our easy ginger traybake recipe with moreish Bonne Maman rhubarb compote, perfect with your afternoon cuppa.
Finally, here's how to cool, dry and store cakes
Do I need to cool my cakes? Cool your cakes in the tin when they are very hot. Once they can be handled, take them out. Otherwise they will steam and end up soggy.
How long do I let my cake cool before icing? Before icing cakes or any baked produce, remember to leave them to cool completely; they need to be cold. Being at an ideal temperatures means that the icing will stay exactly where it needs to be and will not run off the cake.
How do I cut a cake? Use dental floss to cut a cake in half; it works like a cheese wire. But not the mint flavour, of course!
How do I fix a dry cake? Your heart deflates when you realise that all the time and effort spent baking a cake has been wasted because once it’s out of the tin, it’s dry. Fear not; just make a simple syrup. Boil equal parts sugar and water together and brush it over the dry cake, the sweet liquid will seep into the sponge creating more moisture.
How do I store a cake? The two or three tiered cupcake stands are beautiful but not very practical unless you’re in range of ravenous friends who will demolish the food within an hour or two; this is due to the fact that they are not airtight. It is worth investing in a cake stand that has a sealed lid to keep your baked produce fresh