A baking masterclass in London

Our tutor for the Baking Masterclass was Edith, a highly experienced self-taught baker who also runs her own successful cake business. The class was evenly split with half of the group of six wanting to know the basics for use at home, while the others hankered to quit their jobs to fulfill their dreams of setting up or furthering their own cake making businesses.

As we donned our aprons we flicked through our class notes listing the golden rules to baking and our foolproof recipes, before watching Edith demonstrate how to make a Victoria sponge. She explained that baking is all about precision but by following a few simple rules it can become an uncomplicated joy.  Grouped into pairs we were set to work to create Madeira, chocolate and whisk sponges under the watchful eye of our teacher, who was unfazed by our questions. And for those harboring the inner child in us, yes, licking your bowl was allowed.

Then to top off our sponges, Edith demonstrated how to make a gooey ganache, sugar syrup and a mouthwateringly good Italian butter cream, which knocks the socks off its American counterpart.

We ended the five-hour session by sampling our wares and going through our class handouts which explained the ingredient roles in baking, causes for common cake problems – and how to avoid them – plus how to scale a recipe for different size/shaped tins. We then loaded our cake bags with decorated cakes ready for family and friends to indulge.

offers a range of courses from cake baking, chocolate and cake decorating. After the success of the Baking Masterclass I’d be tempted to sign up to them all.

Cost: £120, including a cake bag with plenty of cakes to take home and 10% off any purchases in the Cakes 4 Fun shop (valid only on the day of the course).

Cakes 4 Fun, 100 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15.

T: 020 8785 9039

W:

Becca Bailey