I bake for football stars and celebrities, here are eight tips to make your cakes shine

GREAT British Bake Off is known for giving people a passion for baking and a craving for cakes.

The popular program was launched 14 years ago and is credited with being the driving force behind the dramatic increase in the number of people taking up the hobby.

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But it can often be difficult to even think about creating tasty snacks if you don’t have enough confidence or knowledge in the kitchen.

With the series returning to Channel 4 this week, there’s no better time to get involved.

Cake days per week Owner Christie Boyle, 31, has some great tips for beginners on how to battery.

She said: “It started as a hobby for me. But a lot of people are now seeing it as a career.

“I’ve noticed that more and more people are baking and I love it because it’s so fun and rewarding.”

Here are Christie’s EIGHT best tips for beginners.

Making mistakes

There is nothing wrong with messing up a cake when you are just starting out, it will actually help you perfect your craft in the long run.

Christie says: “Making mistakes is part of the process, it’s better to just do it.

“If it works out great, and if it doesn’t work out you learn for next time. Practice makes perfect, so don’t get discouraged by setbacks. It gets a lot easier. Just try it and see how it goes.”

Don’t break the bank

There’s no reason to spend a lot of money on expensive equipment if you’re not a pro. There are plenty of cost-effective ways to bake just as well without it.

Christie says: “You have shops like Poundland and Home Bargains and their baking departments are fantastic and reasonably priced.

“The number one thing I would invest in is a good scale. I like to measure and the way I prepare to work is based on measurement. It is the best item to have for any beginning baker.”

Occasions

Don’t just bake – have a purpose in mind. It feels more important when you give someone a cake or make something for a special night.

Christie says, “I find it easier or more fun if I’m interested in the subject. Make something you’d like to eat yourself or give to someone.

“Find a reason, because then you always have more passion – like for a family birthday. There’s that social aspect where it’s really fun.”

Understand your oven

Does your oven have a fan or not? If you don’t know, it’s worth finding out all the specs before you put your cake in the oven.

Christie says: “A lot of people need to understand the temperature of their oven, because it really does have an impact on baking. If you have a fan oven, you need to reduce the temperature by 20 degrees.

“Otherwise it would cook much faster on the outside than on the inside and then it would be much too hot.”

Don’t peek

As tempting as it may be, don’t jeopardize baking by being impatient and opening the oven too early to take a peek.

Christie says: “Allow the correct amount of time before taking something out of the oven. If the recipe says 40 minutes, don’t open the oven any earlier as this will allow all the air to escape and the cake to collapse more quickly.

“That’s something people often stumble over and it’s easy to avoid.”

Keep it simple

Like everything in life, it’s good to go back to basics. Don’t scare yourself off baking by jumping straight into something complicated.

Christie says, “Be sure, because I know it can be scary if you’ve never done it before. I don’t do bread or pastries. I’m more of a cake decorator.

“Nowadays, thanks to air fryers and microwaves, there are a lot of things you can do that aren’t French pastry cakes that require multiple layers.”

Make people happy

Try to remember that baking is supposed to be fun. If you get stressed, think about why you are doing it in the first place.

Christie says: “The most important thing for me is that it’s always satisfying to make something yourself and then see people enjoy it. That’s what makes baking so infectious and why so many people love it. That’s what drives me and why the handshake is so popular on Bake Off.”

Keep it clean

If you’re putting off baking because of the potential mess, have a plan in place to clean up ahead of time. It’ll make life easier.

Christie says: “My rule in the kitchen is to clean up as you go. I would never bake a cake from start to finish and then do all the washing up.

“It’s a much more manageable and organized way to work for me and keep everything tidy. I wouldn’t be put off by clutter if you’ve already thought about it.”