How do you actually make a cake?

[James]

Hey guys! I'm feeling a bit silly asking this but... how do you actually make a cake? I tried making one the other day and ended up with a giant Yorkshire pudding . I added flour, butter, sugar, milk, etc. but clearly something went wrong. Any tips or recipes you could share with me? Maybe I should stick to following a recipe instead of relying on my memory from school cooking classes . Thanks in advance!

[Ian]

Don't worry, we've all been there . Making a cake can be a bit tricky, but it's definitely not rocket science. You can't just throw in random ingredients and hope for the best. First, you need to cream the butter and sugar together until it's light and fluffy. Then, you add in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Next, you sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until just combined. Finally, you add in your liquid ingredients, like milk and vanilla extract, and mix until everything is smooth. Pour the batter into a greased and lined cake tin, and bake it in the oven until it's golden brown and springy to the touch. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

As for recipes, there are so many out there! You can start with a classic vanilla cake, or maybe try a chocolate one if you're feeling adventurous. And if you're feeling really fancy, you can even add some frosting or decorations to make it look pretty.

Just remember that practice makes perfect! Don't give up after one failed attempt, keep trying until you get it right. And who knows, maybe one day you'll be a master baker like Mary Berry!

[Pablo]

I'm no baking expert, but even I know that you can't just throw a bunch of random ingredients together and expect their to be a cake at the end of it. Maybe stick to ordering takeout next time, eh?"

[Karen]

Flour, butter, sugar, and milk? Yeah, those are all pretty important, but it's not just about throwing them all together and hoping for the best. You need to make sure you're using the right kind of flour, the right temperature of butter, and the right amount of sugar. And let's not forget about the eggs! How many did you use? Did you separate the yolks from the whites? Did you beat them until they were fluffy? These are all crucial steps that can make or break your cake.

Oh, and let's not forget about the baking powder. If you used too much, well, that would explain why you ended up with a Yorkshire pudding. But if you don't use any at all then your cake wont rise.. its all about getting the balance right.

So, here's what you need to do: find a recipe that you like, and follow it to the T. Don't try to remember how to make a cake from your school cooking classes. And if all else fails, just buy a cake from the store. No shame in that game. At least you'll know it'll taste good, and you won't have to worry about accidentally making a Yorkshire pudding again.