Talk

Thanks Jim, do they taste any good though? And do you make up the mix from scratch, or use packet mix?

You need to invest in an oven thermometer, it will take all the guesswork out of setting your oven temperature. They're not very expensive.

Hmm that's a good idea... stupid rented house oven
<sulks>

Cupcake makers could be very frustrating for producing any significant number, I suspect. That said, I own a cake pop maker and am very fond of it, so the principle definitely works, and I do understand the temptation

I bought one. Used it once. Had a what the fuck are you doing moment and took it back. I'm not the world's greatest baker by a long stretch but even I can sling a few fairy cakes in the oven fairly successfully.

Cake pop maker is a different story. I love my one because I want spherical cakes not balls of mushed icing/cake shite.

Oven thermometer is the way to go

or oven thermometer AND a cake pop maker... Hmmmm...
This is why I love MN

DD got one for Christmas - I felt happier with her using that than the oven.

It makes 6 in one go, so not great for doing loads, but it heats up in 5 minutes and takes 10 minutes to bake them.

Second the cake pop maker.

Same idea - but somehow less slovenly, since the spherical shape makes it an entirely different product . But actually quite fun for novelty kids baking etc.

I've used tesco value sponge mix for the DC to 'do it them selves' (the 6yo did the mix, the 8yo did the cake pops) - and with proper buttery fairy cake mix for my work mates. Both worked, although the real mix released a bit of grease.

It's a faff to do a batch without child labour , but 4 minutes to do 6, which makes it suitable for e.g. Easy way to entertain visiting kids.

I'm going to have an excellent weekend making lots of baked goodness

I bought one for DD as she loves making cupcakes and I didn't want loads of cupcakes hanging around for me to eat. I also have a double oven so hate heating it up for a dozen cupcakes. It is great and makes lovely cupcakes. The biggest tips I got were, use use silicon cases and fill them outside the maker. Filling them up inside the maker cools the unit down and doesn't make nice cupcakes.

Oh brilliant, it hadn't even occurred to me to use silicon cases but I do have some