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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think I am utterly crap

57 replies

TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 19:09

at baking?

Not inspired by GBBO (much) but more that DD (7) has shown an interest in baking.

Yesterday we made flapjacks, followed the recipe to the letter but firstly the amount we ended up with was so much less than the picture. Then when cooled they were rock hard.

Today I caved in and bought a packet mix to make biscuits Blush.

The mix was too dry so I added water - then it was too wet. The cooking time said 10-12 mins. Checked it after 10, needed more. Checked a couple of mins later, needed more. Another couple of mins - and they were burnt!

I am notoriously uncrafty but for goodness sake, AIBU to think there MUST be a recipe I can manage? Please come and share with me...

TIA Flowers

OP posts:
haveabreakhaveakitkat · 11/08/2015 19:20

Easy peasy biscuits. Taste good even after dd has been 'playing' with the dough for a while.

1 oz butter
2 oz sugar
3 oz flour

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add flour and make a dough. Cut out biscuits and put on greased tray. 180 for 10 minutes.

DisappointedOne · 11/08/2015 19:21

HAve you checked your oven temperature?

Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 19:22

And you promise it's idiot proof? Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 19:24

Disappointed it's a fan oven. As far as I can tell, I am following every instruction to the letter!

OP posts:
RedRowanBerries · 11/08/2015 19:24

I do a lot of baking but i had a similar result with flapjacks (and I never bothered with them again!)

Other biscuits give better results - macaroons are easy but only need egg white which gives a leftover yolk which ime may feel complicated to a beginner!

Scones are a good starter too I think or even easier are rock cakes which for me is just a wetter scone mixture. To make it easier I spoon the wet mix into a greased bun tray rather than using a baking sheet.

FranBrodie · 11/08/2015 19:25

What kind of flour kitkat?

Costacoffeeplease · 11/08/2015 19:26

With biscuits you generally take them out of the oven when they're just done, they'll still be soft but harden as they cool so leave them on the baking tray for a few minutes - and yes, you have to be very accurate with baking times for biscuits, if the recipe says 12 minutes, set a timer!

Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 19:34

Costa oh Blush thought they needed to be cooked until not soft.

OP posts:
haveabreakhaveakitkat · 11/08/2015 19:37

Sorry - plain flour.

We've got a kids usborne baking book. It's really good.

DoreenLethal · 11/08/2015 19:37

The butter and sugar mix, once heated, is what sets them - when hot they are molten and when cool they harden up. A bit like butter and sugar are when cool. The flour adds bulk and if any bicarb is in there, that's what makes them rise.

Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 19:41

kitkat the flapjacks recipe was from a kids cookery book, rowan glad it wasn't just me!

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 11/08/2015 19:44

What about some fairy cakes? Basic sponge mixture 200g each of butter, sugar, self raising flour, 4 eggs. Cream the butter and sugar together until they're a smooth creamy mixture, light in colour, add the eggs and mix well, then the flour, the mixture should be thick but almost pouring consistency. Bake at 180 for 15-20 minutes until you can put a knife in and it comes out clean. Best to use at least a hand mixer or a stand mixer if you've got one

LoloKazolo · 11/08/2015 19:51

You need the Bible

Start with No Bake Cakes and progress to Things Children Can Make Themselves...

SylvanianCaracal · 11/08/2015 19:51

Another person here who bakes a lot and can make some lovely things, but not flapjacks. Mine have always come out hard and brittle and then crumble into basically muesli when you try to eat them. They should definitely be a GBBO technical challenge (if they haven't been already!).

My failsafe is frangipane – beat/whisk 125g soft butter with 125g golden caster sugar. Beat in 2 eggs, then stir in 125g ground almonds. You can cook this in a pastry base (buy ready-made pastry if you don't want to go there) or just on its own, with any kind of berries or chopped up apples or pears mixed in, in a pie dish or tin. Bake for about 40 mins at gas 5.

Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 19:56

These are great, thank you and please keep them coming.

Feeling much better re the flapjacks Smile

OP posts:
AGrinWithoutACat · 11/08/2015 19:57

Really easy flapjacks britishfood.about.com/od/eorecipes/r/flapjack.htm

Or how about Rocky Road (no baking needed ????

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12412/rocky-road

Sazzle41 · 11/08/2015 19:58

The fan ovens i've had seem to do everything way quicker than the times given in reciepes. Best advice is to watch like hawk if you have see thru door , check after 10 mins then every min after that. All my cake/biscuit recipes are from 2nd hand charity shop Delia and/or Mary Berry.(her choc cake with oil not butter is to die for). Its practice and knowing your own oven.

AGrinWithoutACat · 11/08/2015 19:59

Eek link fail!

bettyberry · 11/08/2015 20:04

OP top notch flapjacks that are silly easy.

18oz of oats
6oz of golden syrup
6oz of brown sugar
1 block of butter.

chuck all but the oats in a microwaveable bowl and heat for 30sec -1min stir repeat until butter has melted. mix well. Add mixture to oats. mix well.

(If you want to flavour them add things like cranberry and white choc chips or raisin and milk choc chips or a mashed banana and choc here)

pack into a deep tray lined with grease proof paper with paper hanging out each side for easy removale. Bake for around 20-30 minuted @180

when its cooked (top of the oats should be crispy but not burnt.) cut to size in the tin but do not remove until properly cooled. the Grease proof will help you take them out when cold and recut along lines for clean squares.

I used this recipe for years and it has never failed.

Purplepoodle · 11/08/2015 20:24

Can't beat chocolate crispy bunsGrin

My kids love decorating rich tea biscuits (brought from the shops). Really easy as u just give them melted choc, marshmallows ect

Rock buns are pretty fool proof too

Purplepoodle · 11/08/2015 20:27

Google 'boiled fruit cake'. I made it as a girl guide for cooking badge and it's fool proof.

feckitall · 11/08/2015 20:32

I am crap at this baking/crafty stuff...my DC gave up expecting asking me to be 'that' kind of mother...they are now in their 20s and 1 became a chef! Grin

I still haven't worked out what I am actually good at

Original poster
TheSnowFairy · 11/08/2015 20:42

DD and I will definitely be trying these out.

feckit it's embarrassing, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong and the biscuits today were inedible (to me, although the rest of the family valiantly ate one each - didn't ask for seconds though!). Had to stop DD offering them to our neighbours, she was proud of them Blush

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 11/08/2015 20:44

Shortbread is easy - roll it out quite thin and take it out of the oven when just starting to go golden - again, leave to harden before taking them out of the baking tray

  • 125g/4oz butter
  • 55g/2oz caster sugar
  • 180g/6oz plain flour
  1. Heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
  2. Beat the butter and the sugar together until smooth.
  3. Stir in the flour to get a smooth paste. Turn on to a work surface and gently roll out until the paste is 1cm/½in thick.
  4. Cut into rounds or fingers and place onto a baking tray. Sprinkle with icing sugar and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
  5. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until pale golden-brown. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
Ingredients