I am going to bake my DD's 1st Birthday cake - yet I can't bake - help!!

[HackerFucker22]

Prices for a cake are freaking extortionate so I am going to attempt my own.

Have a very basic sponge recipe (It's literally butter, caster sugar, eggs and flour) but my cupcakes taste OK?

Do I just buy a mould and amend my quantities?
Shall I go for a silicone mould?

Any tips appreciated

I personally don't like silicone moulds, but that's just me! If using a tin take the extra time to line and grease it well. Get an oven thermometer if you can, most ovens aren't accurate.

Do a test run before hand if you can. If you're worried make 2 when you do it for real. That way you have a back up! And allow yourself double the time you think it takes, clock watching guarantees you'll make a silly mistake.

And keep it simple!

I am not a good baker AT ALL but I make birthday cakes for the DC. I use Delia's all in one sponge cake recipe, and it always turns out well. I use normal metal sponge tins (quite cheap ones) and ready to roll icing.

For decoration, I save some of the ready to roll icing and make it into a ball. I add a few drops of food colouring and work it in really well (food colouring goes a long way so be sparing). I then roll it out.

I draw on a piece of paper the number of whatever age they're turning, and make this quite big so that it takes up a lot of space on the cake. Then I cut that out. Then I place that on top of the coloured icing and cut around it with a knife. Then I place the icing number on top of the cake. Add a nice big candle, a thick ribbon around the side to compliment the icing colour, and youre done.

If I can do it, anyone can.